Page 56 of The Villain

“To hang out. You don’t mind, do you Van?” He turns to me with a smile.

“I mind,” Shade steps closer to him, his shoulders tensing in his statue pose.

“Come on, man. Let’s just move on already. We made mistakes and we’re ready to grovel for forgiveness.”

I keep quiet. I’m a little confused and a lot pissed off. I thought they had made up yesterday. What game am I playing now?

“I want nothing to do with you.”

I frown at his cold tone. What the fuck happened when I left? And I walked away, leaving him vulnerable for it.

“Respect what he’s saying or I’ll force feed you your own dick.”

He talks over my muted tones as if I’m not there.

“You’re looking really good by the way. We can catch up later tonight. Do some before and after comparisons,” he gives Shade a wink and walks away, whistling lightly.

“You should come, Van. We can get to know each other better,” he adds as an afterthought. Felix watches with a frown from the open window of their vehicle.

Shade starts walking and I fall into step beside him. When I notice he’s heading for their car I press my side into his and steer him between the buildings instead. As much as I want them buried I don’t want Shade as an accomplice to the act. I’ll do it on my own time.

We need distance, not confrontation. I need to know what’s going on so I can keep him safe and hidden from their prying eyes. The knowledge that I left him alone with them yesterday is eating at me.

“Evie,” he whispers warningly. He still follows my lead, though.

“You need to fill me in on your game. I will only take this act so far. How deep does the lie go so I’m not caught by surprise?”

“What?”

The enraged, monstrous shout makes me draw away from him with a frown. Why is he so upset? I’m the one tying my own hands to keep him safe and happy. They should both be bled out on the pavement by now.

He stopped when he yelled so I’m a few steps ahead of him. He’s quick on his feet. Before I can make it two more steps he’s in front of me, furious.

“I do not want them,” he enunciates slowly.

My brow furrows in confusion.

“Are you sure?” I ask warily. He’s telling me exactly what I want to hear but I’m lost. Why did he walk away from me yesterday and forget I existed if he wasn’t flirting?

“What, out of everything you’ve seen, made you think that?” His mask is on tight now. He’s standing in front of me, barely breathing, in his statue pose.

“The affection? The pet name? You only do it in public as a display when they’re watching. You seemed comfortable with them yesterday, that’s the only reason I left.”

“I was acting,” he tells me darkly.

“Your body language was relaxed, you were smiling. They were listening to you. It’s what you’ve needed from them.” I protest in confusion.

“I’ve been faking that with them for years,” he scoffs. “Good to know my acting skills are up to par.”

“They are,” I mutter. Not very many people can lie with their body language as well as their mouth. That’s odd enough to catch my attention. Does that mean when the mask comes off he’s telling the truth? Or are there even more layers? Which version of him is real?

“I owe.”

“No. I don’t think you do. Am I the only actor? Have you been faking being attracted to me?” He demands with gritted teeth.

“I don’t fake shit,” my expression flattens at his threatening posture.

“Because Tera didn’t teach you how?” He hisses in my face mockingly.

---