Page 201 of Dare To Live

If she thinks I believe that she’s insane.

“You mean he fucked you once.”

A smile tips her lips up. “More than once.”

“Wow, twice. Congratulations for holding his attention a little longer than every other girl who wanted a piece of him.”

“He wanted me—”

“If he wanted you, then you would have been his girlfriend instead of a quick fuck when he was bored. You aren’t special, Maggie. You can’t intimidate me anymore. Lacy learned that the hard way.”

“I knew you had something to do with her leaving.” A new voice joins the conversation, and my attention shifts to the woman emerging from the end stall.

Tina moves to the sink to wash her hands. “Don’t forget you were one of Eli’s dirty little secrets too, Arabella.”

I don’t reply.

“Didn’t he only hook up with you where no one else could see?” she continues. “Maybe he was too embarrassed to be seen with you. After all, he was always way out of your league. If you were really meant to be together, then you’d be a couple now, but you’re not, are you? You’re just fuck buddies as far as anyone can tell.”

Anger thrums through me, but I hold it in check. “Why don’t you both get a fucking life? I’m done with school, and I don’t care what either of you think. What happens between me and Eli has nothing to do with you or anyone else here.”

Linda is entering the restroom as I exit. She opens her mouth to say something, but I don’t stop. Tina’s words circle in my head, coming back each time I push them away, and by the time I reach the lockers, my excitement for what Eli has planned has dimmed, and my worries hover like vultures over a rotting corpse.

Eli is waiting, leaning against the lockers, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His intense eyes zero in on me. Without a word, I walk up to him and wrap my arms around his waist.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

“Kitten?” He uses a finger under my chin to lift my head so he can trail soft kisses along my neck and jaw.

“Play with me, Eli. Show me your darkness. Don’t hold back tonight. Give me everything. All of it.”

I turn my head and capture his mouth in a deep kiss. He tastes of mint and passion. His arms are secure and safe. They feel like home, and I want to wrap myself up in him forever. In them, I can forget what Maggie and Tina have said.

Tonight belongs to Eli and me. I won’t let them destroy that.

Not now. Not ever.

Chapter 116

Eli

The happiness that surrounded her when she’d left to go to the restroom has gone. There’s an edge, a desperation to her kiss, as though she knows what might happen tonight. I pull back slightly, searching her face for clues.

“What happened?”

She shakes her head. “Just the girls acting like they’re schoolkids again.”

“Who? What did they say?”

“It isn’t important.”

“You’re upset. That makes it important.”

Her sigh is irritable. I run a finger over her lips.

“Tell me, so we can move on.”

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