Page 125 of Hate To Love You

Lainey hops up from the couch and heads to where I stand. She reaches out and slams her hands down on my shoulders making me look at her. She gives me her best serious expression.

“We are going to that party, and you are going to look hot as fuck. Ryker is going to regret ever fucking with you,” she assures me, but I’m not so sure about this plan, and Lainey can see that. “Trust me. Everything is going to fine. And if not, I’ll kick him in the balls.”

I giggle at the thought of Lainey kicking Ryker in the balls. I kind of feel like doing it too, but I won’t.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea…” I say apprehensively. Ellie stands next to Lainey, and I feel like I’m being lectured.

“We’ve got you, Gwen. We always do,” she tells me with a sweet smile.

I sigh heavily, knowing there is no way I’m getting out of this. “Fine. Okay, we’ll go. But I’m not staying long. I just want to get a drink,” I tell them in a serious tone, widening my eyes like a mother would do if they were scolding their child.

“Yay! Okay, we have two hours to get ready. Get your ass in the shower. I’ll pick out the hottest outfit I can muster,” Lainey orders like she’s a drill sergeant. I laugh at the seriousness in her tone.

“Okay, okay,” I say as I saunter off to my room feeling nervous and uneasy.

This is not going to end well; I just know it.

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I adjusted my dress that Lainey picked out for me for what feels like the hundredth time, my fingers trembling slightly. Lainey and Ellie flanked me on either side, their supportive smiles doing little to calm the storm inside me.

The Elite mansion looks more intimidating than it’s ever been as we stand and stare at it. I haven’t been able to bring myself to go in yet, but Ellie and Lainey don’t seem to mind.

Laughter and music spill out into the night, and already drunk partygoers stumble around the front yard.

“Are you ready?” Lainey asks, her voice gentle but I can hear the concern in it.

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding. “No, but I don’t think I’ll ever be. So let’s get this over with,” I say, putting on a brave face as I stand up taller and push out my chest.

The dress is a dark green color, with a plunging neckline that stops just above my belly button, and it’s so short, I’m convinced my ass is hanging out of it. The black heels I wear have straps that go up my calf.

Lainey did a smokey eye look for my makeup and added some dark red lipstick to stand out. My hair is down in curls so it cascades over my shoulders and back.

I feel sexy, and I haven’t felt sexy since… since I was with Ryker.

My chest tightens but Ellie squeezes my hand reassuringly. “We'll be right here with you the whole time, and we can leave whenever.”

As we step inside, the strobe lights and smell of booze hits my nostrils, and the sea of familiar faces does little to ease my anxiety. I scan the room, looking for the man who summoned me here, but I don’t see him yet. A wave of temporary relief washes over me.

“Let's get a drink,” Ellie suggests loudly over the music, leading us to the kitchen. I nod numbly, trying to steady myself.

She stops abruptly in front of me causing me to run into her back.

“El? What’s-” my voice drops off as I find what she’s looking at.

Ryker stands in front of us, his black hair a bit longer than before, curling at the ends. He’s in his signature black t-shirt and black jeans with combat boots.

He looks delicious, and my heart begins to feel like it’s going to burst. I wasn’t expecting to find him this soon. Did he see us walk in?

Ryker’s eyes darken and I watch his hands clench into fists at his sides. A shiver runs down my spine and my pussy clenches at the way his green eyes look me up and down.

“You want us to stay?” she whispers in my ear. I swallow hard and take a deep breath before shaking my head. I need to do this alone. “Remember, the balls.”

Lainey gives my hand another squeeze before grabbing Ellie and pulling her out of the kitchen.

There’s a long silence between us and I can feel the tension building in the large kitchen. Before I know what’s happening, Ryker is in front of me, grabbing my elbow firmly and pulling me away from the curious stares of the partygoers, and pushing me into a dimly lit room off of the kitchen.

The heavy oak doors swing shut behind us, cutting us off from the music and laughter of the party. My heart is on overdrive and the anxiety in my body is making my skin tingle. I don’t even know how to feel right now, and it’s beyond frustrating. He’s beyond frustrating.

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