Page 43 of Twisted Thorns

Claire playfully shoves at Amanda. "Quit teasing Avie. You don't need all the details."

"Oh, come on, I just want to know if the rumors are true."

I pause eating, looking back and forth between my friends in confusion. "What rumors?"

Leaning across the table, Amanda whispers, "Is he good in bed? I've heard he rarely sleeps with a girl more than once and those that are lucky enough to be in his bed practically beg for the chance to go back."

My eyes widen and I have no chance to stop the crimson creeping up my cheeks in a flood.

Amanda's cackle fills the air.

It's Iris' birthday, and she decided all she wanted was a night out dancing. The shifting, colorful lights make our skin glow and our dresses shimmer as we sway and spin to the beat. The vibrating rumble of the music thrums through me as I move on the dance floor, surrounded by Claire, Iris, and Amanda. It's been a couple of weeks since I confessed my relationship to Kieran to all my friends, and I've been pleasantly surprised at how accepting they've been.

It's nice to be out with my friends in a place where conversation isn't the priority, where my fragmented memories can't bleed like ink stains that ruin everything they touch.

Surrounded by music, I can let everything go as my troubles are washed away with the rising crescendo. My friends and I may not agree on everything or have the same interests that we used to, but here I feel more connected to them than I have in a long time, without the pressure of trying to remember what was lost to the wreckage.

Our group dances on as the song gives way to another, with a deep bass pulse that pounds through me. As I twirl, I spot Amanda looking behind me, eyes widening as she gestures to the rest of the group. Leaning in, I can't hear her over the thumping tune, but I can understand the word her mouth is shaping. Incoming.

We tighten our circle, moving into defensive positions as a group of guys encroaches on our space. I see Iris snarl as someone comes up behind her to press against her, and she turns to give him a piece of her mind. I'm moving to help my sister when hands grip my hips and pull me backwards into a chest smelling of too much cologne and alcohol.

"Hands off," I bark to the person behind me, turning my head to see blue eyes and blonde curls resting above a drunken leer that is coming closer to my face.

"Oh, don't be like that baby," the creep says as he moves in to kiss me.

I grab the wrists anchored to my waist and dig in my nails before twisting and sending my elbow right into the jerk's gut.

"What the fuck?" the drunk mumbles.

I'm about to knee him in the groin when the scent of whiskey and sandalwood surrounds me, and I twist to see Kieran, looming like dark death incarnate in the shifting lights.

"She said hands off." Kieran's voice rumbles clearly through the space as bodies pause their movement to watch the drama unfold.

He turns to me, hand catching me under the chin to tilt my head up to his. "You okay, Lina?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. This guy has just had a little too much to drink." I smile brightly, trying to convince Kieran of what I'm saying.

Kieran's hooded glare says he thinks otherwise, but he'll play along. "You go with your friends," he says as he pushes me towards Claire. "We're going to go have a little chat." He grabs the drunk guy and practically drags him off the dance floor. No one tries to stop him. He's Kieran Calder. He probably owns this building.

I look over to Iris, who is staring wide eyes at the space Kieran just vacated. "Are you okay, Iris?"

Iris blinks as her gaze swivels to me. "Am I okay? What about you? That creep was all over you!"

I brush off her concern. "He was just drunk and stupid."

"No, Avie," Iris interrupts. "Drunk doesn't excuse being an asshole who wants to assault women. I hope Kieran rips him to shreds."

It's my turn to blink now, shocked at my sister agreeing with Kieran's actions.

"What, what do you think Kieran is doing with him?"

"Avie," Amanda laughs, "he's totally going to beat him up for touching you."

"What, no!" I look around for Kieran and the drunk. "There's no need for that."

Iris sweeps an arm around my shoulders and brings me close. "There is absolutely every need. I say so and it's my birthday. Just think of it as Kieran's birthday present to me!"

I can't help but laugh at the bright smile spread across my sister's face.

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