Page 103 of Always You

He’s single.

He doesn’t owe me shit.

But I’ve never been okay with third wheeling while he’s hooking up with some girl, and that hasn’t changed. I came here to visit him, to see my best friend, and to spend time with him. Not to watch him getting dry humped by some bimbo. Feeling angry as fuck, I strut out of the crowded club until I reach the pavement outside, and I look around, wondering what the fuck I’m going to do. Frustrated, I grab my phone out of my boot, dialing the one person who can help me.

“What’s up, girl? Are you calling me to tell me you’re at some fancy LA party?” Julie’s voice booms through the phone, and any other time, it would make a smile appear on my face. Right now, I just wave some air onto my flushed skin, trying to hold back the emotions growing thicker than my rage.

“I’m taking the red-eye home, and I need you to tell me that’s a good idea.” My voice cracks, and I close my eyes to push back the tears forming behind my gaze.

“Whoa! What happened? What’s going on? Where’s Hunter?”

“Getting dry humped by some girl in this fancy club we’re at.”

I can barely believe my own words.

“That dickhead,” she growls. “Where’s Jason?”

“Next to him with his hands ontwogirls.”

“Oh, they are really living the life, aren’t they?” The tone in her voice is mocking, and I know she’s trying to cheer me up, but I’m not having it. I just want to leave to get my ass back to the East Coast, where I belong.

“I want to leave, Julie.” I fill up my lungs with the fresh air of the night, then tentatively blow it back out. “I want to leave, and I don’t even know how. My stuff is at their house, which, by the way, is fucking huge, and it has an infinity pool and everything. Oh, and you can even see the Hollywood sign looking out of the window. The Hollywood sign, Jules,” I ramble, a few frustrated tears slipping down my cheeks. “It’s ridiculous. We’re not even twenty-one, but no one batted an eye when we arrived at this club. It’s grand, and it’s glamorous, but it’s notfuckingme, and I want to leave. But now I don’t even know where they live, so I can’t get a cab to get my stuff, and I don’t know what to fucking do!” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Okay, first. Breathe.”

I suck a deep breath, doing what she says.

“Good. Now breathe out.” Deliberately, I exhale, repeating the move as Jason’s voice calls out my name behind me.

“Charlotte, where are you going?” Ocean blue eyes impale me with worry.

“Home.”

“Is that Jason?” Julie asks through the phone.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Tell him to take you home. If you really want to leave, then leave, girl. No point in torturing yourself.”

“Alright, I’ll call you later.” I hang up the phone, looking into Jason’s friendly face, shimmering down my anger a bit, even though I’m angry at both of them.

“You can’t go home.” He gives me a serious look, his hands rubbing my arms, trying to comfort me.

Before I can respond, Hunter comes bursting out of the club, a bewildered look on his face. Without waiting for any response, he pushes Jason to the side, grabbing the back of my neck in a possessive way that almost makes my heart stop.

“What are you doing? Where are you going?”

Oh, fuck no.Trying to keep it together and hold my ground, I put a scowl on my face and look up. His hazel eyes swirl with darkness, fueled by alcohol, I’m sure.

“Home.”

“The hell you are,” he growls.

He glances left and right down the street, noticing the curious faces pointed at us, then grabs my arm, pulling me a few yards away.

“What? You don’t want your new friends to see what an asshole you are?” I snicker with anything but humor.

“Shut up, Charls.” He spins me, pushing my back against a wall in an alley, out of sight. “Why are you mad?” His eyes shoot daggers at me as I give him a stern look, noticing Jason standing at a distance behind him with his arms crossed in front of my chest. I’m not scared of Hunter. I know he will never hurt me, but knowing Jason, I also know his scowl is probably for his friend instead of for me, and it’s giving me that extra spark to keep my rage blazing.

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