Page 16 of Dangerous Play

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” I replied, steadying my voice, although my eyes burned.

I was naïve to think Ander was going to be a sensible human being and talk to me.

This school was Ander’s playground and all the clowns danced for him.

He ran the show.

But I was done attending the play.

“I’m sorry,” I said, apologizing because that was what he expected. “I misjudged you for someone who could have a conversation. I will be leaving.”

“I mean if you want to talk, talk,” Ander called after me once I descended.

“I have nothing else to say.”

“You seemed to have awfully lot to say just now. Did Aarons not fuck you well enough? Are you here to get a repeat of what you lost when you tried to replace me with a Titan?”

I shook my head, disgusted.

Did everyone forget he was the one who dumped me?

I hated how it hurt me, and I hated it even more that I was giving him the one thing he wanted.

My attention.

My tears.

My hurt.

“Forget I said anything,” I turned to whisper, making him laugh.

“That won’t be too hard, as you never said anything even remotely worth listening to.” His smile grew as a teardrop rolled down my cheeks.

Laughter echoed all around me as Daisy stepped next to Ander and wrapped her arms around his waist, and he pulled her close to his chest, lips brushing her forehead.

“Don’t worry, babe. Your sister is not worth my time.”

Another round of snickers started up as I willed my feet to move fast and walk out the door.

I was painfully aware of all the eyes burning holes into me like gigantic reflectors on the stage, illuminating my misery and feasting on it.

“What the hell is happening here?”

Suddenly, I couldn’t hear anything, just the way my flats clicked on the marble floor. A dark-haired guy stood at the entrance. The light illuminated him as if he was a fiction of my imagination, a guardian angel coming to save me.

“Ivy?” he called my name as my eyes met his.

It took couple of seconds for his brown eyes to darken as anger washed over his face.

“Max…” I breathed his name in a relieved sigh.

“Look at that,” Ander’s voice echoed from the stairs. “The knight in shining armor showed up. You are a bit late, buddy.”

“I’m not your buddy,” Max gritted through clenched teeth. He extended his arm and pulled me to his chest, pushing my embarrassed tearstained face into his black T-shirt and hiding it from everyone around.

It was too little, too late, but I appreciated his delicious pine scent filling my nose as I breathed, trying to calm my racing heart.

His hand rested on my back, and in slow circular movements, he comforted me as he spoke. His chest vibrated with every word he spat toward my ex, but I was too preoccupied counting my inhales and exhales to pay attention.

---