Page 51 of Blades of Obsession

“Catalina? What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you being a whore, just like all the other guys were!”

Blade’s face darkens, his jaw tightening, I’m guessing at the mention of other guys, but before he can get another word out, I slap him. Hard. The sound echoes through the hallway, leaving a burning sting on my hand.

I don’t give him a chance to recover. I shove past him, my vision blurred by tears, the rage and betrayal scorching a hole in my chest.

“Amelia, wait!” Blade calls, moving to follow me, but Frankie is quicker.

She sticks her foot out, and with perfect timing, Blade trips, crashing to the ground hard with a loud thud. “What the hell?” he shouts.

But it gives me enough time to get away.

Frankie is a good friend, the kind that would key your ex’s car with you at three a.m. just because you asked.

I keep walking, not looking back, but out of the corner of my eye, I catch the girl from class—the one who’d been staring at me—leaning against the wall, laughing and snapping a picture of Blade on the floor.

Good. Let the whole world see him like this. He deserves it.

•••

“I’m not drinking any alcohol!” I shout to Frankie over the blaring music in the bar.

We’d been dancing, but we got tired, so we grabbed seats at the bar top. You’d think cheerleading would keep me in better shape, but after half an hour of dancing, I’m wiped out.

Frankie got us in without IDs because her dad owns a bunch of shares in the building or something like that. I don’t really understand business talk and how all of that works.

“Aw, c’mon!” Frankie pleads.

“He doesn’t like it when I drink without him around.” I can barely hear myself over the music, but I’m pretty sure she heard me.

“Ughh, you’re still thinking about what he wants?”

How do I tell her that I actually crave it—being told what to do, so I can please him? That Iwantto be good for him.

It’s crazy, isn’t it? After seeing all those pictures, I’m sitting here still wanting to follow his rules. Even going out of my way to do so.

Did I always like this relationship dynamic with past partners? I don’t know, I don’t really remember. I don’t even know when I realized that I started to enjoy it with Blade, I just know it lights a fire within me. Even thinking about it now, my entire body heats up.

When I don’t respond because of the whirlwind of thoughts in my head, Frankie says, “I’m going to get you a light drink, only 2% alcohol, how about that?”

“Fine,” I reply.

I might as well drink. She brought me to this bar to forget about the whole picture incident, so I might as well let loose and have a little fun.

When she returns from the bartender, she has two drinks. She hands me one—a red concoction with an orange peel draped over the rim of the cup. “I got you a fruit punch mixer! It tastes really good, you won’t even notice the alcohol.”

I take a sip, surprised by how good it tastes—just like the Turkey Hill fruit punch from the juice aisle of the grocery store. Time flies, and after a second drink, we head back to the dance floor.

Sweat beads on my forehead, and I feel exhilarated. This is exactly what I needed to forget all about the situation that I’m totally not thinking about right now.

I glance back and there’s a cute guy dressed in all black who comes up behind me. “Wanna dance?” he asks in a smooth voice.

“Sure, why not.” I shrug.

“I’m hurt. You’re supposed to say ‘Yes, I’d love to dance considering how handsome you are’.”

I chuckle, and he grabs ahold of my waist from behind.

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