“Hey, Jace,” Olivia said, noticing me.
“Hey.Olivia Finley.” I nodded to her. “It’s been a hot minute. How have you been?”
“Good.” She smiled and looked to Lily who was staring at her feet. Lily looked beautiful though. Short skirt. Tiny top. All I wanted to do was sweep her into my arms and kiss her, but I knew that wasn’t a possibility. Instead, I cleared my throat.
“How’s it going, Lily?”
“Fine.” She finally looked at me, sending my heart aching with want.
Fuck, I missed her.
It strengthened my resolved to continue on as planned. It wasn’t just about sex. It was the nearness. The feelings I got when I was close to her. She was the only girl I’d ever felt this way about and while my anger and heartache may have fueled these plans in the beginning, I knew deep down it was more than that.
“Well, have fun tonight,” I said, backing away.
She stared after me, a frown on her face. I didn’t wait. I turned and left her standing there because I didn’t want to end up saying something stupid and fucking shit up. Now that I’d found her and knew she was here, I’d keep an eye on her from afar.
“Hey, Jace,” Marissa Steele tittered, twining her arm with mine. I cast a quick look back at Lily to see her eyes still fixed on me. Her frown had deepened. She caught my eye and quickly looked away, her cheeks flushed red.
In the beginning, I didn’t mind making her jealous, but now, I hated to know she was probably hurting just as much as I was.
At least in my mind she was hurting because thinking she just didn’t give a shit for me was a heartache all on its own and not something I was willing to face.
“Is that drink for me?” Marissa continued, giggling more and pushing her tits out at me.
I hated Marissa. She always tried to be the center of attention. If you had three goldfish, she had ten and they couldcartwheel backward. If you said you had better pussy by fucking a dead cat, she’d tell you she’d fucked four dead cats compared to your one. She’d never been honest in a damn thing she did. Everything out of her mouth was a lie meant to gain a wave of sympathy she’d ride until it ran dry.
I knew this because I’d briefly dated her before Lily and she’d fucked my life up in the short amount of time we were together.
Emotional damage, but make it narcissistic and bordering on stalkerish. She was human herpes. She just didn’t fucking go away.
“No, it’s for me,” I said, pulling it away from her before she could take it.
“Aw, Jacey, don’t be like that.” She jutted her bottom lip out and pouted at me. “You give me that drink and I’ll give you a ride.” She bit her bottom lip, another giggle slipping out.
“Go get your own drink,” I said, untangling myself from her.
She glared up at me. “I don’t want to. That bitch you cheated on me with is guarding it like the bitch dog she is.”
I ground my teeth at her words. “I never cheated on you with Lily. I cheated on you with your friend Lana. And if you ever fucking say anything like that again about Lily, I’d drown you in a fucking toilet.”
She gaped after me as I stepped away.
I never cheated on her, but I also hated Lana, so if I could get the pair fighting, I’d feel petty and accomplished, a combination I didn’t experience often.
I caught sight of Damien in the crowd, talking to Alan Rickers, one of the elites.
“Hey, man. Glad you could make it,” Cameron called out, coming over to me.
“Hey. Great party,” I said, noting the three girls staring at me and giggling with each other. I was used to that behavior though. I turned my attention back to Cameron.
“Heard you and Olivia are hanging out.”
“Oh. Yeah, yeah. She’s awesome. Amazing, actually.” He raked his fingers through his hair.
“She’s a cool chick,” I agreed.
“Hey, maybe I can put in a good word for you to Lily?” He crinkled his forehead. “If you want. I know you two split.”