Page 29 of Consume Me

“I am going to ask that blond guy out,” I say, pointing to a preppy guy wearing a peacoat over a fitted polo and matching chinos.

“You go, girl,” Celine says, but the cheer is fake.

With every step I take in his direction, it becomes clear he’s not the one I want––even though he looks handsome, oozing old-money vibes. He’s too posh, his appearance too clean and kempt. I can’t have the one I want, so I force a smile when I reach him. He offers me a megawatt smile that does nothing for me.

The only thing I want to do now is make this as quick as possible.What is wrong with me?Maybe first impressions are wrong, and I’ll end up liking him. That’s the whole point of dating.

“I’m Theo.”

“Mia. Want to meet up somewhere later?”

He rakes his brown eyes over me, and I see the movie playing in his head––him fucking me. I swallow my disappointment, forcing myself to keep my smile.

“I’d love that, beautiful girl.”

So unimaginative.

“Tonight, eight o’clock at The Cave,” I say quickly before I change my mind.

I hurry back to the girls without a goodbye. “Don’t even ask,” I say when I reach them.

“I don’t have much experience, but shouldn’t you be excited about going on a date?” Bailey asks.

“This is about proving a point,” Abi tells her.

“And we’ll be by her side and we won’t tell her that it was a mistake,” Celine retorts.

“You know I can hear you, right?” I ask them.

It’s a date. What can go wrong? In the worst-case scenario, it will confirm what I already knew: Theo is not my type. Or maybe I will be pleasantly surprised and have a lovely night. My goal is to forget about Blake, and I can’t do that alone.

With the truth serum tucked in my pocket, the result of hours of work, I leave the pharmaceutical company behind and head to my car. My phone pings with a message from Tyson.

It will take a while until everyone knows she’s not available. Attached is a pic of Mia and a guy leaning into her at the bar.

Anger ripples through my torso, tightening my rib cage as if it’s caving in. Getting into my car, my fingers wrap around the wheel. I’m so damn torn.

Go back to the fucking compound. Do not go to the club.

Fuck it. I knew why I had to leave and stay away. With her so near me, it’s hard to remind myself why she and I are not a good idea. Just thinking of her with someone else makes me lose my fucking mind.

We have a damn mission to see through, and she’s thinking about dating.

I open the glove compartment and put the serum inside. My father can wait one more night. I have more pressing matters to take care of first.

Speeding away, I park behind The Cave and stomp inside.

Cracking my neck, I try to hold onto my control, but it goes to shit the moment I see the guy from Tyson’s picture eyeing Mia salaciously as if he’s imagining her on his dick. He grins at her with a big Cheshire cat smile that makes me want to pummel him. The asshole looks so proper in that shirt and slacks, ironed and styled from head to toe without a hair out of place––composed, someone I am not. I ignore that thought quickly as anger floods me. I hope the fucker takes a good look because I’m going to gouge his fucking eyes out.

Tyson intercepts me.

“Whoa, whoa. Wipe that look off your face. It’s not good for my business.”

“Then you should have gotten rid of him,” I grit out and storm toward the bar.

Mia stiffens the moment I am behind her.

Yes, feel me. Whatever inexplicable connection we have tethers us together.

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