Page 51 of Consume Me

“Making sure someone behaves,” Blake says, looking pointedly at me. I glare at him in response. He downs a glass of water, tapping his finger on the rim, clearly restless. I thought he’d go racing with the others. But apparently, he doesn’t do that any longer either. No, he found a better pastime: tormenting me.

“Visiting Dad,” Hunter answers.

“Good, now, let’s eat.”

When we’re excused and back at the house, Kaden, Celine, Abi, and Dane hop in their respective cars and take off.

“Adrenaline junkies,” Bailey says as we walk inside.

“I’ll go to The Cave,” I tell her.

“I can’t let you go alone.”

“Nothing will happen.” I gesture at the three security guards trying their best to blend in.

“Still.”

“You really don’t have to do this.”

“I’m coming with you, and I need a breather.”

With arms looped around each other, we walk in silence down the cobblestone road leading to the Cave.

“All this security makes me even more nervous,” I say.

“Me too, and they keep adding more. That means only one thing.”

“So let’s live a bit,” I offer.

“You know what? You’re right.”

The moment we step inside The Cave, the windows rattle from the powerful beat, and the low bass makes my insides vibrate. Big speakers are planted in each corner, with black paint covering the windows. Lights beam from the ceiling, making the atmosphere brim with the thrill of the forbidden.

As students drink and dance in what used to be the old sports facility on campus, my worries dim, swept away by the possibility of letting loose for a while.

We move through the crowd and straight for the polished bar lined with every alcohol bottle imaginable. Xander sees me and then sways his gaze to Bailey, openly flirting.

This guy. I shake my head at him.

“Don’t be jealous, but I like to keep my limbs,” he says, winking at me.

I huff in response. Even if I moved to another planet, someone must have heard of Blake.

Xander puts two glasses in front of us. We down them quickly, and then I take Bailey’s hand. “Let’s dance.”

Everyone parts for us, and when we’re in the middle of the dance floor, I let the music take me somewhere else. But when I open my eyes, I see Bailey tapping furiously.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your brother. Ugh. Someone tell him he’s not my father.”

She shoves her phone back in her bag. A cute frown digs between her brows, but she keeps dancing.

Knowing my twin, he’ll be here any minute now.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” she announces.

“I’ll go with you.”

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