Page 18 of That's Too Pucking Bad

I wave it off. “I’ll be fine. Seriously, go. I’ll catch up later.”

She hesitates, but Caleb’s already tugging her towards the staircase. I watch them disappear and the room suddenly feels too big. Too overwhelming.

I grab a bottle of water from a nearby table and twist off the cap. This mansion is massive, and honestly, the art on the walls catches my eye more than the crowd. I decide to explore, if only to keep my mind from overthinking why I’m here.

After winding through a few hallways, I end up outside on the back patio. It’s quieter out here, the cool air brushing against my skin. There’s a bit of a forest behind the mansion, and I, being the curious dumbass I am, decide to check it out. I pull out my phone, turn on my location—safety first—and start wandering deeper into the trees. I don’t go far, just enough to feel like I’m not part of the chaos anymore.

I’m admiring the trees when I sense someone nearby. Turning the corner, I almost bump into him—Red Mask Guy. He’s tall, towering over me, and there’s something… commanding about him.

“You shouldn’t be walking around here alone,” he says, his voice low, deep.

I blink up at him. “I just needed some air. No big deal.”

He doesn’t respond, just starts walking alongside me. I should probably feel a little nervous, but instead, I’m... intrigued? Or maybe I’m just stupid.

“So, Remy, how’s college?” he asks casually.

I stop in my tracks. “How do you know my name?”

He laughs, and damn, it’s sexy. Like, the kind of laugh that could make you forget your own name. “I know things.”

I roll my eyes. “Right. Okay.” I start walking again, kicking a few rocks with my sneakers. “You gonna tell me your name?”

“Nope.” He smiles behind the mask. It’s like he enjoys the mystery.

“Of course not. You’re one of those guys.” I sigh. “We should head back. This is weird, right? You, me, the forest? It’s got ‘bad idea’ written all over it.”

He tilts his head, like he’s considering something. “You’re careless, Remy. You wandered into a forest with a stranger. What if I decided to fuck you right here?”

I stop breathing for a second. “Excuse me?”

He shrugs like it’s nothing. “You heard me.”

“Yeah, and what if I told you I know taekwondo?” I lift my chin, trying to sound tougher than I feel.

He laughs again, and I hate how much I like the sound. “Do you?”

“No,” I admit, “but maybe I should learn.” I glance around. “Seriously though, let’s go back.”

He steps closer, looking down at me. “Come on, Remy. Let me show you one last thing. Then we’ll head back.”

There’s a part of me that’s screaming,don’t do it.But another part, a reckless part, sayswhy the hell not?

I sigh. “One thing, and then we’re out of here.”

We walk further into the trees, and soon enough, he leads me to this small clearing. It’s gorgeous. There’s a small pond, and the way the moonlight hits the water makes it shimmer like something out of a dream.

“Wow,” I breathe. “This… this reminds me of a Taylor Swift song.”

“What?”

“Yeah.Cardigan.”

“I don’t listen to her.”

“Of course you don’t. Most guys don’t, but I think you would find at least one song you’d like. What does this place remind you of then?” I ask, curious.

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Orgasms.”

---