Page 74 of That's Too Pucking Bad

“Bro, get out here, man,” he says, a little too urgently.

The girl takes me to the back of her throat but it is really doing nothing for me.

I groan, running a hand through my hair, and give the brunette a half-hearted grin. “Sorry, sweetheart, guess it’s your unlucky night,” I mutter, tucking myself back in. She looks up, annoyed, but I’m already moving.

Out in the hall, Caleb’s waiting, his own mask covering half his face, but his expression’s serious.

“What?” I snap.

He lowers his voice. “Remy’s here.”

I feel my blood turn to ice, and before I can stop myself, I’m asking, “Where?”

“Out front,” he says, smirking a little. “Thought you’d want to know.”

“Damn right,” I mutter, pushing past him. I’ve barely taken three steps before I see her, standing there talking to Declan.

Declan’s leaning in, all interested, that stupid smirk of his plastered on his face, and he’s saying something that makes her laugh. Just seeing her here, laughing with him, does something to me I can’t explain. I’m across the room before I know what I’m doing.

“Declan,” I snap, stopping right in front of him. “Beat it.”

Declan looks up, surprised, then grins. “Easy, Coburn. Just saying hi.”

“Now,” I growl, and something in my tone must tip him off because he raises his hands in surrender.

“Alright, alright. No need to get territorial.” He winks at Remy before slinking off, and I’m already biting back the urge to punch him.

Remy’s staring up at me, arms crossed, eyes sharp. “What the hell, Zane?”

“You shouldn’t be here,” I say, voice low, stepping closer. “What the hell are you doing here?”

She scoffs, glancing away. “You’re really one to talk. I tried calling, in case you forgot.”

“Yeah? Well, you’re one to fucking talk too, aren’t you?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” She looks back, eyes narrowed, and her jaw’s set, like she’s gearing up for a fight.

“I’m done with this, Remy,” I bite out, crossing my arms. “I know how this goes— you still have feelings for your little boyfriend, right? Still hung up on him, while I’m just standing here, yanked around like a goddamn puppet.”

She sucks in a breath, biting her lip in that way that makes me crazy. Her eyes flash, and I catch her pushing her glasses up, adjusting them over that ridiculous smoky eyeliner that’s making her eyes look darker, sharper.

“Zane,” she says, voice softer, almost hesitant. “Can we talk?”

“No.” The answer’s out before I can think twice. This isn’t happening. I can’t let her twist me up all over again just because she decided she’s bored. Or because Colin left her because I fucking told him to.

She lets out a low breath and then turns, walking out of the room without another word. She’s headed straight toward the clearing outside, the path leading down to the lake— the one I took her to that first night, where everything between us started.

I clench my fists. “Remy, get back here. Now.”

She pauses, glancing over her shoulder with that damn defiant smirk. “No,” she says, turning back, quickening her pace. “Maybe I’ll find another masked man out there who wants me.”

The anger surges, something hot and dark, and before I can stop myself, I’m following her, out of the mansion, down the familiar path. She’s already halfway down to the lake, and I’m catching up fast, my jaw clenched tight.

“Are you fucking out of your mind?” I growl when I reach her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

She spins to face me, her eyes blazing, the moonlight catching on her dark-lined lashes. “Trying to talk to you, Zane! But you’re too busy running off, ignoring me— why? Is there a reason Maya is also ignoring me? Did youfuckingrecruit her to your side? She is my friend.”

Wow!I did not know that Maya was picking my side and ghosting her too. A part of me feels bad that she has had to deal with this on her own, but then I remember how stupid I had felt that night. Watching her smile athim…after she had been mine.

---