Page 64 of The Prospect

I look like I’ve just wet my pants.

Great.

“Oi, dickhead!” Hart catches the man’s attention as he walks away—his voice so loud and commanding that I swear the whole room quiets down in response. “Word of advice. How about you fuck off and stop being such a prick.”

Not only does the room erupt into a series of “ooo’s,” but some even cower in themselves, given that Hart’s remark is followed by an intimidating scowl and flash of his middle finger.

The guy stumbles out of sight in fear, scurrying like a mouse. Once he’s gone, Hart turns to face me, ignoring the frightened looks around him as he helps to dry off my skin.

“You alright, love?” His once angered voice is now tender—concerned as he tilts my chin upward to look up at him. It’s difficult to maintain eye contact. I feel like I’ve just made thebiggest fool out of myself, but the longer I look at him, the more I start to realize he doesn’t seem to care.

I shake my head softly—I almost feel like I have to laugh at just how ridiculous this whole thing is.

“I guess Green forgot to tell you that I’m a total klutz, huh?” I shake some moisture away from my palms with a smirk.

Hart bites down on his bottom lip to suppress a smile. “He might’ve mentioned that in confidence. But don’t you worry about that, okay? C’mon, let’s get you cleaned up.” He reaches for my elbow, encouraging me to follow. “I heard someone say that there’s a bathroom upstairs. Maybe there’s a towel we can use? Or a dryer we can find?—”

“Do you mind if we just go back to my dorm room quickly?” I propose, feet planted firmly in place. “It’s not far, and I think I’d be much more comfortable in something…” I peer down at my soaking wet body. “Dry.”

Agreeable to the idea, Hart extends his hand out, waiting for me to grasp. “Say no more. If back to your dorm room is where you want to go, then that’s where we’ll go, Hazel.”

“Thank you.” I exhale a sigh of relief, reaching out to intertwine our hands as one as he paves our way toward the front entrance. Once we do, my teeth instantly start to chatter, given that my outfit is practically doused in liquor.

Hart’s quick to respond as he removes his jacket and wraps it along my shoulders, draping me in his warmth. “You wait inside, okay? I’ll bring the car around and come back to get you.”

“It’s okay. I can walk…with you.” The chattering intensifies with each word. “I’m…fine.”

Hart flashes me a stern look. “Wait inside, Hazel,” he urges. “I won’t be long. I promise you.”

There’s no time to debate as he dashes down the stairs this time, quickly falling out of sight and in the direction of his car.

I sigh in defeat, using the time to snuggle in closer to his jacket before turning on my heel to head back inside. Only when I do, I’m completely caught off guard by what I see.

Pinned up against the brick of the house is none other than a mop of long dark hair, even longer legs, and a red dress that I could easily spot from a mile away. Yet, the most recognizable part? The frame that supports her up.

Green.

I suppose my hypothesis from earlier is no longer just that. It’s a fact. The reason why I haven’t seen Green all night is because he’s been too preoccupied with Amira.

The two seem to be warming each other up with the presence of their touch, but it’s not that I’m thinking about right now. It’s the fact that Green has now tackled step three.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew that was the objective of tonight and besides, I’ve seen Green kiss other girls before, I have. This isn’t new to me, but in the past, it had always been just a peck or a quick snog. Never have I ever seen him so deeply intoxicated by someone else.

The two move in sync, like a routine they’ve been practicing for months. Amira’s hands are carefully wrapped around the back of Green’s neck while his securely clutch onto her waist as he deeply buries himself into the nape of her neck.

I gulp as I watch Amira’s eyes roll to the back of her head, moaning in delight as she presses herself into him.

When it looks as though Green is about to come up for air, I start assuming that they’re done, only I’m wrong. Rather than a breath, he uses the time as an opportunity to whisper something into her ear.

I don’t know what he says, but whatever he does, it practically makes Amira squeal beyond belief.

Oh, how I wish I could be a fly on the wall.

Oh, how I wish I was?—

“You ready to go?” Hart catches me off guard as he places a comforting hand on my shoulder.

For whatever reason, I don’t immediately respond. I want to, but I can’t. All I can do is see the picture of Amira and Green looping through my mind.

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