Page 126 of Sincerely, Your Enemy

I lean back against the wall, eyeing the red cup in my hand. I’ve barely touched my drink since I got here. I didn’t feel like getting wasted, unlike the guys, all of whom are pretty much gone.

I spot a very drunk Aaron stumbling through the crowd the next second. I hate the motherfucker like I’ve never hated anyone in my life, but I’ve got to give it to him—he was right when he said I needed to tell her the truth.

Our relationship will never work otherwise. Plus, if I don’t tell her,he will, and I’m afraid we won’t be able to come back from that.

I’ll tell her everything soon. But not tonight. Tonight, we’ll dance, kiss, have the time of our lives. I’ll pretend like I didn’t enter her life for all the wrong reasons, and we might still stand a chance.

Aaron whisks his head to the side and notices me staring at him. We make eye contact across the room, the threat looming in his gaze making me boil on the inside.

I see the door open in the background, and my focus darts to the goddess who just walked through it.

Lacey stands in the doorway with Dia and Finn, wearing the same sexy little white bikini she was wearing that night in the hot tub, pale jean shorts, and an opened, turquoise Hawaiian shirt with a white flower pattern on it.

Her wavy, brown hair flows down her shoulders, stopping just inches above her belly button, and she has her arm linked with Dia’s.

Fuck, she’s perfect.

Always has been.

Aaron spots her just seconds after I do, his bloodshot eyes immediately traveling back to me. I can practically hear his drunk ass thinking, “You had your chance to tell her. Now it’s my turn.”

He wouldn’t dare.

Not when she’s just stepped foot through the door.

I shoot him a venomous look, my fists rolling into white-knuckled balls at my sides. He holds my gaze, unflinching, as he stares bullets through my forehead.

I thought I had more time, but judging by the look on Aaron’s face? I have to tell her right the fucknow. If I don’t, the bastard is going to pull the rug from under me.

I don’t miss a beat, heading straight for my girl, elbowing my way through the crowd to reach her. Her face lights up at the sight of me, but her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, the darknessreflecting in them making me question whether or not she already knows.

No.

No, she couldn’t know.

But something is definitely bothering her. I can tell from the way she exchanges nervous glances with her best friend, who also seems to be in on it.

My pulse shoots through the ceiling when I see Aaron start to walk toward her from the corner of my eye.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

It’s as though we’re in a race, each of us eager to get to her first.

“Hey, Aaron!” I hear Chance shout from across the room, and Aaron stops dead, glancing back at him over his shoulder. “You ready to settle that score?”

I forge ahead, making the most of Chance’s interruption. I don’t stop until I’m standing in front of Lacey.

“Not now, man,” I hear Aaron say behind me.

Lacey frowns when she drinks me in, and I assume the panic is apparent on my face, but I can’t mask my fear any longer.

“Everything okay?” Lacey asks, studying me carefully.

The air is thinning in my lungs. “I…”

Speak, damn it.

“Can we go outside?” I manage to say.