Page 47 of The Masks We Wear

William decides to park at my house, and we walk around the end of the street, wrapping back around to Lily’s. We fall behind a group of juniors giggling and rattling off about the football game from Friday. They are all huddled close, shivering with their laughter. For the ground to be covered in snow, it always surprises me the lack of clothes people wear to these things.

“So this is it, huh? The house to the famed Liliana.” William looks around, letting his eyes linger on a few groups of girls.

I nod, unable to really speak. I don’t see her, but I can feel her. The heat on the side of my face is scalding, but I can’t force myself to look just yet.

No matter how much we can’t stand each other, in that room, we both wanted each other. And that scares the fuck out of me.

“Well, well. I thought I told Blaze to take the trash out.” Amora skirts in front of us, blocking our path to the living room. She turns to Remy first, letting her icy eyes trail down Remy’s body.

“And who is she supposed to be? Someone we actually give a fuck about?” William looks at me, his thick brows raised.

“Oh, honey, I’m not sure who you are, but I’m all you should care about.” Amora turns to William, a placid expression on her face, but the vein in her neck pulses.

“I’m anything but sweet, bunny. Now, hop along and bother someone else.”

William twists and faces Amora. I don’t miss the way her eyes widen slightly or the hitch in her breath. It’s the normal reaction when girls meet him. Hell, guys too. But she doesn’t back down. “Bunny. That’s cute. Know what else would be cute? Watching your nose play peek-a-boo under my pussy.”

He scoffs, but a playful smile curls the end of his lips. “Sorry, dove, I’m fasting. But even if I wasn’t, I’d have to pass. You look a little clingy.”

Amora tilts her head back and laughs so hard she snorts. She flips her blonde strands behind her exposed shoulder, and suddenly all humor has left her. “I only use you boys, for a little light amusement. And while you look like a fun time,” her eyes drop the length of his body, stopping right at his groin before snapping back up. “I bet I’d be disappointed.”

She disappears before William can respond, but even if she hadn’t, he looks stumped. His mouth is open, and his eyebrows are furrowed. It’s a face I have never seen on him before. “Who was that?”

“Lily’s best friend.”

He huffs, running an oversized hand through his hair. “Hmm. That explains a lot.”

Remy grunts, leaning against the wall. “C-can we get some drinks?”

I wrap my hand around her wrist, rubbing the back of my burning neck with the other, and lead them toward the kitchen. “Say less.”

TWENTY

That’s him.William. I know it is.

Anyone that hot at Emerald Falls can’t go unnoticed. Hell, I’m surprised Spencer made it that long without people talking.

When we were younger, there was only one guy he used to talk about. The one who had him ten months out of the year and still called him almost every damn day. Pissed me off that he even answered the calls. He was supposed to beminefor those seventy-four days. But I always felt like I was competing for his undivided attention.

It makes sense he would bring him here. Parade the very person that was our end.

I ignore the pang of jealousy that shoots through my limbs when I see Spencer grab Remy’s wrist. I know they aren’t involved intimately, but it still bothers me to see him sensitive, soft with someone.

That’s it.

I’ve done everything to get a reaction out of him. Embarrassed him, inconvenienced him, annoyed the fuck out of him, and probably given him blue balls a few times. But I’ve never tested his endurance to watch me with someone else. And I know just the person.

Amora bounces through the small crowd and up the stairs. She rubs the gaggle of goose bumps down her arm. “Who the fuck is he with?”

“A friend from where he used to live.”

“Hmm.” She chews the inside of her cheek. “I want to sit on his pretty face.”

Chuckling through my nose, I watch over the railing as Remy and Spencer make it to the kitchen. They both motion to the juice, then their bodies shake in unison as they laugh and grab a beer. It always surprises me to see Remy out of her element, doing something I wouldn’t imagine her doing. It makes me wonder vaguely who she is behind the person she shows the world.

“Let me have a little fun with him. Then he’s all yours.”

Amora giggles, rocking on his heels. “Ooooo. What are you going to do?”

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