Page 115 of Eternal

“With you? Nope.”

“Fair enough.” I roll my eyes. “But we’re already here, so go play. Have fun. We don’t have to stay long.”

“Whatever you say.” Declan leads me over to where a group of students are playing cornhole.

Everyone here is a product of Sigma Sin in one way or another. A member, an initiate, or a child of one. It’s unnerving.

Declan kisses the back of my hand when Maddox calls him up next.

“You good?”

“Yeah.” I force a smile. “Go.”

He waits until I nudge his hand, urging him away. And as I watch him walk away, the sense that we’re fleeting settles around me again. I’m not the girl who can sit comfortably at his side at parties. I can barely manage it in the middle of the forest at my parents’ cabin. This mask of a girl I’m trying to wear is scratching at what’s beneath, and pretty soon, I’m going to get the urge to start picking at it.

While Declan makes his way over to the game, I take a seat at one of the loungers facing the game.

Declan’s grin stretches his entire face as his first beanbag makes it in the hole, and he winks at me when he notices I saw it. The confidence that bleeds from his pores is intoxicating. It’s magnetic. And I’m not the only one who sees it.

The girl on Maddox’s arm eyes Declan’s every move. She cheers for every toss and smiles wider when he glances over at her.

She’s pretty. Her strawberry-blonde hair is in a loose bun, and her cheeks are peppered with freckles. She looks like someone Declan’s dad would approve of. She’s a ray of sunshine, while I’m a rain cloud.

“Water?”

I look up to see Jase standing over me, holding out a water bottle.

“Thanks.” I take it.

Jase drops into the lounger beside me. “I saw you skip on the booze and thought you might be thirsty.”

“Alcohol doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Got it.” Jase glances from me to the game. “I’m sorry you’re caught in the middle of this.”

I look over at him. “Are you?”

“I’m not a total asshole, Teal. So yeah, I’m sorry.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but you seem a little too happy to be playing along to be convincing.” I shrug.

“Did Declan tell you that?”

“No.” My eyebrows pinch, and I wonder what conversations the two of them have had about me. “But you’re not trying to stop this, so I don’t know why you’re trying to pretend you care.”

“Tell me something, Teal. What are you doing to try and stop it? I’m in the same position you are.”

“I’m dating Declan.”

“Sure you are.” Jase chuckles, taking a sip of his drink.

“What are you implying?” I glare at him. “That my relationship is a lie?”

Jase leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and watches the game. “Only you can answer that question, but you’re getting pretty defensive if it isn’t.”

“Maybe I’m defensive because I don’t like what you’re insinuating.”

“I’m just telling you how it looks.” He glances over at me. “And what I’ve heard.”