Page 51 of Below the Barrel

I nod, leaning a little closer, just enough to blur the lines. “Yeah, it is. You know, I think I’ve underestimated how fun you are, Charles.”

He laughs, a little flustered, clearly not expecting me to be so forward. “You? Underestimating me? Never.”

I flirt back, more openly now, my hand brushing his arm as I smile at him. It’s not real. None of it is. But it’s easier to do this than to sit with the feelings Koa stirred up. I keep telling myself it’s harmless, that I’m just having fun, but deep down, I know what I’m really doing.

I’m running. Running from Koa, from his words, from the possibility of getting hurt again.

And it’s not working.

The group of girls surround me before I even realize what’s happening. They’re giggling, nudging each other as they drag me away from Charles. Their eyes are filled with curiosity, and I already know what’s coming.

“So,” one of them says with a smirk, “what’s going on with you and Koa?”

I blink, trying to play dumb. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, come on,” another chimes in, leaning closer. “We all saw you two at Carnival. You were all over each other.”

The memory of last night—of Koa’s hands on me, his lips, the way my body responded to him—floods my mind. It’s almost too much, and I feel a pang of something I don’t want to acknowledge. I glance towards the bar where Koa is standing, and sure enough, he’s watching me, his dark eyes tracking my every move. The way he looks at me, it’s as if he’s still claiming me, like I belong to him.

It pisses me off.

I turn back to the girls, forcing a smile. “Koa? Nah, he’s all yours. Go ahead and take him.”

They exchange a few shocked glances before breaking into laughter. One of them claps her hands together, almost in disbelief. “Really? You’re saying he’s free?”

“Completely free.” The words taste bitter as they leave my mouth, but I push through it. “I’m not holding him back.”

The moment the words are out, I feel a sharp stab of regret. But I don’t let it show. I just watch as the girls giggle excitedly and make their way over to him. And to my surprise—no, to myhorror—Koa doesn’t seem to mind. He actuallyinteractswith them. He’s smiling, laughing, his eyes lighting up in a way that feels like a slap to my face.

What the hell?

Jealousy surges inside me, hot and fierce. I hate the way he looks so damn unbothered. He’s enjoying the attention, and I’m left standing here, feeling like an idiot for caring. For a second, I can’t even think straight, the rage boiling up inside me.

I need to do something.Anythingto get back at him.

My eyes dart to Charles. I flash him a flirtatious smile, step closer, and before I know it, we’re dancing. My body moves tothe rhythm of the music, my hips swaying, and I make sure Koa sees.

I’m dancing, probably horribly, with Charles for one reason only—to piss Koa off.

Every now and then, I glance over at Koa. He’s still at the bar, but now his expression has changed. He’s no longer laughing with the girls. His jaw is tight, his eyes narrowing as they lock onto me and Charles.

Good. I want him to feel the way I felt.

I can feel his anger simmering from across the room, his eyes tracking my every move. It should make me feel good, maybe even satisfied that I got the reaction I wanted out of him. But instead, something tight and uneasy coils inside me. This isn’t who I am. I don’t play these games—yet here I am, dancing with Charles, trying to make Koa feel something.

Charles leans in closer, whispering something I barely register over the pounding music and his thick accent, and before I know it, he’s tugging me toward the back of the pub. I hesitate, glancing back, but Koa is still by the bar, glaring at us like he wants to rip Charles apart. For a second, I think about pulling away, but Charles’ hand is firm on my wrist, and I stumble into a dark corner of the back room before I can even process what’s happening.

“Wait—” I start, my voice shaky as I try to pull back, but he doesn’t listen. His hands are suddenly everywhere, rough and fast, tugging at my clothes, his mouth coming down on mine without warning.

“No!” I shove at his chest, panic rising in my throat, but he’s stronger than I expected. My heart races, my breaths shallow as I try to push him off. “Stop!”

He doesn’t stop. Instead, he presses harder, his hands roaming where they have no business being, and fear gripsme. My mind goes blank, trapped in the growing terror of the moment.

Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice—a roar of fury.

“Koa?” I manage to gasp just as Charles is ripped off me, his body flying back against the wall with a hardthud.

Koa is on him in an instant, his fist smashing into Charles’ face. One punch, then another, each hit fuelled by a rage I’ve never seen in him before. Charles slumps to the ground, groaning in pain, but Koa doesn’t stop. He’s going to destroy him, and all I can think is that he’s going to kill him if I don’t do something.

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