Page 13 of Bittersweet Revenge
Aislin tenses beside me. “Yes, but I assume you knew that. Don’t try to get close to me because of my brother. I don’t play those games.”
A spike of pride jumps in my chest, and I immediately try and tamp it down. I have no fucking reason to feel prideful for her. No matter what it feels like, Aislin is the enemy too.
“I wasn’t…”
“You can go now,” Aislin says. The other girl scoffs and walks away. “Fucking bitch.”
“That happen a lot?”
“My whole fucking life in one way or another. It’s always about Tiernan or my father. And T… I know he doesn’t like it as much as he pretends, but—shit. I’m a little buzzed.”
“But what?”
She ignores the question and grabs my hand. “Let’s dance.”
“What? Hell no. I don’t dance.”
She doesn’t listen, instead dragging me to the middle of the room. The second we’re out there, Aislin wraps her arms around my neck and moves against me to the fast pace of the song.
“Is this all right?” she asks.
“Um…yeah…?” I’ve never once in my life danced with someone—girl or guy. That’s just never been my life.
“You’re not moving, Dean. Oh my God. You’re terrible at this. Loosen up.”
Surprising myself, I try and do what she says, try to move with her. She puts her hands on my waist, guiding me. I feel likea fucking idiot, and I want nothing more than to walk out of this house and never see any of them again, but I don’t. Can’t.
She turns around, her ass against my crotch. “Uh-oh. My brother’s watching us.”
I look up, my gaze clashing with Tiernan’s. He’s standing in the same place as earlier, only this time, Cillian and Rory are with him. His face is hard, jaw set, eyes narrowed. I put my hands on Aislin’s hips, following her directions, but I have a feeling she’s trying to show me off to her brother. It’s not like I want her that way, and she knows it.
“You’ve definitely caught his attention.” She turns back around to face me. “Maybe it’ll do him some good. Tiernan is used to getting what he wants.”
I grind my teeth, then force myself to say, “He seems like the type.”
“Is it terrible that I like to see him suffer a little?”
She chuckles, and I find myself again genuinely doing the same thing. It’s that thought that makes me freeze. I need to back away.
“You went stiff again. Did I say something wrong?”
“No.” I shake off her concern. “I just…I should probably go.” This night has turned to shit anyway. I let my temper and anger pull me away from Tiernan, the one shot I had with him.
“Oh. Okay. Can you get back to the dorms on your own?”
I frown. I’ve spent most of my life with no one other than my mom to give a shit about me, yet here Aislin is, worried I can’t make it back to my dorm?
“I’m fine,” I say, taking a step away. I can’t explain what I’m feeling right now. I don’t understand what it means. My skin feels too tight, and it’s hard to breathe. “I’ll see you in class.”
I walk away, hearing her say something about texting me. I gave her my number the day before.
The weight on my chest gets heavier and heavier, my lungs feeling crushed beneath it. What the fuck is happening to me?
I suck in a sharp breath the second I step outside, pulling air into my lungs.
The house is down a long driveway, surrounded by trees. Gravel crunches beneath my feet as I take quick, hard steps. I notice the sound behind me but don’t stop.
I’m not surprised when I hear, “Why are you running away, New Kid?”
