Page 25 of Freestyle
“Rowyn wouldn’t want you in a million years!”
Phoenix steps in and pulls Gray away from us. “That’s enough. Both of you, just calm down.” He tries to diffuse the situation, but the tension is still thick in the air. Lyndsy’s face is red with anger, and she’s not backing down.
“You can’t keep doing this to everyone, Gray,” she spits out, her eyes blazing with fury. “You’re a bully and a manipulator. You’re just like our father.”
The words seem to hit Gray like a punch to the gut. He recoils, his expression shifting from anger to pain. He’s silent for a moment before he speaks. “Don’t ever compare me to him,” he says, his voice low and filled with a mix of anger and hurt.
“If the shoe fits…” she shrugs. Gray lunges, but Nix grabs him by the arm and forces him back.
“Come on. We’re leaving.” They both look at me, and my heart pounds in my chest. I know that there’s something between me and the two men, something I can’t deny. But I also knowthat I can’t let myself fall for them, not when everything I’ve built is at risk.
Gray grabs my hand and pulls me along after them. “Wait! Rowyn isn’t going with you!” Lyndsy shouts, but his firm only grows tighter.
“Yes the fuck she is. End of discussion.”
“Are you okay?” Lyndsy asks, her voice filled with concern.
I just nod, trying to push down my emotions and process everything that just happened. “I’m fine.”
Everyone from the party piled out of the house as soon as Drake’s body hit the floor. The air is still thick with the scent of blood and sweat.
“You know those assholes are nothing but trouble,” Lyndsy continues. “They’ll use you and throw you away like a piece of trash.”
“I’m just going to make sure they calm down. I’ll see you in the morning,” I reply as Gray forcefully pulls me up the stairs. We get to his room and his dark scented cologne envelops me.
“Where’s your little Fishnette that you brought up here?” I ask, looking around, half expecting to find her sitting there waiting on them.
“Jealous much?” Nix chuckles as he grabs a towel and wipes the blood from his face.
“More like concerned for any diseases I may come in contact with,” I retort.
“Oh, our sunshine has her claws out tonight, Gray.” Niz throws the towel over his shoulder and pulls me into his chest. His spicy bourbon scent surrounds me, clouding my judgement.
“We told Brittany to get the hell out. We just wanted to see your reaction.” As the words sink in, I shove away from Phoenix.Damn them.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Does that even sound remotely sane to your twisted ears?” I shout, backing away toward the door.
“Showed your true feelings, didn’t it? I’d say it worked.”
“Go. To. Hell.” I spit out as I turn and run through the door, straight to the bathroom. I lean over and puke in the toilet.
Lyndsy rushes in behind me and pulls my hair back from my face. “What did they do now?”
“Nothing, just drank too much,” I mumble, not wanting to tell her the truth of what’s been going on behind her back.
“Okay...” Her voice is laced with skepticism. She helps me to my feet, and I wobble, still feeling woozy. From the sight of all the blood to the heady scent of Gray and Nix, I feel like I might be sick again. “Are you okay, Row?”
“I will be,” I say, trying to reassure her. “I just need to go back to my room and rest.”
Lyndsy helps me out of the bathroom and down the hall to my room. Once we’re inside, she helps me into bed and tucks me in.
“Do you want me to stay?” she asks, concern evident in her eyes.
“No, I’ll be fine,” I insist. “Oh! What about Drake?” I shoot up from the bed, recalling the passed out man downstairs.
“I’ll have my dad handle it. You just get some rest,” Lyndsy reassures me.
“I don’t think your dad needs to see that, Lyns. It’s bad enough I had to,” I reply. “I’m sure we can figure something out.”
