Page 193 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.” And I was. This ache in my chest had been plaguing me for years.
“You shouldn’t be used to it, Scar. He shouldn’t treat you that way.”
“It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
She groaned. “It doesn’t matter. Anyone with eyes can tell that you like him. He knows it and he’s being the worst.”
God, I just wanted to crawl into the corner and cry. For years I’d told myself that Axel didn’t know how I felt. But how could he not if everyone else did? He had to know. Was he torturing me just for kicks? Did he really dislike the thought of us being together that much?
It was like something inside me broke.Screw him. Screw Axel Stevens.I was done being his punching bag or whatever the hell kind of game he was playing.
“Operation First Kiss,” Sophie said.
I took a deep breath. After Operation Trap, I should have immediately said no. But I was actually down with this operation.
Jacob reappeared carrying three cups.
He handed me one and I tilted it back. I downed the whole thing in four gulps.
Jacob was staring at me when I lowered the cup.
All I had to do was stand up on my tiptoes, grab the back of his neck, and kiss him. Easy. So why couldn’t I do it?
I’d dreamed of my first kiss being with Axel my whole freaking life.
But Axel had already kissed a million girls. He didn’t deserve to be my first.
“Here, you look like you need this,” Sophie said and handed me her drink too.
I nodded and downed it.
Okay. I’ve got this.It was just a kiss. I’d built it up in my head so much, but it truly was just a kiss. People did it all the time. I stared at Jacob. My eyes fell to his lips. And I had the oddest sensation that I wanted to know what his lips tasted like.
I was just about to make my move when someone yelled, “Ladies and gentlemen!” in what could only be described as a ringleader voice.
I turned to see Billy O’Reilly with a megaphone standing on the center ring. The spotlight grew brighter. “The main event starts in half an hour!”
The main event?
“Grab your drinks. Dance. Get drunk!”
A few people cheered and whistled.
“You can place your bets in ring three.”
Bets for what?
“Now let the party begin!”
As soon as he said it, the spotlight cut out, almost making it look like he disappeared. And then the lights streaming along the ceiling cut out too, bathing everything in darkness.
There was a roaring noise and I jumped. “Are there actually animals here somewhere?”
“Probably,” Sophie said.
As long as there weren’t snakes. I really, really hated snakes. “And what are people betting on?”
“You’ll see,” Jacob said.
