Page 16 of Devious Temptation
My skin prickles with irritation. Allison Sweeny has been a thorn in my side all year since she transferred from out of state to our rival school. She’s been fawning all over Rhys like he’s the greatest thing ever to walk this earth since the second she saw him. And while I’m confident my boyfriend loves me, it hasn’t escaped my attention that he doesn’t seem to mindherattention.
“Was she now? Did she leave?” I ask before chugging my seltzer—one of the few alcoholic beverages I’m able to drink without it making me feel like the walking dead the next day.
Bethany follows me to the hall, where I throw my purse into a large coat closet. “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen her for a while. But… Lucy… I haven’t seen Rhys for a while either.” Her big brown eyes are filled with pity.
A buzzing sound goes off in my ears as I stare at her. A heavy, crushing wave of anxiety swells beneath my lungs. “Where are Lawson and Charlotte?”
She looks confused momentarily, her taupe brows drawing together before shooting up toward her hairline. “Oh! Mr. and Mrs. Morgan? Rhys’ mom hasn’t been here all night, and his dad went upstairs a while ago. He looked kinda mad at Rhys if I’m being honest.”
Something pricks my heart. “Did he see Allison hanging on Rhys?”
She nods.
I can’t decide which news upsets me more: Rhys letting another girl hang on him or Lawson watching it happen.
“Jimmy was saying that Rhys is really upset about you deciding to go to Berkeley, especially since you’re going earlier now for cheer.”
“Bethany, baby! Let’s go!” her boyfriend, Jimmy, shouts from the living room.
Her thick lashes flutter as she rolls her eyes. “I hope it’s nothing. But if it does end up being…something, just know that you deserve better. Besides, we’re all going off to college. There’s plenty of other fish in the sea.”
Bethany’s words don’t comfort me. As people begin to leave, with only a few who are too drunk to drive staying behind to pass out in the pool house, it becomes easier to see that neither my boyfriend nor Allison are amongst the crowd.
The stairwell leading to the basement is dark as I stand at the top of it, fingers twisting in the hem of Rhys’ jersey. My nerves are fried, and the bottoms of my feet tingle with pins and needles as I take the first step down.
There’s a night light at the bottom of the stairs for when River falls asleep playing video games so he doesn’twake up in complete darkness. It casts the den in a gentle glow, guiding me to Rhys’ room.
At the first sign of the very thing I’m afraid of, my heart jumps into my throat, expanding to block my airway. The door is cracked, and the sounds of a bed squeaking grow louder with each step I take. It’s clear what’s happening. The familiar sounds of my boyfriend’s groans join barely concealed squeaks that are obviously female, but I can’t stop my feet from moving. Some insane part of me needs to see it to confirm my worst fear.
My lungs burn with their need for air as I gently push his door open. Blonde hair cascades down a naked back. A bare ass as Rhys pounds into her from below. His whispered words of encouragement as he brings her closer to release.
Air fills my lungs sharply, drawing their attention to where I stand, frozen in the doorway.
“Fuck! Lucy! This isn’t what it looks like!” Rhys’ clichéd excuse fills the room as he all but throws Allison off him.
I’m already halfway down the hall, furiously wiping at the hot tears that catch on my lower lashes, when I hear him shout, “Where the fuck are my pants?”
His heavy footsteps are loud behind me as I climb the stairs two at a time, trying to escape before he can catch up to me and try to feed me his bullshit excuses as to why he’s cheating. The living room is empty when I reach it, and a curse falls from my lips when I remember I was dropped off and don’t have a way to leave.
River’s room is at the end of the hall, and knowing he’s at a friend’s house tonight, I make a run for it. No one willcare if I lock myself inside until Rhys passes out, and then I can call someone to come get me.
“Lucy! Wait! Let me explain!” Rhys is nearly on my heels as I fly through the house.
“There’s nothing to explain! It’s pretty simple, your dick was in another girl. Got it. Message received!” I scream back.
Thick tears cause my vision to blur, and I know I’ll never make it to River’s room before he catches me.
“Lucy, please!”
We aren’t supposed to go into Lawson’s office without his permission, but he’s permitted me to organize it, and I take that as a good enough excuse to try the door since it’s closer than River’s. Relief floods through me to find it open, and I rush into the room, slamming the door behind me and locking it just as Rhys’ fists meet the heavy wood.
Eight
I’mthree tumblers of whiskey in by the time the party clears from the house. I’ve never been more thankful for soundproofing. I’m barely able to hear anything when the thumping music cuts off in the living room.
So when my office door swings open while I’m standing at my minibar, pouring myself a fourth drink, it startles the shit out of me.
Lucy rushes in and slams the door behind her, stepping back to glare at it as she breathes heavily and wipes at her eyes. I’m too shocked to say anything, and she clearly doesn’t notice I’m in the room.
