Page 82 of Invisible String
“I’m fine,” I snap, drinking the whiskey like water.
“Do you want to dance?”
“No,” I respond in a flat tone, mirroring my current dry mood. She leans in closer to me as I stand against the wall.
My gaze roams the room in search of Rainey. When I spot her, it’s like there’s a shift in my mood. My lungs fill with air. Every minute without her, my way of breathing is stolen. Raineyturns toward me, and our gaze locks. She peers at Annette, and I know it’s doing something to her. She was jealous of her before, but I could be wrong. Annette stands in front of me, blocking my line of vision. She’s close to my height.
“Is that the woman you were with back in Tahoe years back?”
I nod.
Her soft fingers brush my cheek. “Let’s dance, Max. I’ve been waiting for us to be together. We make a great couple. Why are you so hung up on her? I can see the way you’re looking at her. She’s not what you need. She has someone else. We have history.”
My hands rip hers right off. “You don’t know shit about her and me. You and I will never be together, Annette. I’ve never given you any indication that I want you. We did not come together. We have solely been friends, and that’s all it will ever be.”
Annette’s face falls. Her chin trembles, but she composes herself in a heartbeat. I feel slightly bad, but she needs to know to move on. “You love her?” she asks in a whisper—her eyes water.
“More than anything. She’s my way of breathing,” I say with my whole heart, not caring how weak it makes me seem.
“She left you for him?”
“No, I left her for several reasons. Two in particular.”
Her brows go up in response, and she tilts her head, studying me. “Did you tell her of your upbringing? Is that the reason?”
Moving to the side to view Rainey, I need her in my line of sight. I respond. “No, she doesn’t know for…reasons.” Too many reasons, of course. I didn’t want Rainey to see how damn fucked up I was then. How could I have given her me when I didn’t know who I was? Annette knows very little about my life, only that I went to foster care.
“What’s the other reason?”
“Not one you need to know.” I know I sound like a dick, but it’s none of her damn business. Rainey’s gaze goes back to mine. My smirk grows seeing how Andrew has kept his hands to himself. The downturned corners of Rainey’s mouth and how she’s peering at me amplifies just how much she still cares. I saw it in the parking lot, too. Rainey stands and walks to the bar alone. “If you’ll excuse me.”
On my way toward Rainey, I fist-bump a couple of pro boxers. I’m only five steps away, but I stand to view how her hip pops up against the bar. Her silhouette accentuates the hourglass figure of her body, creating a beautiful curve. I can’t help but admire the way her dress hugs her perfectly round ass. It’s delicious to look at. The open back of her dress tempts my fingers to run along her skin.
The bartender, flirting with her, talks to her over his shoulder as he fills her a glass. He winks, and she laughs at what he says. Hate and fury flare hot in my gut, molten and burning.
Not happening.
She gets out her card. Before he takes it, I slam my hand on the counter and fix my murderous eyes on him. “Add it to my tab,” I say to the dude behind the bar giving her “fuck me” eyes.
Rainey presses her lips together in a straight line. The look she’s giving me is just as lethal as the one I’m giving him.
“Let’s dance.”
“No.”
“I didn’t ask, sunshine.” My hand is out, waiting for her to take it. Stubborn ass.
“You should ask your date.”
“I don’t have one, and I’m asking you.” The tension between us wraps around us like an invisible ring.
“Is everything okay? Is this man bothering you?” the bartender asks, his gaze volleying between Rainey and me.
“Yes—”
“Mind your damn business before I dunk your head in that barrel of ice and leave it until you turn blue in the face.” His bewildered gaze bounces to Rainey. “Don’t fucking look at her. She’s not yours to look at.”
“Max,” Rainey snaps. She takes my hand as if I’m twisting her hand in doing so. “I’m not yours either. I belong to no one.”
