Page 133 of Ominous: Part 1
“We broke up.” He says it like it’s nothing, like they do it all the time. Then he steps further down the hall, coming to a stop across the gleaming white island from me. I place my palm on the marble, feel it’s hot beneath my fingers from the sun streaming in. “You’re just going to get fucking smashed, and it won’t matter he’s eye-fucking her, huh?”
I take another drink, not wanting to meet Dominic’s bleary, blue gaze. The burn reaches into my stomach, and I realize the single doughnut I had in the car with Eli is not nearly enough to soak up the alcohol if that’s even a real thing.
Finally, I can’t force myself to have any more, not without getting sick, so I lower the cup, circling my hands around it and staring at what’s left. “Is that what you’re doing?” I keep my voice low, but the first drink I had is already hitting me, and these gulps won’t be far behind. I feel a little bolder, and a lot curious, so I lift my gaze to Dominic, finding his nostrils flaring as I stare at him.
He shakes his head once, and I watch his throat roll when he swallows. “You don’t know shit about me.” I guess the comradery we built at his party is gone.
“Because you’re so fucking open, right? Easy to get to know and all?”
Surprising me, after a tense moment, he smiles, rolling his eyes. “God, you are mean.”
I press my fingertips into the plastic, feeling it flex beneath my touch. “I can be meaner.” I flick my gaze up and down his body. “Rough night last night?”
He looks down his nose at me a moment, and I see the beginning of a pimple along his jawline. Somehow, it makes him more appealing. Human, maybe, or perhaps just rougher around the edges than his boat shoes might indicate. He seems to come to some sort of conclusion, because he grabs a beer, twists off the cap, and with a trembling hand, he brings the bottle to his lips, swallowing as he closes his eyes. Like he’s found relief.
He slams the bottle down roughly and grips the ledge of the island with his free hand, staring at me. “Yeah. I went out.”
I arch a brow. “Good for you.”
He smiles, noting my condescending tone. “Fuck, Eden. I think you need to get laid.” He lifts his beer, gesturing outside as his smile turns crueler, and I know what he’s looking at. I refuse to turn around and see Luna and Eli in the pool. “Looks like he’s about to.”
I roll my eyes, throwing back more of my drink. “You aren’t jealous? Not even a little?” I crunch ice between my teeth as I lower my cup.
Dominic snorts. “I’ve gotten used to it.” He takes another drink, his eyes on me.
I think about Winslet. I want to bring it up. Her up. I’m sure that’s why he’s all fucked up. But I don’t know what to say. Before I have to grasp for anything, he steers us there all on his own. “Watching him flirt with my sister was far fucking worse.”
My heart thumps hard in my chest. I think about how mad he was when I assumed Winslet and Eli had dated. I take a deep breath, trying not to appear too eager as I ask, “How’s the investigation going?”
Dominic stares at the counter for a long moment. I’m worried I crossed a line, but he brought her up, right? I think? “What has he told you?” He finally counters my question with a question, his eyes cutting to mine.
“Not much,” I say truthfully. I think of Eli’s word in the car.Murder.Was it a slip? What am I missing? “You can talk about it, you know… if you want.”
He nods once as he swallows, his throat rolling. “Appreciate it. I—”
His words are cut off by a giggle. A girl’s laughter.
I clench my teeth, turning my head as flip-flops slap against the marble flooring, and Eli and Luna both appear around the corner, their arms tangled together. There’s a bright smile on Luna’s face even as her and Eli stop short, by the fridge, staring at us as if they didn’t expect to find us here.
Eli isn’t smiling. It’s the only solace I take as Luna’s smile hitches higher, her eyes darting from me to Dom.
“Oh, no, please,” Eli says, wrapping his fingers around Luna’s wrist as my gut twists. “Don’t let me interrupt, Dom.” His words are surprisingly cold, and my skin crawls. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dom’s gaze is fixed on both of his friends, too.
Eli leans against the doorway leading into the second living room, pulling Luna up against his side, a smile etched onto his handsome face, water dripping from both of them. His skin is gleaming brown from the sun, his hair wet and pushed back. There’s an unlit joint between the fingers of his free hand.
I refuse to think about the fact so much of Luna’s bare skin is touching his.
Instead, I twist around, looking over my shoulder, and I see Jasper talking to the other girls, and Baca is off to the side, looking out of place.
“How did you—”
“There’s more than one way in, Eden,” Eli interrupts me, speaking in the same cold, detached voice. “But I’m really interested to hear what you two were chatting about.”
Luna laughs a little but says nothing.
I turn back, my gaze darting between Dominic and Eli, staring at each other.
“I was really interested to see whereyou twowere headed out there,” Dom finally says, winking, forcing playfulness over his grief.
