Page 50 of The Love of My Next Life
“Clothing,” I answer flatly.
“You look ridiculous.”
My mouth wants to drop at his sneer, but I catch myself and tighten my jaw. I want to cover my body. The parts of myself I don’t like flash in my head, all of the ways I’m exposing my flaws. I almost cower, but the disgusted curl of Macon’s upper lip only fuels my rage.
“Ericlikes it,” I say, and hope it sounds more confident than I feel.
Macon closes the distance between us in three steps.
“That douche likes it because he can see your nipples and wants to titty-fuck you.” He growls, then blows a stream of smoke out of the side of his mouth.
The smoke makes me angrier than his words. I snatch the cigarette and stub it out on the railing.
“So what if he does?” I spit. He steps closer, pressing me into the railing. His pupils are giant. I don’t know if it’s because of the dark or because he’s on something.
“You so desperate for attention that you gotta dress like an actress in a cheap porno?” He fingers the strap of my halter and I swat him away. “You wanna get titty-fucked,Astrea? Just ask.”
“Don’t call me that.” I shove at his chest to hide the embarrassed tint on my cheeks. “Don’t touch me.”
“Didn’t care I was touching you when you were dry-humping on my dick,” he says loudly.
“Macon,” I gasp, and whip my eyes around to make sure no one heard him. He chuckles, and I have to swallow back a growl. “Go back to your backyard bang and let me get back to mydate.”
His eyes narrow and his nostrils flare, but then he barks out a laugh.
“You jealous, Leonard?”
“Never,” I say through my teeth.
“Didn’t think you were a jersey-chasing groupie,” he taunts, and I smirk through my rage.
“Well, I always knew you were a worthless loser.”
My voice is cloying, and I’m staring him down when Eric appears over Macon’s shoulder with my new seltzer.
“Here, Len,” Eric says, handing me the drink, then turns to Macon. “Hey. Is there a problem?”
“Macon was just leaving to get high,” I snarl, then turn to Eric. “Thank you,” I tell him sweetly, then pop the tab. I move to take a drink, but the seltzer is ripped from my hand and tossed into the yard. “What the hell, Macon?” I shout.
“Dude, what was that for?” Eric asks, but Macon blows him off and points at me.
“You’re done drinking,” he scolds, then looks at Eric. “She’s done drinking.”
“I’ll do whatever the hell I want!”
“You will not drink,Astrea,” he says again, his voice low and stern. It stirs something deep in my belly, further stoking my anger.
I’ll show himinnocenceandpurity. He thinks I’m so darn easy to mess with. Thinks he can touch me and tease me. Abandon me for days and then put his hands on other girls. He thinks he can make me a joke. This time, I’ll be the only one laughing.
I stand on my tiptoes, so we’re almost nose to nose, and whisper, “watch me,” then push past him and storm into the house. I find a group of football players taking shots and swipe one.
“Thank you,” I say quickly, throwing back the shot before they can protest.
Then I gag.
“Oh my god, that’s terrible,” I force out, and the group laughs. I fan my face and shake my head.
“Want another?” a burly guy asks, and I nod and hold out my hand.
