Page 33 of Dysfunctional

As he blows out the smoke, he says, “I just want a taste of your lips, even if I have to risk dying to get it.”

He drops the butt and puts it out with the toe of his boot, crowding my space as he steps forward. His hand grazes my cock as he leans in close to my ear.

“Let me know when you’re done with Will, then we can have some real fun. My gift to you is waiting, and it won’t last long.”

He backs up, his eyes focused on mine as he drags his thumb over his lip. He’s the embodiment of dark and dangerous, seductively so. He knows exactly what to do—and how—to get my attention.

After turning and taking a few steps away from me, he slips his mask in place.

“Kaspian.”

He turns around to reveal a shattered doll mask with black eyes and a slash through the mouth from ear to ear. “Yes?”

“What did you do?”

Even though I can’t see his expression under the mask, I can visualize the smug, crooked grin he’s giving me.

ChapterTwelve

“Everything okay?” Willow asks when I return to the bar.

“Yeah. Went for a smoke break and ran into a friend.”

“Okay, cool. We’re getting ready to head to the next bar.”

Our group of about eight walks to the end of Park Avenue and turn in the direction Kaspian went. At the next street, we go left and find ourselves in a sports bar. Decorations hang from the ceiling and are plastered on the walls. People pose for photos they’ll be sure to have up on Instagram tomorrow morning, and I find my normal citizen mask begin to slip.

This isn’t me. Not at my core. I’ve been pretty good at being charming enough to be liked but make it a point to not be too talkative. Being too loquacious can often annoy people, plus I’d be spewing mostly lies if I had to be the life of the party. I don’t want that much attention.

It’s hard to find the right balance.

I’m antisocial. I don’t like crowds, clubs, parties, or people in general. I’ve had my fill for the night, and I’m sure I’ve done a good enough job that everybody who’s seen me will believe I had a good time. The truth is, I’m not stimulated by bar hopping. I find it boring, and Kaspian’s mysterious gift calls to me.

Jason nudges my arm as I plan my escape. “I’m better than BJ, right?” He’s nearly drunk, staring at Samantha and BJ as they dance.

“Definitely got the better name,” I say. We laugh together.

“I don’t know what she sees in him. If only she knew what I do.”

Through the night, I’ve come to find out that Jason is in love with Samantha, but she doesn’t see him in that light. BJ is an asshole with some secrets.

“Tell her,” I say with a shrug.

“She’d hate me.”

“Figure out how to tell her anonymously.”

His brows furrow as he mulls it over. “Maybe.” He starts nodding his head. “Yeah, that could work. Thanks, man.”

I smile at him. Maybe it’s not normal to recommend sabotaging someone’s relationship for your own benefit, but hey, it’s not like I told him to kill BJ.

“Hey, let’s do some shots,” I say with a wide grin that I don’t mean. “I’ll grab them.”

“Ezra’s getting shots,” Jason announces to the group. Everyone cheers.

When I’m back with a tray of liquor, I happily pass them out to everyone, smiling and laughing, and fitting in with everyone else. “To new friends!” I say, giving Willow a coy smile. She beams back at me and we down our drinks.

I let a good fifteen minutes go by and make sure I wait until I’m near everyone in the group before I pull out my phone and pretend to answer a call. Because it’s so loud, I have to go outside to hear, so they understand.

---