Page 161 of Sweetheart: Part One

Triton Star appeared at his side, opening his mouth as if to say something, and then pausing as he caught sight of me.

Fear turned to outright panic.

Both were exactly as I remembered. Zeus was massive—I was tall, but he dwarfed me. He was burly, tanned skin and sweep of black hair framing dark eyes. Even the pack of Marlboro was tucked in his pocket, the cardboard lid creased from a pack half finished. Triton’s brown waves were messy, just like my memories, his jade green eyes lit up with delight as he looked at me.

Triton meant the rest of the pack weren’t far behind. There was no one else out here at the moment. It was just me and them. So I did the only thing I could think of, not caring about the shame burning my cheeks as I did.

I ducked around Triton, staggering back a few steps, then I turned and ran.

Zeus’s low laugh followed me down the hall.

I didn’t head for the main event, not ready for all the people in there. A fist was squeezing my throat closed. And that was when—for the second time—I turned a corner and crashed headlong into someone else.

I heard a familiar squeak as I grabbed the person, steadying them so they didn’t go flying.

“Drake?” Vex’s eyes were wide and fixed on me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeh.” I steadied her, unable to help glancing behind me, but the corner I’d careened around was empty of people.

They weren’t following me.

They wouldn’t, right? I was here with my whole pack.

With Ebony.

Zeus wouldn’t try a damn thing if he thought Ebony might get involved.

I was safe.

I was fucking safe—I tried to make that thought stick. And Vex was here, concerned eyes on me, soothing my pounding heart rate. That was when I realised my phone was buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out, knowing I’d done a shit job of locking the bond down. Of course, it was Ebony.

Ebony: What’s going on?

Ebony: Reply Drake, or I’m making a scene.

Fuck.

Fuck. No scene. I scrambled to type out a response.

Me: Nothing. I’m fine.

Me: Found Vex. All good.

“Drake?” Vex reached up, hesitant, not wanting to spook me, I thought. I leaned my cheek against her palm, nodding slightly.

“I’m fine,” I told her. “Really. Just… got in my own head. That’s all.”

“I know what that’s like,” she whispered. “Do I need to kill any monsters under the bed?”

I smiled, my heart calming more as she watched me. “Sure, Dreamgirl. I’d like that.”

She grinned, glancing around, almost comically. “You point, I’ll shoot.”

My pulse felt almost even now as I was swallowed into her beautiful chocolate eyes. Even if itwasall make believe, and the monsters under my bed weren’t ones Vex could kill.

I finally looked around, trying to see where we were. It was behind the set where they took the celebrity photos. I could hear the shouts and conversation and a thousand shutters of cameras as more celebrities filed in on the other side.

“What are you doing back here?” I asked.

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