Page 230 of Entangled

Heather follows my gaze to the couple, who are dancing. This time slow and pressed together... and watching me.

We’re only a foot away, but—for some godforsaken reason—I wave at them.

Lucky breaks into another round of laughter, pressing his head into Jasper’s chest.

“Oh, girl, look, if you want to rail the whole squad, good for you, but you’re leaving someone out. How about you go find Dom? He’s sitting over... there.” Heather turns me toward the apple tree, where Dom is standing, surveying the party. “He’s looking extra hot tonight. Stupid hot. Rip-his-clothes-off-with-your-teeth hot.”

Irritation rips through me, spoiling some of my happy glow.

“I know how good he looks.” It comes out tight. My teeth feel glued together.

Heather nudges me toward the lit-up tree, shooting me a taunting, gray-eyed wink. “Just go for him. You know he can fuck like a?—”

I shove out of her grip. “Iwillslap you.”

She laughs, and I pluck her bottle from her hand.

“I’m taking this as an asshole tax,” I tell her primly, then turn back toward Lucky and Jasper, my fluttery skirts swishing about my legs.

This is a happy night. I’m going to spend it doing happy things with happy people.

“Eden, wait. Hey!” Heather laughs again. “I’m not into him, if that’s what’s been holding you back. He’s very thoroughly over me too. Just let me play matchmaker—I owe it to both of you.”

I stagger to a stop, then turn around in surprise.

They’re...notinto each other?

My mind races as I look her over, flipping through images of her and Dom over the last two weeks. Talking. Laughing. Bickering. Staying up late together... but no hand-holding. No long, lingering looks.

Does Dom even hold hands?

I chew on my lower lip. Bold. Tonight, I ambold.

“You don’t want him?” I ask. Heather’s head tilts, and suddenly, boldness turns to panic. “Isn’t that—? I mean, don’t you... You’re very pretty. And he’s very pretty. And you know what he looks like naked. God. I hate that you know what he looks like naked. It makes it very hard to like you. You’re also very rude. That also makes it hard to like you. You really should be nicer to people.” I rub my forehead, flustered. “Except Dom. You don’t have to be nicer to him. How niceareyou to him? Just so I know.”

Heather crosses her arms, her brows raised, and I tug at the bodice of my dress.

“Is it warm out here? It’shot.” I eye the bonfire, but it’s still where I left it. Chugging along like it’s dancing to the music.

Heather shakes her head. “I didn’t pick Dom, Eden. He deserves to be picked.”

Dom is... single. Totally free and available. Unattached. He’s also been talking to me every day.

My happy feelings start flooding back, and I grin.

Needing to swish the taste of verbal diarrhea out of my mouth, I take a quick swig of the bottle.

And immediately choke.

The foul sweet-sour taste burns my tongue and I splutter, spraying ruby liquid everywhere.

Heather snatches the bottle from my hands, laughing as she gathers my hair and holds it out of the way. “To the side, rookie. You’re going to wreck your dress if you spit it all up like that.”

I gag again.

She whacks my back. “Girl, I really thought with five guys on the run, you would have at least worked out how to swallow.”

She raises her arm again, and I grab her hand before she makes contact, glaring at her with teary eyes as I suck in air.

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