“You’re full of shit,” Everett says. “I don’t know what your obsession is, but she’s clearly not interested. She’s my best friend. Back the fuck off.”
Luca calmly states, “Let’s test it. Up for the challenge, or too scared to face the truth?”
As soon as I feel Everett move forward, I block his progress. “He’s baiting you. Don’t fall for it.”
Luca’s enjoying this way too much, and his amusement shows as he says, “Tell him. Because you know it as well as he does. But he needs to hear you say the words.”
“Fuck you,” I tell him as Everett shouts, “Are you dating him? Because he sure as fuck thinks he has some claim on you.”
“No, we’re not dating.”
“No, she’s right. Not dating,” Luca replies. “But we did spend the night together.”
I’m going to kill him. Because he knows I can’t explain anything to Everett, and it sounds exactly like Luca intended. But in reality, it was a miserable night in a creepy hospital for a stupid game that I can’t talk about.
So, I just look to Everett and say, “It’s not like that. It was a group of us. Not just him and me.”
Luca snickers, “Didn’t stop you from being with me until sunrise.” He looks to Everett. “I’ll go first.”
“This is ludicrous. And a game I will not play.” I don’t have to. But it feels just like Mercy. They’re using me in their pissing contest, and I have no choice but to let it happen.
“Why? Scared he’ll lose and figure it out?”
Everett does exactly what he was lured to do. “I’ll play.”
“Y’all are both morons,” I state.
“Okay.” Remy had disappeared for a few seconds, but now he returns and passes a blindfold to both Luca and Everett. “Here, put these on.”
Luca’s mouth twists into a sly smile as he fastens the fabric over his eyes.
Remy situates me in place. “You stay here. Brooke you here. You are here and you are there. And I’ll add to the mix too.”
“I cannot with any of you.” I fold my arms across my chest, but the latest game goes on. Remy guides Brooke to go up to Luca as he remains in place.
“Next,” Remy calls as a random girl wearing a sequined dress steps to him. He doesn’t move.
Cain gives me a look like he’d rather be somewhere else when Remy motions for me to go. And I agree with him. But I participate since I know the goons aren’t going to move on without finishing whatever irreverent match-up they have going on. And I hope they both lose at this point.
My fingertips graze across Luca’s cheek as he remains silent for a few seconds. Just as I go to remove my touch from his skin,his hand comes up quickly to grip my wrist and haul me against him. I almost think he’s going to kiss me but his lips float over mine as he says, “I can feel your hesitation. But I wonder if it’s because you’re scared of what you’ll do if you allow yourself to stop holding back. Game over.”
Everett surges forward as he shouts, “He’s cheating. I bet he can see through the blindfold. It’s not like he can ever fight fair.”
I worry the situation will escalate, but Luca only laughs, removing the covering. “He’s right for once. It’s not a fair fight”—Luca turns directly to Everett—“because she’s already mine.”
“That’s enough.” I attempt to intervene.
But Luca’s goal is to make Everett suffer. “Tell him who makes you want to come undone. Who makes you want what you shouldn’t.”
“Shut up.” I realize I didn’t deny or correct anything, but Everett doesn’t seem to notice because he’s already fastening the blindfold over his eyes as he says, “My turn.”
“This is stupid, Everett. Please, let’s just go,” I plead.
“No. Let me show this asshole what a joke he is, then we’ll leave together.”
Goddamn it. When I look over at Luca, he’s entertained because he’s getting exactly what he wants as usual.
Remy states, “It’s only fair to give him a chance.”
