“Nope, go have fun and show your face. Don’t let him win.” He pats my side. “I’ll have the car waiting here for whenever you wish to leave, but at the moment, Faiz thinks you’ll back down and that you’re still weak for him. Prove him wrong. Go in there and show them that.”
He practically pushes me from the car and locks the door behind me, waving at me through the window as I glare. I turn to face the bar and decide he’s probably right. A drink with friends could help, and I can leave when I’ve had enough. Luckily, these friends are not close with Faiz, so there’s no chance of him turning up, and they know better than to ask me about him. That puts me at ease, and as soon as I walk inside, they cheer when they see me. I’m dragged into their booth, and drinks are pushed into my hands. Their joy is infectious, so it isn’t long before I find myself smiling and playing along with their drinking games.
Whoever lands the coin gets to tell one of the other players to either sell one of their properties or drink the concoction we make. It’s like our own version of Monopoly, and it’s one I never lose. Flipping the coin, I land it and grin as I point at Poppy opposite me. “Drink or sell?”
He groans, already buzzed from the alcohol he’s consumed since it’s his celebration. Unlike the four families, he’s a small fish in this pond, but he’s always been a good friend to me. There are no expectations or strings. He’s just happy to be involved in my life. I’ve always drawn a line between them and me since I have a lot more standing and money, which comes with different lifestyles, but I still enjoy their hangouts, like this, even if it’s usually centered around drinking.
Sometimes I need that.
“Drink,” he says. “I’m running out of shit to sell.”
I can’t help but laugh as I pour him another drink and push it toward him, and the rest of the group starts to chant, “Drink, drink, drink.” Poppy tips the glass back, emptying it, and then he yells in victory.
Laughing harder, I wipe his chin for him, but a hand suddenly catches mine, pulling me back from Poppy. I jerk away and look up, my eyes widening when I see Faiz glaring at me.
His eyebrow arches as he looks at my friends, ones he always thought were below him. “Mind if I join?” Their laughter cuts off as they glance from me to him.
Poppy lurches to his feet. “You,” he slurs, poking his finger into Faiz’s chest, who looks at him in disgust, “are not welcome here.”
I didn’t tell them what happened, but they have enough connections to figure it out. It’s not like Faiz’s cheating was a big secret.
I sit back as Faiz looks at me. “Call off your dog before I bite.”
“That would make you the dog,” I murmur as I casually grab my glass and take a drink. “He’s right. You aren’t welcome here. We are amongst friends, and you aren’t one. Leave.”
“Make me.” He knocks Poppy’s hand away, and he stumbles back into the chair from the force and alcohol, hitting his head against the wooden partition.
“Hey!” the others yell, and I get to my feet, draining my drink. I look back at them and Poppy.
“I’ll be right back. The next round is on me.” I grab Faiz and drag him after me. He uses the opportunity to interlace our fingers. I try to tug my hand free, but he ignores me, and I drag him into the bathroom, throwing him past me with our joined hands, then we break apart. Heading to the stalls, I kick open each door, finding someone in the last one making out.
“Out,” I snap.
They rush to leave the bathroom, and I lock the door, leaning into it as I glare at Faiz. “What did we discuss this morning?”
“I have a short memory span.” He leans on the sinks, grinning at me, his silk shirt unbuttoned so each move flashes his chest, which was no doubt intentional. I used to tell him how much I loved his chest all the time. It also does not escape my notice that he’s wearing the diamond necklace I got him for our last anniversary—the one he has never worn until now.
That just makes me more annoyed because it proves he could have done this all along, he just didn’t care enough until he lost me.
I know this isn’t all because he wants me back—maybe some of it—but most of it is because he doesn’t want to lose his position. Ourfamily links made him stronger, and he lost both that and respect when I broke up with him.
It’s another power grab for him, and I hate that everything is always tangled in lies and games.
“You look fucking good tonight, Z,” he murmurs, his eyes roving down my body. The shirt I’m wearing ties at the collar in a flower, and the pants are wide-legged and split up each side, flashing my legs when I move.
“I know, but that doesn’t mean you get to touch me,” I warn as I stalk to the sink and wash my hands, hating the feel of his touch. It feels wrong. When I’m done, I turn and shake them dry as I lean back. “Now leave, last warning.”
“No, I don’t think I will.” He steps in front of me, placing a hand on each side of the sink as he leans into me. His breath smells like liquor, and it makes me crinkle my nose.
Great, he’s drunk. He’s always a bastard when he’s drunk.
“Enough,” I shout. “Stop showing up and ruining my days and nights. I’m sick of it, Faiz. I’m sick of you.”
His eyes narrow, and when I go to step past him, he traps my hands behind my back with one of his while he shoves the other into my pants and grips me.
“How about I remind you how good I can be to you?” He slides his tongue down my neck, and my lips twist in disgust. A sick feeling fills me as he tries to slide his hand down my cock, and I fucking snap.
I see red.
