See, Josh, she doesn’t want you like I do.
She doesn’t really love you.
The four-poster canopy surrounded by white sheer curtains is the type of bed I always wished I’d had as a child. This whole place feels like a dream come true, and I need to keep reminding myself that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I can’t let Teagan’s happiness dampenmy excitement. Even if I am wholly and utterly devastated that Josh hasn’t reached out since he told me he was choosing her.
I know he has both texted and called her because she told me while we were waiting to board our flight. That knowledge makes me hate my best friend in a way I didn’t think possible. I quickly shut that conversation down by telling her she should mute him and ignore him for the duration of the trip. What I really wanted to say was that she should forget about him forever and let me have him.
What does she have that I don’t?
What makes her so special compared to everything I have to offer someone?
Teagan’s hand on my shoulder comes out of nowhere and makes me flinch. “Hey,” she says in an almost motherly tone. “Is everything okay? You seem off lately. You know me, and you know I won’t pry until you’re ready to open up about it, but I’m here for you, Lex.” She rests her head on my shoulder, grabbing my hand in hers. “Whatever it is. I’m here. Always.”
I wish she were a worse friend. Because then it wouldn’t make everything I’ve done to her feel as gut-wrenching as it does right this minute. Obviously, I can’t tell her I’m grieving the loss ofherex. So instead, I pat her hand with my other one and flash her my most convincing smile. “I’m okay. Promise.” I reassure her. “I’m just really freaking nervous to meet our favorite author. My stomach is all twisted into knots and whatnot. That’s all.”
There, not a complete lie, but not the whole truth either.
Teagan gets to her feet and pulls me up with her. “Well, that makes two of us. So how about we spend the next hour getting dolled up and dancing to some overly loud music? That’s always our happy place. Right?”
I flash her a grin and nod my head. “Right.”
I hadn’t planned on buying this emerald green dress when Capri sent me a photo of herself in it. But as I run my hands down the delicate sequins and dainty beads that adorn the dress, I’m so glad that I did.
It’s perfect. It makes my usually tan skin look eerily pale and my blonde hair almost white in its high ponytail. I feel like one of those seductive vampires from a fantasy novel as I stride down the hallway in my leopard print Louis Vuitton’s with Teagan by my side.
“Where’s Capri and Lee’s room?” Teagan asks. Her lips are painted a deep burgundy, while the rest of her makeup is more toned down. She looks as stunning as I feel, with her dark hair curled perfectly to one side in an off-the-shoulder burnt orange dress that hugs each of her curves.
I hear the distinct sound of another set of heels on the hardwood floor behind me and turn as Capri and Lee appear from one of the other many hallways. She looks beautiful in her red lace dress, with half her hair pulled into a golden claw clip resembling a butterfly. Lee looks handsome as always in his black suit and gives us a kind smile in greeting.
“I never thought we’d find you!” Capri cheers as she catches up to us. “I swear Lee took us in circles for a good ten minutes before I finally noticed we were passing the same painting over and over again.”
It would be so easy to get lost in this place. I was shocked when we pulled through the gates and saw that we would be staying in a literal castle. When in Scotland, I suppose.
Henry informed us on the long drive here that there are over a dozen of us staying for the week. The only ones sharing a room are Capri and Lee. It appears no one else wanted to bring a plus-one.
Or maybe they were dumped on their asses like the side piece I am.
“I need a drink,” I mutter as we walk through yet another set of giant double doors.
“I think I can help with that, lassie,” says a man’s voice with a thick Scottish accent.
We watch as a man with copper-red hair walks up to us with a bottle of what I assume is liquor in his hand. He’s cute in a nerdy sort of way—if lean and muscular can be described as nerdy at all. He’s wearing a deep red suit with a black button-up shirt underneath. His shoes look like they’re made of some type of animal skin. They instantly make my skin crawl. Something about this man sets off every single red flag in my body.
Teagan smiles politely at the man and introduces herself. “I’m Teagan. Thanks for the offer, but I think we should all wait until we have some food in us. We had a pretty long day of traveling,” she explains. “Do you know where the dining room is? We’re supposed to meet with our host in about five minutes.”
The man stares at each of us before his chapped lips twist into a sly smile. “Ahh, Teagan,” he says excitedly. Maybe he’s been hitting the bottle too hard. “It’s nice to meet you, and your beautiful friends.”
Lee clears his throat loudly.
“Ah, I meant no offense. You are just as beautiful as the ladies,” he says with a wink to Lee, causing Capri to snort. “My name is Lochlan. I’m here as a guest as well, so I suppose we will all be feasting together soon. Come, come. Follow me. They’re expecting us this way.”
We all follow in silence as Lochlan leads us down another hallway before taking a sharp left, disappearing down a set of stairs without another word or glance back at us.
“Is this guy leading us to the basement to skin us?” I ask. Partially joking, partially worried. “He sort of has crazy eyes and weird lizard shoes.”
Lee chuckles and gently pushes his way to the front. He and Capri stare down the dark stairs before taking slow steps down them together. Teagan and I follow right behind. The air surrounding us gets colder with each step into the darkness. The only noise is the clack of our heels on the floor and our fast, nervous breaths. As soon as we hit the last step, we are met with a closed door.
“Huh,” Lee says, puzzled. “I don’t think I heard a door after Lochlan disappeared down the stairs.”
