"Haven't you?" I wipe at my mouth and burp.
"What does that even mean?" Simon's brows pinch together, and he climbs into the chair next to me. "What's up with you, Cor?"
"Don'tCorme," I practically spit at him.
Simon breathes in deeply and sighs. "What did I do now?"
"Other than exist?" Okay, I'm being harsh, but still, he pissed me off and the alcohol running through my veins is making me want to throat-punch him with the brass knuckle bag.
"You good?" Alec draws my attention, and it calms me more than I thought it would. But it's temporary, because the second I let it settle in, I'm reminded that it can't last.
"I'm fine," I tell him and shrug. "Why is everyone so worried about me?"
My chest tightens, and the symptoms I try to ignore often come rising to the surface. I push them down, desperate to make them go away. I can't let these people see me break. I won't let it happen.
Another song blares across the speakers, a mashup of Taylor Swift and Rihanna. It's weird, but it works.
"We should dance." I reach for Alec, but he doesn't move. Instead, his seriously dark eyes bore into me.
"Cora."
I hate the way my name sounds out of his mouth.
June pushes through to get to us, two shots in her grasp and a bag of ice in the other hand. "Here."
She plops the frozen thing on top of my hand, and I snatch one of the shots before Simon can persuade her not to give me one.
I shiver as the ice falls in the bag around my hand, my knuckles throbbing from the impact of the brass meeting that dude's face. It hurts, but it's a reminder that I'm in control, that I call the shots. Even if it won't last much longer than the next couple of weeks.
The tequila warms and numbs my body all at the same time. My thoughts grow fuzzy at the seams and the desire to scream and cry grows strong. My patience wears thin, and I bite at my lip to keep my mouth shut.
Only, it doesn't work as well as I hope.
"Why did you do it?" I ask June, my good hand on my hip.
"What?" She feigns ignorance even though she knows exactly what I'm talking about.
"Don't act stupid." I look to Simon, the deadliest man in this room. "You both lied to me."
"What's this about?" Simon glances at June for help.
"Cora, hey, want to get some fresh air?" Alec comes up behind me, but I shrug him off.
"Were you in on this, too?" I ask him, suddenly feeling way more defensive than I was a minute ago.
I don't like it, but that control I thought I had, is disappearing and my emotions are starting to get the best of me.
Alec throws up his arms and genuine uncertainty creeps across his beautiful features. "I have no idea what's going on. And you know I'd never lie to you." He inches closer. "You have to know that, don't you?"
I step away from all of them, the bag of ice still pressed to my sore hand. "Honestly, I don't know anymore." I focus on June. "I trusted you. I would have done anything for you. And you repay me by what, sabotaging my happiness?"
June tilts her head, her dark poker straight hair bunching up on one side. "Come on, Cora. That's not why I did it."
"Then why?" I blurt out and point to Simon. "You get him, and Coen, and Magnus, and Dom, and I get what? No one? Why do you deserve to be happy and in love?"
"I never said you didn't," June argues. "Of course, I want you happy. You're important to me."
I laugh sharply. "So important that you won't even tell me what's going on in your life? I have to piece it together myself?" Uncontrollable tears roll down my cheeks. "So important that you don't even see me suffering right in front of you. So important that..." I shake my head. "Never mind. I'm done. I can't do this anymore."
