She’s yours. I like the sound of that far too much.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I mutter, bringing the cup to my lips and taking a hearty gulp. I’m meant to be cutting down on the drinking and partying, after everything that happened when I was overseas, but it’s the easiest way to mingle around here, and it helps with the anxiety. Not that it makes me feel good the following morning. I always forget that part when I start the night.
Ignoring Christian’s smirk, I push off the wall and weave through the throngs of people, trying to get to her as quickly as I can.
‘Anya,’ I say. She turns, and those gorgeous eyes land on me, making my heart feel like it’s beating sideways. She may have grown, but I still tower over her, which makes me feel like a giant. To be fair, I’ve always been the tallest one among my friends. I actually used to get bullied for it when I was younger, until everyone else started catching up. ‘Hey. You made it.’
‘I live here,’ she says flatly.
I clench my jaw, realising how stupid that sounded. My brain and my mouth don’t seem to cooperate when she’s around.
‘Obviously,’ I snap back out of habit, since we bicker more than not these days. ‘You could have stayed out, though, if you didn’t want to come.’
She gives me a weird look. ‘What do you want?’
‘I just wanted to say hey, I guess. I didn’t realise the party was going to be this big.’
‘Okay?’ she says, waiting for me to say something else. There’s a beat of silence, and her frown creases further. She even has the audacity to eye me up and down with her nose screwed up, as if I might be sick or something.
‘Why are you being a bitch?’ I huff, feeling the heat in my cheeks.
‘I can’t keep up with your mood swings, and I don’t really want to hang out with you. I need a drink.’
‘Don’t get drunk,’ I say quickly.
She glares at my hand, which I didn’t realise is on her arm. She scowls and pulls away, as if I burned her. I feel sick over the recoil.
‘You have no right to tell me what I can and can’t do.’
Exhaling, I realise I won’t win this fight.
‘Okay, fine. I’ll get you a drink.’
‘No, Mason,’ she growls, anger flashing across her eyes. ‘Just leave me alone.’
Turning on her heel, she storms towards the kitchen. Nora sends me a sympathetic look before trailing after her. Cami’s eyes are narrowed as she surveys me for a few seconds. She then follows her friends without a word to me. I blink after them, unsure what to do.
My head is a fucking mess. I want her. I’ve always had this hunger for her. An uncontrollable ache. An itch that never quite got scratched. But I fucked it up that night. I lost her trust, I lost her love ... I losther.
I’m the one chasing her. I’ve never chased someone before. Realising now how much it sucks causes my stomach to tighten as I think about what she must have gone through for years.
The thing is: as much as I do want her, I know I can’t have her. I made a promise to Zayden, and I want to do right by them both. Yet whenever I see her, all rationale leaves my body. There’s a constant battle being waged inside me. Groaning, I finish my drink and toss it into the first bin I see.
Whoever said falling in love is the best thing to happen to you is a fucking liar.
9
ANYA
Three Years Ago
FINALLY, THE LONG WEEKENDhas arrived. I’ve been counting down the days because my parents are going away for the weekend, and Mason and Zayden have planned a party.
Things have been really tense at home. Zayden won’t stay in the room if Rod – our stepfather – enters, and Mum and Zayden aren’t speaking, which has never happened before. No one will explain what the hell is going on, but Mum and Rod can’t seem to get away quickly enough, and Zayden can’t contain his excitement about having the house to ourselves.
A warm breeze blows as I walk outside, and the humidity makes my hair stick to my forehead. After sweeping the back patio and putting away all the pool gear – as per Mum’s request – I head back inside for a drink of water.
Two large hands land on my shoulders, and I flinch in surprise.
