‘What are you doing here?’ I mean to ask casually, but it comes out like a demand.
‘Having fun,’ she deadpans, upper lip twitching as she fights off a sneer, clearly not appreciating my tone and attitude right now. I wouldn’t either if I were her, but I can’t keep a lid on my self-control when it comes to Anya. ‘Like you.’
‘Trust me, I’m not having fun,’ I mutter bitterly.
‘Well, I am,’ she says, lifting her chin in that new defiant way of hers that makes me miss the old us with every fibre of my being. ‘Andfriendsdon’t ruin each other’s nights.’
My hands ball into fists at my sides, and I take a deep breath. Like always, she’s right. Nodding stiffly, I step back. ‘You’re right,’ I say in defeat, unable to meet Kai’s eyes. That cocky smirk he’s wearing will be imprinted on the back of my hand if I do. ‘I guess I’ll see you later.’
Turning my back to her, I stalk off to the bar and slap my hand down. ‘Two shots.’
Zayden nods in approval, his signature grin taking over his face. Reaching for the glasses, I hand one to Zayden and throw back the other. I grimace at the burn that runs down my throat.
My eyes flick over to Anya. Anger surges inside me as she leans back against Kai and his hands rest on her hips.
‘I don’t like that,’ I grunt.
Zayden follows my gaze and blows out a breath. ‘As much as I hate it, she’s old enough now to make her own choices. Even if we both know it’s a mistake.’
I blink, startled. Turning to face him, I give him a deadpan stare. ‘After what she’s just been through, I would’ve thought ...’
Zayden’s hands land heavily on my shoulders. ‘Mase, I appreciate you and how much you care about her, but she isn’t a kid anymore, and if she wants to be out having fun, she can. With whoever she wants. As long as she’s happy, that’s the main thing.’
My mouth falls open. Since when have we done a complete role reversal?
I slide my phone back out and type out a text to her, unable to help myself. Our texts, the games we played, they used to be such a fun part of our relationship.
Mason:What are you doing here with him?
Mason:You’d have a better time with me.
Never taking my eyes off her, I watch as she glances at her phone. The blush that kisses her cheeks is visible across the room. She opens her mouth, looking shocked and, admittedly, a little impressed, before she shifts her face into a stony stare that she swiftly directs at me. I smirk at her, and she narrows her eyes into slits, turning her back to me.
‘Hey!’ a voice says, and Zayden turns and grins.
‘Hey, yourself.’
‘Hi,’ the girl says again when I still haven’t acknowledged her. I wait a beat, collecting myself before I face her.
‘Hey,’ I say distractedly, my eyes bouncing back to Anya, hoping she will reply. We used to always text these kinds of messages,especiallyin a crowded room like this, when we certainly shouldn’t have. My heart sinks a little when she makes no move to reach for her phone.
‘You wanna buy me a drink?’ the girl asks, her voice low and sultry.
‘He sure does,’ Zayden says when I fail to reply. He claps his hand on my back, making me flinch. I shoot him a narrowed glare, which only makes his smirk widen. He melts into the crowd, and I glower at him as he disappears.
‘I want a screaming orgasm,’ the girl chirps, brushing her arm against mine as she casually leans on the bar. ‘Think you can handle that?’
Heat inches up my neck as I repeat her order to the bartender. Even though I only ordered one, he reappears with two. I hover my phone over the payment machine and once it chimes in approval, I pocket it and hand the girl her drink.
‘Rachel,’ she says. ‘And you?’
‘Mason.’
‘Look at that, both of us have had orgasms and we haven’t even gotten back to your bed yet,’ she says flirtatiously.
I admire her confidence, but my head is a mess, and this means nothing to me. My eyes drift, landing on Anya, who is staring hard back at me. She excuses herself, striding towards the bathrooms.
‘Hey, why don’t you grab us a table, I’ll be right back,’ I tell Rachel, holding out my drink for her to take.
