Skin that was on my hands, in my mouth, only days ago.
Fuck her for doing this to me. Fuck me for allowing it to happen.
Darby’s right. She didn’t come here for anyone else tonight. She came here to taunt me, to win the next round in whatever deranged game the two of us seem to be playing. She wore that dress, perfectly curated to show off every inch of ink I’ve drawn on her flesh, for me. To torture me, drive me mad, and make me wild. Maybe we’re both reaching the point of insanity, a place we won’t return from, but fuck it. If she thinks batting her eyes at another man and wearing a dress tailored to my deepest desires is going to obliterate my self-control—if that’s what she wants from me—I’m going to give her exactly what she’s asking for.
18
VICE
“LOVE IS A LASERQUEST” - ARCTIC MONKEYS
“What isit you call this garment?” my brother mutters from behind me.
I glance over my shoulder. “A dress?”
“Made of what? One singular window curtain?”
I scoff, rolling my eyes as I turn back to the bar.
“How’d you even get here, Lena? You said you weren’t going to come today.” Leo’s voice breaks in next. He enters my periphery, blond hair and blue eyes burning a hole into the side of my face as he props an elbow on the bar.
“I wasn’t going to be ready before you both had to leave, so I took an Uber.”
My brother’s eyes bulge hard enough to pop a vessel, I’m sure.
Everett shoves his way between Leo and me. “You took an Uber? From Pacific Shores?”
I nod.
“How fucking much did that cost?”
“About one-fifty.”
“Jesus Christ, Lena,” Leo murmurs.
Yeah…it’s a lot of money to prove a point, but watching that glass shatter at August’s feet, watching his jaw drop and his eyesflame, was worth every cent. I’m definitely not in a position to be throwing away that much cash, especially now that I’m paying rent, but I’m doing okay with what I make at the bakery.
“What?” I ask, turning to face them both. “You told me you wanted me to be here for support, so that’s what I’m doing.” I swipe a hand down my dress. “It’s a black-tie event. I’m dressed for the occasion, and provocative has always been my style, so please stop acting so scandalized. It’s not like I’m out here flashing my tits.”
I grab a cocktail napkin, placing it in front of me as I wave the bartender over. Glancing at my brothers once more, I find them both staring at me slack-jawed.
“Can you give me some goddamn breathing room? I’m going to grab a drink, take a look around, and talk to Penelope about a painting she’s been doing for me.”
“How do you know Penelope?” Leo asks.
“I met her at your wedding.”
I spoke with the girl briefly when I first arrived and she was helping me find my brothers. I don’t remember how it came up, but she mentioned she’s an artist in her free time, outside of earning her PhD in archaeology from UCLA and traveling the world. I was blown away by her ability to maintain a hobby while being a full-time student and adjunct professor. Especially considering I couldn’t get out of bed most days at that point.
She showed me some of her work, and I don’t know…it felt kind of like magic. Her art made me want to make something of myself again. Be someone worthy of looking at it.
I asked her if she could create a painting for me. I didn’t care what, just something I could hang up in my room and look at on days I couldn’t get out of bed. Something that might give me motivation to try.
Somehow, she understood exactly what I meant by that.
She texted me a few months ago to tell me my piece was ready, but I had fallen far too deep in my spiral to care, and I never responded.
I mostly came tonight to torment August—somehow, he’s become that motivation, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons—but I want to see Penelope too. Apologize. Check if she’d still be willing to sell me the piece she made for me.
