Fuck. This is not good. Not good at all. And to make matters worse, he’s coming over here, wearing the same stupid smile I thought was so attractive when I was eighteen. Now it looks more like a twisted grimace than a seductive smile.
But even though it’s been seven years since the fucker broke my heart and then stomped all over it, it’s still a punch to the gut to see him. He’s lost the boyish handsomeness of youth and there are wrinkles lining his face. The apocalypse has aged him just like it has everyone else, making him appear ten years older than he actually is. He’s alsoleaner than he was at nineteen and his middle is softer compared to the cut lines he had as a university student.
Maybe if he hadn’t hurt me, I’d still find him attractive, but even then he pales compared to the three men I’ve been travelling with for the past few days. Speaking of which…
I tear my gaze away from the ghost of my past to see all three of the guys staring at me with a mixture of shock, curiosity and… yep, Rhys looks pissed. No surprise there. He probably thinks I lied to them at some point because what are the damn chances I’ll run into a fucking ex-boyfriend in a place like this?
And the fucker isstilleagerly sauntering over to me.Fuck!
Panic seizes my mind. I don’t want to talk to him. Hell, I don’t want to be breathing the same damn air as him because I know what he’s like. This is a man who doesn’t take no for an answer. It was the entire reason I agreed to date him in the first place, since it was the only way to get him to back off.
What a mistake that was.
There’s only one way I’m going to get him to fuck off.
I grab Theo’s arm and drag him close to me. “Pretend to be my boyfriend,” I whisper to him and pray that he does as I ask because I don’t want to ask the others. Alex would ask too many questions—ones I’m not prepared to answer—and I’m pretty sure Rhys would prefer to gargle glass than pretend to be my partner. So Theo it is.
The man in question widens his eyes at me and I can see that he wants to know why. Thankfully, he just nods, wraps an arm around my shoulders, and tucks me against his side. The heat from his body sinks into my skin, and I melt into his embrace.
When’s the last time someone held me like this? Maybe at college? It sure as shit wasn’t when I was with my ex-fiancé and the guys I dated during university were massive cunts. How sad is it that I don’t remember experiencing something as simple as being held by someone.
“Holy shit, it really is you,” the massive cunt says, having reached our little group.
I grimace. “Yeah, hi, Ethan,” I say, not even bothering to inject any emotion into my tone. Fucker deserves nothing from me.
He doesn’t get the memo because his face lights up when I say his name. “Youdoremember me,” he says, his voice dipping to what I imagine is supposed to be a sultry purr.
It does nothing to me except piss me off. “Unfortunately,” I deadpan, but that does little to deter his flirting.
“Well, you’re looking good.Reallygood.” He licks his lips as his eyes scan my body. “You planning on staying longer than a night? I could make it worth your while.” He waggles his eyebrows.
My nose wrinkles in disgust. “I’d rather feed myself to a horde of zombies than haveanythingto do with you,” I say, struggling to keep the old hurt and anger from my voice.
He rears back and blinks, shocked by my reaction. Does he think I forgot how he dropped me like a bad fucking smell the moment he spotted someone new to pursue? “Olivia, babe, don’t—”
“Have I introduced you to myboyfriend, Theo?” I blurt out, since telling him no isn’t getting me anywhere. Not that I expected it to.
Someone makes a choking sound beside me—probably Rhys—as Ethan rips his gaze from me to blink at the man I’m cuddled up to as if he’s only just noticed he’s there. “Oh.” His eyes narrow at the arm wrapped around my shoulders.
Theo, who has been silent all this time—another reason why I picked him over the others—smiles at Ethan and holds out his other hand. “Good to see you again, mate,” he says as the two men shake hands. “Although, can’t say that Ollie’s ever mentioned you.” There’s a warning bite to his voice, which compliments the feral tint to his smile.
“Well, why would I? It’s not like I expected to run into an ex while out here,” I say with a shrug and a razor sharp smile of my own.
Ethan frowns, the flirty twinkle gone from his eyes.Good. “You never mentioned having a girlfriend the last time you were here, Theo.”
Theo shrugs and turns to press his lips against the top of my head. My scalp tingles at the contact and I have to try really fucking hard not to react. “It’s new.”
Alex snorts. “Verynew.”
I shoot him a glare, silently telling him toshut the fuck up. I don’t need Ethan getting suspicious about the validity of my relationship with Theo. It would defeat the entire purpose of all this. And honestly, I hate the idea of Ethan knowing that even after all this time, I’m still single and alone, just like he said I would. I don’t want him to know that his cruel parting words from all those years ago still ring true.
Holy fuck, am I pathetic.
“Well, since everyone is well acquainted with one another, how about I show you guys where you can get something to eat,” Mark says, having just shown up. He’s an older gentleman, with salt and pepper hair and piercing blue eyes. “And you can tell why the hell you four are all the way out here.”
“Sounds good, although Ollie will need somewhere to put her horse for the night,” Rhys says, taking charge like he always does.
Mark glances over at Bean and nods. “We have a small paddock you can use.” He turns and walks down the perimeter of the crude wood and metal fence that surrounds the Lodge.
