“Bullshit,” she snarls, jabbing one of her blood red pointy claws into my chest. “Don’t even think for one second I’m going to settle for being second choice. There are plenty of other guys who are tripping over themselves to go out with me.”
Relief floods my veins as the next word falls from my mouth. “Good.”
Michelle’s face falls instantly, her expression shifting from anger to disbelief. “Excuse me?”
“I said good. We’re done.”
“You’re breaking up withme? Atprom!?”she screeches.
“You basically just threatened to break up with me,” I point out. “Like you said. There’s plenty of other guys who want you. I’m just giving you the out you’re obviously asking for.”
Her mouth opens and closes like a fish gasping for air. “You know what? Fuck you, Rowan. You’re going to regret this.”
As she storms off toward her friends, I don’t waste another second. I need to find Lizzy.
Feet carrying me down the hallway, I head in the direction I saw her run. There’s only one place she’d go. I know her well enough to know she needs space to calm down.
Just as I reach the bathroom door, it swings open, and Lizzy comes barreling out, her small frame colliding with mine.
“Whoa.” Catching her by the shoulders to steady her, I look down to see her startled face. “Iz? You okay?”
Green eyes flash with fury as she tries to push me away. “Get off me, Rowan!” Planting her palms against my chest, she tries shoving me away. But I’m not going anywhere.
“Lizzy, just… Wait?—”
“What the hell do you see in her?” she explodes, voice echoing in the empty hall. “Michelle is a fucking cunt! She treats everyone like garbage, especially me! How could you be with someone so vile?”
The raw pain in her voice makes my chest ache, and I loosen my grip. “I broke up with her,” I say quietly.
She stops struggling, eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Seriously?”
“Just now.” I jerk my chin toward the gym. “We’re done.” I let my hands drop from her shoulders. “I ended it.”
Clearly caught off guard, she blinks and shakes her head. “Why?”
That’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one. Because Michelle is a horrible person? Because she was about to hit you? Because I’ve been with her for all the wrong reasons?
“She was going to put her hands on you,” I say finally. “No one touches you like that. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Lizzy’s expression shifts quickly from one of confusion to disbelief. “You didn’t have to do that,” she says, her voice softer now. “Not for me.”
“I didn’t do it for you.” Feeling like a total douchebag, I grip the back of my neck. “It was time. I should’ve dropped her weeks ago.”
The muffled thump of music coming from the gym is the only sound swirling around us as we stand in the dimly lit hallway. She looks so beautiful with her cheeks flushed, eyes bright with emotion.
“Well...” she finally says, crossing her arms over her chest. The action pushes her breasts up, and this time, my dick wants to come out to play. “Thanks. I guess.”
I chuckle. “You’re welcome.I guess.”
The corner of her mouth twitches upward, and for a second, I catch a glimpse of the old Lizzy—my best friend, my first kiss—before her face closes off completely.
“Don’t think for a second what you did changes anything between us.” My heart sinks as I watch her flip her hair away from her face in annoyance. “I should get back to my friends,” she quips, taking a step back. “They’re probably wondering where I am.”
Suddenly, I don’t want her to leave. “Wait,” I reach out and grab her wrist. She stares down at my hand as if it’s some kind of foreign object before her eyes trail back up to meet mine.
Heart hammering against my ribs, I take in the sight of her. Full lips, parted slightly in confusion. Black dress hugging every curve. The defiant tilt of her chin.
Lizzy has always been beautiful, but tonight she’s breathtaking—a force of nature wrapped in silk and fury. To me, she’s always been full of sunshine, but right now, in this moment, she’s pure spitfire. And I’m more than willing to risk getting burned.
