The basement explodes with cheers or groans.I can’t decipher the noise.I’m over being their entertainment.This was stupider than stupid.
I slosh to the edge.
“I hate you.”Livvy stands outside the pool on the clear protective sheet.Her chest heaves with rage-filled breaths.“I hate you!”Is she crying?“I hate you!”she screams and charges at me like a crazed bull.
Holy shit!
A spike of fear or adrenaline has me bracing for her weight.Probably both.
I’m lifted out of the pool before Livvy reaches me.I lose sight of her.All I hear are groans and complaints.“Let the chicks fight!”
I struggle and kick at whoever has my arms pinned.
“Stop it,” Jonathan growls into my ear, carrying me through the crowd.
We’re in the bathroom.I’m still struggling.“Let me go!”
He steps into the shower and sets me on my feet.I shove him and send myself colliding with the shower wall because he doesn’t budge.“I don’t need—”
“Knock it off.”The shower is on; cool water’s pouring over me.I’m sputtering.Jonathan scans my face.“Are you drunk?”
I spit out water that tastes like Jell-O and glare up at him.I poke his hard chest.“I don’t need you rescuing me.”
He gets within an inch of my face, water dripping from his nose.His mouth.His chin.“I will always be the one rescuing you.”
I am seething through chattering teeth.Fire runs through me.And I’m tempted to punch him.I stare into the soul-wrenching darkness of his eyes.His stare is just as unwavering.He leans in.
The curtain yanks open.“What the hell are you doing?”
Jonathan steps back.I melt to the bottom of the tub.The adrenaline washes down the drain.
Collin turns the water off.“I’ve got her.”
“Doesn’t look like it,” Jonathan says, his tone accusing.
“What are you doing, man?”
“You tell me.What’s going on between you two?”
There’s silence.My face is buried in my knees.I don’t want to be here anymore.
Collin repeats, “I’ve.Got.Her.”
The door slams.My head is throbbing.The room is spinning.
“Did we get in a fight?”
“Don’t worry about him.”Collin wraps a towel around me.
“Not him.Livvy.”My stomach flips.I tip and grab on to the side of the tub.
“What’s happening right now?”
“I’m gonna… throw up.”
“Okay.That’s what’s happening.”
A trash bucket is set in front of me just in time.Everything I should never have drunk comes up.
