My mind exploded in panic. I’d pushed him too far. What the hell was I thinking? I’d let Jamie get inside my head, and now I was about to ruin everything.
I began to cry. Oliver grabbed me by the elbow and steered me to the corner of the lobby, blocking anyone from seeing my tears with his body.
“You’re right. Of course, you’re right,” I blubbered. “Forget I said anything. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He stared down at me, his lips still pulled into a tight line.
“I don’t know why I even listened to Jamie. I’m so stupid. Of course, you’re good enough. Oliver, you’re perfect. You’re so goddamn perfect.”
He let out a long breath. “Maybe getting involved was a mistake.”
“No! Don’t say that. Please don’t say that.”
His gaze was hard. “Keep your voice down.”
“I’m in love with you!”
I buried my face in my palms, trying to obey his commands but finding it nearly impossible to stop the tears from coming. I knew I’d never forgive myself if my idiocy ended up breaking us up. After what felt like an eternity, I felt his hands wrap around my waist, and he pulled me into his chest.
“Shh, stop it. Calm down.”
“I’m sorry,” I wept into his shirt. “Can you forgive me?”
He swiped the back of my head with his hand. “I think we just need some time apart, okay?”
“No.” I pulled back. “I’m leaving so soon. I’m eighteen. Please, let’s—”
His gaze softened. “Happy birthday, beautiful. Why don’t you go to your room and get some sleep, okay? It’s already almost two am.”
“What about you?”
He sighed. “I’ll do the same. I just need to drop something off at the party. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”
He looked around and then pulled me in for a kiss. His lip ring pressed into my lip, his tongue danced with mine, and I whined into his mouth. I clutched his shirt so hard I thought my nails might rip through the fabric. I didn’t want to leave him, but when he broke our kiss, I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore.
Oliver and I took the elevator to the top floor, where both the party suite and my room were located.
As we got out, he turned to me, his expression serious. “Promise me you’ll stay away from Jamie. I don’t want you talking to him again. You shouldn’t listen to a word he says.”
How was it possible for things to get so bad between two old friends? A sudden chill ran through me, and I rubbed my arms. “I won’t. I promise.”
Oliver nodded. “Good night, Ivy.”
As soon as I got inside my room, I collapsed on the bed. My entire body was wrecked with exhaustion. I didn’t have the energy to even take my clothes off, but my thoughts wouldn’t calm. I kept replaying the events of the night, and every time I thought back to Jamie and his lies, I wanted to scream into the mattress.
How dare he lie to me?
6
When the numberson the digital clock beside my bed changed to three am, I got up. I’d been unable to catch even a wink of sleep since I left Oliver. The sounds of the party down the hall could still be heard, and it was making me irrationally angry. I hated that all those people were having fun while my evening had been utterly ruined by Jamie.
Maybe I’d go back to the suite and see if some of the Bleeding Moonlight guys were still there. I pulled on a pair of jeans. Many of the guests must’ve left by now, and anything was better than lying here and staring at the ceiling.
I left my room and headed to the suite, but I didn’t even get as far as two steps when I saw a flash of Jamie’s long black hair down the hall. He’d just ducked through the door to the fire escape.
My nostrils flared. I promised Oliver I’d stay away, but nice-girl Ivy who did as she was told wasn’t here at the moment. That girl would swallow down her anger and stick to the plan of going to the stupid party, but this girl wanted to tear Jamie a new oneright fucking now.
One last confrontation couldn’t hurt, right? I needed to get some things off my chest, and then I’d be happy to never speak to him again. Plus, I was doing this for Oliver. He’d changed me into someone stronger, someone who could stand up for the man she loved. Who else was Jamie telling lies to about Oliver? What if someone actually believed him?
