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Mica appeared beside her and took her hand, glaring at us.

Emely's gaze slid down to his hand, and I could sense through my Legacy gift that she felt overwhelmed.

She was so far away, and yet I could perceive her emotions. It was a strange feeling. As if I were close to her, but she knew nothing about it.

And then there was that one recurring sensation. Overwhelm. I had felt it so many times whenever she had noticed my presence.

She looked at me again, and I didn't know what hurt more. That she finally looked away from me, or that she clasped her fingers tightly around his and they both walked across campus together.

How could she hold his hand? Just like that. Because her father wanted her to.

That wasn't the Emely I had come to know.

Before anyone could notice that my thoughts were elsewhere, I forced myself to turn back to Olivia.

Anger burned inside me. And something else. A feeling that always came up when this asshole was around her.

Emely took up too much space in my brain, and I had to fix that system error fast.

With determination I looked at Olivia. “When was the dance class again?”

Chapter 36

Quentin

Eat Your Young

Hozier

“I like this romantic atmosphere,” Miles remarked, throwing his black coat onto my sectional couch and nearly knocking my snake plant off the coffee table as he flopped down. “Are you trying to seduce me, big boy?”

I took the two whiskey glasses from the side table that had been designed specifically for this purpose and walked over to the sofa, where I followed his gaze.

“Don't feel special. I always have candles burning.” I handed him the glass, but pulled it back when he reached for it. “And if you call me ‘big boy’ one more time, next time I'll drain the blood from your veins at my preferred speed.”

Miles raised an eyebrow with a smirk before taking the glass from my hand.

“Ouch. Someone's in a particularly good mood.”

I didn't know if it was because of Miles or because of how shitty this week had been for me, but I didn't want to think about all the things that were threatening to overwhelm me right now. Or the ones I wished would overwhelm me.

“Why are you here?” I sighed and sat down on the dark gray couch diagonally across from him.

Miles' smile intensified. “You asked me for a favor.”

Did he have to remind me that I was making myself dependent on him? Most likely the stupidest decision of my life...

“And?” I asked, gritting my teeth.

Miles grinned.

Could he stop that, damn it?

“She's clean.”

Clean. What did that mean? That she hadn't planned anything? That she wasn't going to endanger J?

I eyed Miles suspiciously as he leaned back, took a sip, and finally got up to head for my record player.