I want so badly to just lean forward and take her lips in mine.
But I have to remind myself that I’m semi-high and she’s off her bonkers.
Whatever this attraction is we’re feeling isn’t real—it’s medicated.
“Jesus Christ, Liv,” the tall golden boy, Nate I think, scolds as he rushes over to us. I lift her and set her on the brick, and she moans and reaches her hands out. I think she’s reaching for me, but then her small hands clutch his ridiculous button-up, and I feel my heart tremor. But I act like it doesn’t bother me and climb out of the pool. “You could have killed yourself.”
“And you wouldn’t have gone in after her?” I find myself questioning him as I sweep my hair out of my eyes. I flip it over my shoulder and crack my bruised knuckles out of habit, and Liv sobers for the slightest second and stares at my hands.
“You—you’re bruised,” she stutters as she is lifted. “Puppy’s bruised,” she whispers to no one in particular.
I feel my blood boil as he holds her upright by her waist.
“Yes, puppy is bruised.” I humor her with a sarcastic smile, and she giggles. The sound is so heavenly, I want to close my eyes, record it, so I can bask in it when I get home. But I merely give her a quick tug of my lips, and her eyes light up. That dirt-haired kid has disappeared for a split second, and suddenly, we’re back to us—playful.
But then he speaks.
“I would have, if you hadn’t randomly shown up,” he snips, and I raise a brow. “I’m pretty sure no one invited you, so why are you here?”
Mmmm, so golden boy is snippy…I don’t like it.
“She called for my help,” I tell him, not liking his tone. I grind my teeth, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Well, it’s not needed now, is it, Livvy?”
I laugh. “Livvy? What is she, a pit bull?”
“You’d know a lot about that, wouldn’t you?” he snarks with a half-smirk.
“The fuck did you just say to me?” I just got done busting in a guy’s face; he really doesn’t know not to fuck with me while I’m still hot. I take swift steps and get in his face; I have a few inches on him. I can take him and toss him in the pool when I’m done. He’ll be like a bloody floatie, what fun.
“Stop, puppies, don’t fun!” Liv squeaks, getting in between us, putting a hand on both of our chests. Her touch sets me on fire and cools me at the same time, and I hold her gaze. We both tune out what the loafer fucker has to say.
He snaps his fingers, comically pissed off. “Livvy, I think you should sit down and let me handle this.”
I laugh because this is really the most hilarious fucking thing I have ever heard. “Are you fucking serious? I can take your ass right now and not break a sweat.”
“Let’s see about that.” He balls up his hands and takes another step, nearly squishing little Liv.
“Stop!” she screams and faces me. Of course she’s on his side. Why wouldn’t she be? “You’re not being very friendly and…you’re like, really funny.” She bursts out giggling, and I roll my eyes.
“Glad you find everything so funny. But I’m taking you home now,” I say gruffly and move to take her hand, but she backs up with a frown.
“No, I’m having fun,” she says, shaking like a leaf as a breeze passes by.
“You called me, and I came,” I bark and grab her wrist, tugging her to me. “Now we’re leaving.”
“No! Ow, you’re hurting me!” She throws her head back and screams dramatically.
Jesus fucking Christ, remind me not to ever let her do drugs again…not that I’ll see her past this summer, of course.
“Get the fuck off of her!” golden boy yells, pushing me.
I stumble back and push him back. “Touch me again, I fucking dare you!” I roar in his face, and he grinds his teeth. “That’s what I thought, pussy.” I smirk and shift my eyes to Liv, who is now holding her stomach, lips jutted out. “Come on, Liv. We’re leaving…now.”
“N-no,” she stutters and takes a step to the Sasquatch.
My stomach tightens.
“I said, let’s go.” I move forward, but I’m clocked in the jaw and stumble back. There are shouts and a crowd forming again. Did he just…? I hold my jaw and look at the preppy boy staring at his fist like he just hit someone for the first time. “You’re dead!” I launch forward, knocking Liv back by accident, and don’t mind her. I begin punching his face in, hit after hit after hit after hit. I hear bones crack and feel blood splatter on my face, on my lips. I smile and punch again and again until I literally can’t feel my hands.
“Get off of him!” I am pushed back, and I look up at Liv glaring at me, tears running full force down her chubby, flushed cheeks.
“I fucking warned him!” I defend myself, staggering to my feet.
“Just leave!” she shouts, scrambling to pick her boyfriend up.
“But I—” I begin.
“I said leave!” she screams, and I feel my entire body quake with hurt. I have never seen her so mad at me, so pained—I’m shocked, and I don’t know how to respond.
I clench my jaw, look between the two, then pivot and storm out of the party. I should have never come in the first place. It’s clear I’m not wanted, if I do the right thing or not. Either way, she’s found her new project. And I plan on staying out of the way this time; I will not get hurt by that girl again. I can only wish that sorry fucker good luck now.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Liv
The next morning, I awake in the most brutal pain in my life. My head is made of stone, my skin is drenched in sweat, and I feel like throwing up every single thing in my stomach, organs included. Never again will I ever attend another party. I’m sure that’s what everyone says when waking up with a killer hangover. But still, I, Olivia Renee Westerfield, vow to never enter a house with the intent of drinking ever again. It only ends up like this, a complete-body-crumbling disaster.
The moment I open my eyes, I am blinded by the sunlight streaming through the crooked blinds. I let out a groan similar to Chewbacca’s mating call and drape my hand over my eyes. The action alone causes a sweat to roll down my back. I feel like I’m sitting on the sun, and I am burning up alive. Maybe it’s because I’m drowning in a sea of comforters.
A knock on the door vibrates in my ears, and I groan.
“Lord, oh Heavenly Father…why?” I call out, clutching my throbbing head.
“Sorry, sorry.” Noah walks in and sits on the edge of the bed next to me. “How you doin’, buttercup?” He brushes my wild curls behind my ear and quirks a lopsided grin that makes my stomach gripe even more.
“Not so great,” I tell him with a huff. “How much did I drink last night?”
“Oh, just a few cups,” he says with a shrug.
“That’s it?” I had to have drunk a whole bottle, because I have never felt so horrible after drinking.
“Yeah…of strong hard vodka.” He snickers but stops when I glare at him. “Sorry…”
“What happened last night?” I pinch my nose bridge and try to remember last night’s events, but all that comes up is a big black screen of nothing. And the more I push, the bigger the black hole of pain grows in my head.
His jaw tightens. “Nothing much…your crazy ex just showed up and started a fight with me. After you fell in the pool, of course.” He shrugs casually, and I gasp.
“Beat you up?” I screech and push past the pain ringing in my ears. I squint my eyes when I finally realize he has a bruise on his left cheek, a blackened right eye, and a split lower lip. “Oh my God! I didn’t—why was he there?” I whisper, feeling really bad that he was there. I know for a fact he was nowhere to be seen before I went under the influence.
“Yeah, he’s fucking insane,” he grumbles and laughs lightly, though his eyes are hard as he ruffles out his hair. “But I’ll heal. You, on the other hand, could use some taking care of.”
“Can you get me some water?” I groan.
“
Of course.” He smiles and heads to the door.
“And possibly a bucket.” My stomach growls. “Definitely a bucket.”
The door closes, and I fall back on the bed, pressing the pillow beneath my head over my face. I can’t believe Grey. He says he hates me, that he doesn’t want to talk or to be around me. He’s told me to fuck off so many times, and I’ve begun listening to him. So, why go back on his word and come to the party and fight Noah? I just don’t get it. He can be so confusing, it’s making my head hurt…well, more.
A small pinging sound makes me freeze. Where is that coming from…? It sounds again, and I begrudgingly sit up. Sounds like it’s coming from the window. I wait for the sound again. There it is again.
“What the…?” I push the comforter off my legs and walk over to the window that faces the backyard. I unlatch the windows and push them open and lean over and look down. Grey is standing below my window, rocks balled in his hands, clad in his usual all-black attire minus his jacket, which is weird. “What—what are you doing here?”
“You have my shit!” he yells.
“What? No, I don’t!” I yell back.
“Yes, you do.” He nods frantically, looking pissed with each second that passes.
“I wouldn’t take anything of yours!” I counter. “And while you’re here for whatever crazy reason, answer me this: why did you come to the party last night?”
“You called me, remember?”
“No.”
His brows bounce, and he mutters something.
“What was that?” I hiss through gritted teeth.
He looks up, running his tongue across his lips, a smug look plastered on his face. “I said that’s what happens when you eat too many weed brownies.”
What?
“What are you talking about?” He sounds delusional.
“Those delicious brownies the boy offered as you walked in? They had weed in them.”
I gasp and shake my head. “N-no.”
He breaks into a completely wicked grin. “Oh, yes.”
Well…shit.
“Shit,” I voice my thoughts, and he laughs. I smile at the way his nose scrunches up and the skin behind his eyes crinkle just the slightest. Don’t get blinded by his adorable-ness, Liv. He still hurt Noah and randomly popped up when he promised to stay away. I clear my throat, and he raises his brows with a knowing, annoying smile. “But that doesn’t explain why you showed up when I thought you’d stay away.”
He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. “You called me last night, and you sounded messed up, so I thought I would take you home. But you seemed pretty adamant on drowning when I got there.”
My cheeks heat. “How’d you know where I was?”
“I have my ways,” he explains mysteriously, putting his hands on his hips. “Now will you give me my shit back, or do I have to come up there and get it myself?”
“Give you what? I don’t have anything of yours.” Maybe he took too many brownies last night too, because he’s not making any sense right now.
“Look down,” he instructs.
“What are you…?” I look down and gasp. I’m wearing his jacket. How hungover am I, that I didn’t notice that I’m wearing his jacket? “What the…?”
“I threw it down before jumping into the pool to save you, while your boy-toy watched,” he says coolly, but I can clearly hear the spark of anger in his voice.
“I’m sure he would have jumped in after me if you weren’t there.” I defend Noah, and he rolls his eyes. “I thought you were through with me. I thought we were done and would stay away from each other…so why come get me? I know I was out of my mind, meaning I probably didn’t mean to call you. And you said you sensed it…so why not ignore me and leave me be?”
“Because I…” He narrows his eyes as he pauses, then continues. “Because I was nearby and could use a little partying myself,” he says nonchalantly, but his words stab me in the heart for some reason.
Oh…
“Oh.”
“Yeah…” He clears his throat and reiterates, “So, my jacket. Toss it.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.” I give him a small smile and tug off the large, heavy jacket. I hover it out of the window and toss it down. He easily catches it and slips into it in one swift motion. He plays with the collar, and I tilt my head. “Why are you wearing a leather jacket in the middle of summer, in Miami? How have you not fainted yet?”
“It’s lighter than it looks.”
“Yeah, right. It was like a stone around my shoulders.”
“Yeah, yours.” He teases a smile. “Because you’re weak.”
“Oh, like you’re some big strong man.”
“I am.” He nods like the conceited bastard he is…but it doesn’t fail to make me laugh until the pain kicks in, but I keep laughing, and he joins in too, making that cute crinkle eye thing he does from time to time.
“Livvy? What are you doing by the window?” Noah says behind me.
I stop laughing, and Grey’s face grows sour. We keep strong eye contact, something unknown to me passing through them, until he nods at me once, glances over my shoulder, then leaves without another word. I feel my heart strings cut in half as he disappears.
I turn around and face Noah, who is holding aspirins and a tall glass of water. “Thank you.” I smile appreciatively and take the glass and pills as I sit on the bed. I swallow the dry pills, cringing as they slide down my throat. I feel weird when he sits next to me, but I force a smile and ignore the weird tingling in my chest.
“What was that?” He nods to the window. He looks kind of annoyed, but he doesn’t let it show too much.
“Oh…that was, um.” I look at the window and look away when I feel my body flare up and clear my throat as I curve some hair behind my ear. “That was nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing.” He playfully nudges my shoulder with a laugh. “Tell me.”
“Fine, fine.” I laugh softly then clear my throat again. “It was…um, it was Grey. I guess I took his jacket without thinking last night.” I watch as his face hardens just the slightest. But it is justified seeing how Grey fought with him last night. Crap! I totally forgot about that when I was talking to him just now. Damn his cute smile. It distracts me all the time. Well, it used to. “I’m sorry, he just dropped by to get it back. He won’t be around here anymore, I promise.”
“It’s okay, really.” He laughs, but I sense something different. “I don’t get it…” He shakes his head, clicking his tongue in his cheek.
I frown as I take a drink of the water. “What don’t you get?”
He looks at me and runs his fingers through his hair, then huffs out, “How you dated…him.”
“What do you mean?” I say, kind of offended.
“It’s just…he’s an asshole. Sorry, but he is the most hot-headed, cruel, insane guy I’ve ever met. And you…” He pauses and shrugs. “You’re the complete opposite: kind, sweet, innocent and—and I just don’t understand how you could have ever been with him.”
“He may not seem like it, but he can be really good. And I hate that you’re just bad-mouthing him when you don’t even know him.” I don’t even know why I’m defending Grey. Maybe because he isn’t right about me. I am definitely not innocent; I know that for sure. I am a cruel person for what I did to him. I am insane to have thought we could forever be together despite the journal.
“Wait, Liv. I didn’t mean to upset you!” he calls after me.
I ignore him and continue down the stairs. What is wrong with me? Why am I getting so worked up over him stating facts? Grey is hot-headed, he can be cruel, and he can act insane sometimes. So why the heck am I running from Noah, who is what I am not, sweet and kind, because of Grey, my past, when Noah can very well be my maybe future?
Maybe because I still have the tiniest bit of feelings for Grey that I’ve been suppressing to my best abilities, and when I saw him a while ago, and we were laughing and joking, they all just burs
t out of the cage I’d shoved them into.
It just feels like whatever I do, he will never leave me alone—mentally and physically.
And I don’t think I mind either way, because I want him back…but I know it’ll never happen.
And at that thought, I turn on my heels and begin running back to Noah. Because I don’t have Grey to run back to.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I apologize to Noah for storming out earlier. It was stupid, irrational, and utterly uncalled for. But he apologized right back, sorry he talked badly about Grey. However, he does have a right to be mad at Grey. He did act like a dick to Noah the first time they saw each other, and I’m positive he acted the same way last night. Plus, now Noah’s admittedly gorgeous face is busted up. Hopefully, there will be no everlasting scars. But it doesn’t take away the fact that, as a result of Grey showing up when he said we were through, my good friend suffered from Grey’s impulsive need to mess everything up, as usual. As usual, he lost his cool. As usual, he used his fists. And as usual, I succumbed under those big black eyes of his and that daring smile that made my skin fizzle.
Nonetheless, Noah left me.
He said he had some things to do, but a part of me couldn’t help but think he just didn’t want to be around me anymore. Because I have an ex that has a short temper. Because I have a Grey, who refuses to pick a damn emotion. Does he love me and he’s just hiding that because he’s still in pain, which is highly doubtful because he is this big macho man? Or does he truly hate me so much that he would go as far as popping up whenever he wants and torture me for what I did to him? Either way, I get the short side of the stick.
Grey: The Retribution (Spectrum Series Book 3) Page 17