Blossom shrieked when she saw me, waving me over from the VIP table at the top of the stairs. A bodyguard from the club escorted me upstairs, and I felt people staring as I made my way up. I hadn't been out like this in ages, but I'd made sure to dress up for the occasion in a tight-fitting, too short nude dress and spiky black heels that I’d picked up this afternoon. I knew I looked the part, complete with a daring hot pink lipstick and fake lashes, but I sure as hell didn't feel like I belonged.
Not anymore.
Blossom greeted me with enthusiastic air kisses and happy shrieking, and I smiled numbly as she introduced me to the table. I knew most of them, although there were some new faces. Blossom wasn't the kind of girl to keep steady friends unless they had something to offer her.
I ended up sitting next to a guy I knew from a while back, Derek Clare.
He was a guy I'd hooked up with a few times. Strictly making out. Despite the way the media portrayed me, I'd never really slept around. I'd had some boyfriends, but that was about it. Of course, it didn't matter anymore, not now that the photos with Kaden had come out. Everyone saw me as a bitchy whore who went behind her parents' backs to sleep with the enemy’s son, no matter what the truth was.
Whatever.
"You look great,” Derek said as I sat down next to him. He’d always been a nice guy, compared to a lot of the others who I used to hang out with. Not a sleaze or an asshole. Just nice. The only reason we weren’t still friends is because things got a little awkward when we stopped hooking up.
His hands stayed at a respectful distance even though we were crammed closely together, and I gave him a small smile before grabbing an unclaimed shot off the table in front of us and downing it in one big gulp. Blossom shrieked with pleasure and clapped her hands together when I did it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, she's back!" she exclaimed, and I gave her a small smile before making my way through two more shots.
My mouth numbed from the alcohol. I wasn't used to drinking a lot anymore, and I didn't particularly like the taste of tequila, either. Especially when I didn't even mix it with lemon and salt and just drank it straight. But I wanted to forget, and right now, tequila seemed like the perfect way to erase everything.
Even so, deep down inside me, I knew I was making a mistake.
I should have made another attempt to get in touch with Serena. She was my real friend. She would've made me feel better. This stuff with Blossom... it was all pretend. We weren't friends, not really. We just used each other for our own benefits. But for now, I was okay with it. There was too much on my mind, too much pain and anger. I just wanted to forget.
"You still remember how to drink," Derek said with a wide grin.
"Always." I smiled back at him despite feeling number than ever. "I might need another.”
"I’ll get you one. What would you like?" he asked.
I asked him to get me an espresso martini. I'd heard that they fucked you up more than anything else while giving you energy at the same time, and I was about to find out if that claim was true.
Derek disappeared to get what I’d requested, and I found myself sitting there with these people I'd known for years but didn't know at all at the same time. Sighing, I got up and went to the bathroom alone, staring into the mirror and wondering where the hell it all went wrong.
I felt so empty. So lonely. I wanted somebody to comfort me. I wanted my mom, and my dad. I knew they'd understand if I just explained everything.
God, I wanted to get out of here. This was a terrible idea.
I left the bathroom and went back to the table. An untouched espresso martini was sitting there, and Derek was nowhere to be seen. I sat down with a sigh, waiting for him to come back. The least I could do was thank him for the drink before leaving.
He finally returned a couple of minutes later. “Sorry! Needed to take a leak. You weren’t here when I got back, but I left your drink there for you,” he said, gesturing to the martini glass. “How is it? The bartender put a honey twist in it for you.”
"Sorry, I didn’t taste it yet. I'm actually leaving," I replied. “Just wanted to say thanks and bye.”
“Oh, right. Okay.” He cocked his head to the side. "You sure you don’t want stay and chat?” he asked. He leaned forward. “Look, I know what you’re going through. It’s fucking shit. But it might help to hang out instead of being alone. I dunno.”
He shrugged, and I chewed my bottom lip as I thought about it.
On the one hand, I didn't really want to, but on the other, Derek was actually one of the only decent people in this group. Like I said earlier, the only reason we weren’t good friends nowadays was because of the awkwardness we both felt after we stopped getting together. So maybe he was right. Maybe it would help to talk things through with him.
I found myself reluctantly nodding and taking the martini glass, and I sipped at the cocktail. It was much too sweet, but still quite tasty.
As I drank, I listened to Derek telling me about a media scandal that’d happened to his cousin, who was a famous model in New York. His advice was sound, but I’d heard it all in the past. Just ride it out. There’ll be a new scandal about someone else before you know it. People will forget your thing by next week.
Yup, heard it all before, and while it was decent advice, it didn’t exactly help me right now.
As he spoke, I watched Blossom flirting with a guy across the room, and I sighed inwardly. None of it mattered—the fake friends, the parties, the brand sponsorships. It was all just a facade for an empty, lonely life.
I finally finished my drink and set my glass down. “Thanks for the pep talk. But I better go home,” I said with a sigh.
Derek nodded. “No worries. I hope you feel better soon,” he said. “And seriously, talk to your family. They might be mad about the whole scandal, but they care, and they’ll listen to your side of things.”
I nodded and tried to stand up, but for some reason, my legs felt wobbly as hell and I fell back down to the table, right into Derek's arms.
"Shit, Pey, you ok?" he asked.
I gave him a groggy smile.
I guess espresso martinis really did fuck you up.
I sat back down on the white leather couch, the fabric smooth and cool underneath my fingertips. My surroundings looked blurry, the club sounds and people blending together in a strange mix. I'd only had a few drinks. I couldn't possibly be this drunk, could I?
"I don't feel right," I said to Derek. "Did... did you see them make my drink?"
"Yeah, I was right there at the bar when they made it," he said. "But you don't look great, Pey.” Suddenly his eyes widened. “Oh, shit, no. I left the drink here for you before I went to the bathroom, remember? What if—”
"I feel dizzy," I cut in. My mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. My tongue felt heavy and thick, and my head was spinning. "Can we go somewhere quiet?"
"Yeah, of course." Derek helped me up, and I felt woozy as hell as he took me into one of the back rooms. I vaguely recalled his parents owning a property on Rosewood, and it must've been the club, because doors seemed to open for him without him having to say a single word. Thank god it was him, and not one of Blossom’s sleazy new guy friends.
"I’m really worried," he said. "I think someone might’ve slipped something in your drink when I left it there. I’m so sorry. I’m a fucking moron. But I’m gonna call an ambulance, okay? Just hang tight. How do you feel right now?”
"Dizzy." I was practically choking on my own words, fighting the urge to close my eyes as he sat me down on a different couch in the back room. Paranoia sank in, and my eyes sought out Derek. "How long did you leave my drink there?”
He shook his head and scratched his chin nervously. “Fuck, I don’t know. I wasn’t in the bathroom for long. And neither were you, right? It couldn’t have been that long.”
I leaned forward. “Yeah. But this doesn’t feel right…”
He nodded. “I know. This is exactly what happened to Bloss
om that time someone spiked her drink. And it only takes a second to slip something into a glass.” He pulled out his phone. “Anyway, I’ll call the hospital now. Try to breathe slowly. I’m so sorry, Pey. I should’ve never left your drink like that.”
I felt so woozy that I had to lean back against the couch, my head pounding with an awful stabbing pain. I couldn't even open my mouth to speak anymore, and I could barely see anything happening around me. I thought I heard Derek on the phone, talking to a 911 operator and telling them what had happened, but I forgot everything he was saying only seconds after he said it. My mind was so jumbled and screwed up.
A few minutes later, I felt Derek sit down next to me, smooth down my hair, and say soothing things to me as I drifted in and out of consciousness. It felt so fucking weird, like I was having an out of body experience. Like the real Peyton was floating above the ground, watching this whole thing go down.
Slowly, the dizziness went away, but it was replaced by nausea. I retched several times and Derek got up to get me something to puke in. I used the time when I was alone to pull out my phone, my fingers shaking violently as I typed a text to the one person I truly wanted to help me in a time like this.
Derek was nice, but he wasn’t Kaden.
I hesitated before hitting send, wondering if Kaden would even come. Did he really ever care about me? He said he did, but he also said a lot of other things which turned out to be lies.
I guess I was going to find out the truth once and for all.
I hit send.
Just then, I heard the lock on the door clicking, and Derek returned to the couch. “Don’t worry. Whoever did this to you isn’t gonna get in here. You’re safe,” I vaguely heard him say. “But the EMTs are on their way, okay?”
And then he was stroking my back again, telling me I'd be just fine as I retched above the bucket he'd brought me. A fucking champagne bucket. How appropriate.
I felt dizzy and nauseated, but still, the thought that something else wasn't right wouldn't leave me alone. I kept thinking about how Derek had locked the door. He said it was to keep out whoever spiked my drink… but how would that person be able to get in here anyway? Most people weren’t allowed in these back rooms. And surely if he did somehow find me in here, Derek could fight him off, right?
I was too disoriented and sick to think about it properly, but some deep-down part of me still knew it wasn’t right… and I was scared.
It felt like hours later when I heard banging on the door of the room we were in, although it was probably only minutes.
Loud voices came from outside and Derek jumped up to deal with the commotion. He unlocked the door, and the second he did, he went flying across the room, hitting a wall. My eyes couldn't even follow the action, and I wasn't sure whether Kaden storming inside the room was a mirage or reality.
But the moment I heard his voice I knew it was real. He was shouting something at Derek, and I sat up groggily, trying to make sense of things.
"Don't lie to me, man," Kaden snarled at Derek. I stared with my eyes wide open. "I've known you for years, you prick. I’ve heard rumors about what you do. Never thought it was true, but shit… guess I was fucking wrong.”
"Stop accusing me of bullshit, Kaden, or I'll get you thrown on your ass outside. I haven’t done anything. Someone spiked Peyton’s drink and I’m taking care of her. See?” He gestured to the couch where I was half-sitting up, blearily taking it all in. “All her clothes are on, and she’s fine. I mean, apart from how sick she feels. We’re just waiting for the EMTs to get here.”
“You’re full of shit.”
Kaden made a move to punch Derek, but he ducked. That made him really fucking mad, and he slammed Derek against the wall with strong, practiced movements. Derek tried to duck away again, but Kaden punched him in the jaw and pinned him to the wall by his throat, not allowing him to move a muscle.
"Admit you spiked her drink yourself, you sick jackass,” he hissed. “Admit it right now!"
“Fuck off!”
Kaden pressed harder on his throat. “Say it!”
"Jesus…. fine!" Derek choked out. "I did it. But I wasn't going to rape her, for fuck’s sake!"
"No. I know your sick little game, and it’s just as fucking bad," Kaden said with disgust, letting go of him and watching him crumple to the floor as he tried to catch his breath. "Spike the drink, then play the hero and take care of her, so when she feels better, she runs to you for everything, because you’ve proven yourself to be such a nice guy. What a great fucking strategy to pull chicks.” He scoffed, then went on. “I'm calling the cops."
I moved sluggishly on the couch, and Kaden was next to me in a second while Derek struggled to pick himself up.
"Are you okay?" Kaden asked, and I somehow managed to nod. He nodded back at me, relief flashing in his eyes. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm going to get you the fuck out of here."
24 Peyton
A T-rex was chomping through my brains, and my insides were being wrung out like a wet towel. At least that’s what it felt like as I opened my eyes and struggled to sit up.
I glanced around, realizing that I was somehow back in my own bed in my suite at the Mirabella. I could hear the shower running in my bathroom, which I must’ve forgotten to turn off somehow. I didn’t recall turning it on, though. In fact, I didn’t recall coming back to the Mirabella at all.
I squinted at the clock on the wall. It was one o’clock in the afternoon.
How did I sleep so late? What the hell happened to me?
Suddenly, everything came rushing back to me about yesterday afternoon’s hellish drink-spiking encounter with Derek, the ‘nice guy’ I’d once been friends with. No wonder my head felt like it was being kicked in by a particularly angry horse. And no wonder I’d slept so long.
Groaning, I rubbed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I noticed a note on one of my pillows. Frowning, I picked it up. It was from my mother.
Peyton,
Kaden called your father and me from the hospital and told us what happened. We brought you home when the doctors gave us the all-clear, although you probably don’t remember – they said you would be feeling sleepy and out of sorts for a while.
We’ve just had to go and get some sleep for a few hours ourselves (we stayed up all night sitting with you while you slept, so we’re both about to pass out from exhaustion) but we’ll be back to check on you soon. For now, Kaden is there to keep an eye on you. I’ve left water and painkillers on your nightstand, and if you need anything else at all, my phone is on the loudest setting, so I’ll hear you call.
Anyway, honey… I also just wanted to say that I’m sorry. Kaden told me everything, and apparently he already spoke to your father about the recent issues as well. We know you didn’t know who he was when you became involved with him. We know you didn’t feed any information to the Pierces. I suppose I was just so shocked when I saw that article with the photo the other day that I didn’t know what else to think.
I feel terrible. I’ve been a horrible mother… I wish I had just listened to you when you came to try and explain the other morning. I hope you will forgive me, but I understand if you’re mad at me for a little while. Or a long while.
We’ll talk more when you’re awake and feeling better.
Love,
Mom
PS. Kaden sat with us in the hospital all afternoon yesterday, and all night as well. While your father and I aren’t exactly pleased with his spying activities, or the fact that he misled you (and everyone else) in terms of his identity, we believe him when he says how much he cares about you, and we’re very grateful that he helped you after what happened. Anyway, just thought I should let you know.
Okay, that explained how I got back to the Mirabella.
It also explained why my shower was running.
Right on cue, the water turned off, and a moment later, Kaden stepped out of my bathroom clad in nothing but a towel. I set Mom’s note down on the pillow, unable to kee
p my eyes off the droplets of water running down his chest in tantalizing rivulets.
“You’re awake,” he said, his eyebrows knitting with concern. He strode over to my bedside. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I was shot by a firing squad, set on fire, then rolled in a mound of salt,” I croaked. Kaden passed me a glass of water from my bedside table. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
I gestured to the note. “Mom said you were with her and Dad at the hospital. I don’t even remember seeing them at all, let alone being at the hospital.”
Kaden nodded and sat down on the end of my bed. “Yeah, you were really out of it. You should’ve seen your eyes. Your pupils were so dilated that you looked possessed,” he said.
I almost smiled at that mental image. “How long were we there for?”
“All of yesterday afternoon, last night, and then half of today as well. We only got back here about two hours ago. But you’d already been asleep for hours by then. I had to carry you in here like a fireman.”
I sighed and shook my head slowly. “I can’t believe Derek did this to me.”
“Same. I’ve known him for a few years—we have mutual friends—and I heard a couple of rumors about him, but he always seemed like a really nice guy. And you know what the rumor mill is like in this city. Usually filled with bullshit. So I didn’t believe it.”
I nodded. “Yeah. He was the last person I would’ve expected to do something like this. And what the hell… spiking a girl’s drink to get in her good books by taking care of her afterwards? Who does that?”
“Derek, apparently. But don’t worry. I called the cops after I took you to the hospital. The doctors confirmed your drink had been spiked, so there’s actual physical proof as well as the fact that he admitted it. I had to give him a bit of a beat-down, but he spat it out eventually.”
I smiled wryly. “I know. I remember that part.”
His brows shot up. “Really? Shit. Sorry you had to see me do that.”
“Don’t apologize. The prick deserved a smack or two.” I sighed and looked down at my duvet, then looked back up. “Thank you, Kaden.”
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