CHAPTER 79
LUKE
The limo smelled like sweet perfume and hairspray that made my stomach churn. I should have just refused to go, but the boys would never have allowed that. Our last big hoorah as seniors and as the football champions. So here I was in an fucking uncomfortable suit and a tie that suffocated me. I yanked at it to give myself some room to breathe, but Tiffany shrieked and fixed it immediately. Something about photos. I didn’t give a shit and pulled it off entirely and chucked it out the window, ignoring her shocked expression.
I leaned back into the leather seat, letting the cool burn of whiskey slide down my throat as I tried to numb myself from the reality of where I was and who was draped over me.
Tiffany’s fingers were like claws, constantly pawing at me, her nails digging into my chest as she giggled and whispered things. that I couldn’t even pretend to care about. She even fucking tried to kiss me. I almost called it off right there, but again, I promised Josh, so here I fucking sat because he was hoping Laura would forgive him and pitch up.
I took another long swig from the flask hidden in my jacket, welcoming the sting of the alcohol. It was the only thing that kept me grounded, kept me from throwing Tiffany off my lap and telling the driver to turn the damn limo around. But no, I had to be here, had to play my part, even if it meant enduring this, torturous night with a girl who was more interested in showing off her cleavage than anything else.
ODON
CHAPTER 70
283
Josh sat across from me, looking like a shell of himself. Ever since Laura had iced him out, he’d been in a downward spiral, and tonight was no exception. He was hunched over, staring blankly out the window like the world outside held answers he’d never find. I couldn’t stand seeing him like this, so I held out the flask to him.
“Hey man, cheer up,” I said, forcing a smile. “She might show.”
Josh just nodded, taking the flask without a word and downing a long gulp. He looked utterly defeated, and I knew he was hurting. Laura kept rejecting him. Even after, he basically carried her to the hospital and didn’t leave until she woke up. Not even then would she forgive him.
1 groaned internally – it’s not like things went any better with Jess. She practically jumped into Tom’s arms.
He tried to hide it, but I could see right through him. The guy was head over heels for her, and she was the only thing on his mind, even more so than usual.
Tiffany moaned beside me, stretching out her hand like a spoiled child. “Gimme,” she whined, her pouty face turning my stomach. I fought every instinct not to shove her away. She had no idea how much she grated on my nerves, how every touch from her made me want to crawl out of my own skin. But I stayed still, shoving down the urge to push her off me. This was prom night. This was supposed to be fun, right?
To my surprise, Josh suddenly grabbed my shoulder, his grip. firm enough to snap me out of my thoughts. “I need to ask you something, man. It’s been eating away at me for a bit now.”
was instantly stone–cold sober, the whiskey’s warmth
07:57
CHAPTER 7
evaporating as I turned to face him. Tiffany was already
1288 Wouchers
distracted, chatting away with the cheerleader she’d picked to accompany Josh. Not that he even looked at the redhead in her skin–tight blue dress that was showing too much cleavage.
“Yeah, man. Anything,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual, but my nerves were on edge. There was something in Josh’s voice, something that made my gut twist with dread.
Josh swallowed hard, and I could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he was biting down on something he didn’t want to say but felt he had to. “I’ve seen the way you look at Jess, man. I get the feeling that’s the way I look at Laura. Just tell me…are you in love with my sister?”
My heart stopped.
The air in the limo seemed to thin, the sounds around us fading into a dull hum as his words echoed in my head. Every instinct screamed at me to lie, to laugh it off, to deflect and make a joke.
But I couldn’t.
Not this time.
My mouth went dry, and I could feel the weight of his question crushing down on me. This was it.
The moment of truth. And I had no idea how to answer without losing the one person who has done more for me than anyone else in this world.
