by A. J. Moran
"Oh, okay." She gave me a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. She knew something was up. I saw the shutter fall across her eyes as she closed down and I knew I couldn’t leave it at that.
“Look, it's just things with my dad. He is dating someone now. I’m having a hard time with it. He moved her in.” At least it was the partial truth. A little weight came off of me at the admission.
“Oh Tay, I’m so sorry. That has to be really hard. You should have told me sooner. I completely understand." She pulled me into a hug, and I held on tight. The tears sprang to my eyes, and I wished that I had told her everything from the beginning. Now it felt like it was too late. She would never forgive me.
“Thanks. But no more tears for me tonight okay? I really want to enjoy the dance. Are we still going to the after party at Donovan’s?” I wiped at the tears, careful not to mess up my makeup and smiled at her.
“Oh yeah, Quentin will not let us miss it. He said it is going to be amazing.”
◆◆◆
The limo dropped us off at the front doors of the banquet center the dance was at. Crystal gardens, it lived up to its name, and there was crystal hanging from everywhere. It was beautiful.
I followed the music to the dance floor and felt Vee and Samantha trail behind me. I spotted Marcus and Wade with their very different dates across the dance floor. Wade and his partner, I think her name was Lily, were dancing suggestively against each other and Marcus and Erica were the opposite. It was almost polite, nothing like the girl from last night, or me. I could see how timid she was from across the floor.
I pushed my way in their direction. Marcus wouldn't be able to ignore me in front of everyone. I wasn't sure what exactly I was doing, but I was drawn to him. The same way that everyone else seemed to be. It was like my brain couldn't understand that being the second choice wasn't acceptable. I was perfectly happy with it. I was becoming that girl that was fine with one night.
I stopped a short distance from them and then pulled a guy from my class close. I mirrored Wade's dancing, and it wasn't long before I had both brothers' attention. A smirk was on Wade's face as he watched me dance with humor in his eyes. Marcus was scowling at me over the shoulder of his date a dark look glinting in his eyes.
Wade pulled Lily closer, and she rode his leg suggestively. I flipped my hair over my shoulder and then pulled the guy even closer and did the same. I knew this was a dangerous game I was playing. But I wasn’t focused on the guy that was letting his hands roam all over my backside. I was wholly focused on Marcus and the attention he was showing.
At Marcus's glare, I threw my head back and laughed. I was under his skin. Wade broke away from Lily after a quick whisper in her ear and stalked like a panther hunting his prey over to me.
“Dance with me?” He asked, holding out his hand. The guy I had been dancing with glanced over at Wade with hooded eyes, I could see him try to send him away with a look, and it didn't work. "You don't mind, do you Man?” He looked at me as he said it. He didn’t expect him to protest, he was that confident.
I looked over at Marcus, and he had stopped pretending to dance with Erica, his eyes fixed on me. Wade walked around me when the guy backed up with a nod. I watched him stalk around me, my head turning to follow his movements. He wasn’t acting like the Wade I’ve gotten to know in the past few weeks. He stopped moving directly behind me with a smirk. Then he pulled me back to him. A soft gasp left me at his strength.
His front molded to my backside and then he moved my hair to the side, "Don't play with fire little sister." He whispered into my ear. "You will get burned." Then he turned me in his arms, and our gazes clashed.
"I'm not your little sister, I will never be your little sister," I told him as we danced.
“What game are you playing?” He asked his head cocked to the side. The humor that was always present with him was still in his eyes. “At home today. Now here?” He seemed to genuinely want to know.
“Game?” I asked innocently. Then my gaze found Marcus’s behind him and I moved closer to Wade’s warmth.
“I knew you two had it bad, but really?” He laughed softly. "Okay little sister, I'll do this one thing for you, but you owe me. Just tell me why you want to get under his skin."
I laughed. The guy I had been dancing with had disappeared in the crowd, and I was drawn back to Marcus’s gaze again. His jaw had hardened, and he looked as though he barely contained his anger. "Who said I want to get under his skin?" I asked Wade suggestively, and he rolled his eyes at me in response. I was an open book to him.
“Sis, I know when girls want me, and you sadly do not.” He pulled me against him in mock roughness. Then his hands found my ass, and he moved me with him. It was hot. But he was right; I didn't want him like that. And I was positive that contrary to his present behavior he didn’t want me like that either.
“Stop calling me that.” I hissed.
“Why are you afraid someone will find out your dirty little secret?” He chuckled again.
“I-“ I couldn’t do it, the words wouldn’t come out, I faltered. So many lies, I couldn’t lie again.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone. That is your secret to tell." He whispered the words against my skin, and I watched Marcus clench his hands into fists. I smiled.
What was I doing? Why did I keep asking myself that question? What was it about Marcus that made me do reckless stuff?
I felt a connection to him since talking to his mom, I felt like he would understand me. It had only grown after our ‘talk’ by the fire at that party the one night. Wade would probably understand me too, but it didn't feel the same. It had only grown since then, but I had messed up.
Was taunting him with his own brother the best decision? Probably not. I was probably messing up all over again. But his reaction was driving me on. I ran my hands up Wade's muscular arms and smiled up at him like he was the only guy at the dance. His snort answered me, and I grinned wider.
“Very convincing, sis.” Wade chuckled under his breath. “I almost believe you, and I know better."
"What do you think you are doing?" Marcus stopped beside us. We both looked over at him, but his green eyes were on his brother. His jaw was clenched. Anger radiated off of him. I should be afraid. I wasn’t.
“Dancing. It’s what you do at a dance Marc.” Wade replied with a grin and pulled me even closer to him.
"That isn't what I mean, and you know it." He growled at his brother. "What are you doing with her?” Like I was something poisonous not to be handled.
“Again, dancing.” He replied dryly. I couldn’t hold back another grin at his words. I looked over at Marcus and found his eyes on me. They were scalding. I felt the warmth of his gaze spread through me and into my core. “Would you like to dance with her?” He added after our exchanged look. Like he was offering one of his favorite toys to his brother to play with.
Crap.
That was not supposed to come out of his mouth. My grip on his biceps turned white-knuckled. What happened to the help he promised me? I looked at Wade and tried to say all of that and more with my look. He just grinned in response and untangled my hands from his arms and moved out of the way for Marcus. “See you later, sis.” I glared at his retreating back.
The heat of Marcus's palm blazed through the silk of my dress as he put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer. "What game are you playing Taylor? Are you trying to pit brother against brother? I have to tell you that you don’t have a chance with Wade. You aren’t his type.”
His hands distracted me as they roamed their way up my back and then back down to my waist. The same movement he had made the night before. His gentle movements diverted my attention from his words, and I felt myself start to respond to his touch. What was he talking about? Not Wade’s type? I knew that. It is why he was safe.
"I don't know what you are talking about." I croaked at him, hoping he doesn't become aware of the fact that I can't breathe.
I felt a little
lightheaded at his touch. What sounded like a disappointed sigh came from him at my response. In the last few weeks I had talked to his brother a ton at school, and he knew it. And I had danced with Wade twice now. It probably appeared that I did like him.
My hands were becoming sweaty, and my heart was doing double duty, it felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest, which rose and fell with my now rapid breaths. Desire shot through me as Marcus squeezed his hands at my waist. Oh god. I felt like I was going to turn to putty in his hands. Or melt underneath the heat of his gaze.
"Of course you don't, princess." His smile was almost full of regret like he was going to do something he didn’t want to do. It only slightly penetrated my haze. It was apparent he was not feeling for me any of the type of warmth I was currently feeling for him. He was still holding onto the words I had flung at him in anger last night.
“Why do you keep calling me that?”
“Calling you a princess?” He chuckled humorlessly, his eyes averted like he couldn’t handle looking at me.
"Yeah, Princess. Why do you keep calling me that?" I whispered. Hope to bloom in my chest when he looked back at me, strange warmth in his eyes.
“First impressions ring true.” He replied with a small shrug.
"How was that your first impression?" I wondered while the butterflies in my stomach started to freak out and do a little dance with the bees.
"You really have to ask?" He let out a short, crisp laugh and the warmth was gone. "When I first laid eyes on you, you were up on that huge ass landing. In a pair of pink silk shorts and a skimpy little top with your hair piled on top of your head in a messy bun and dark sunglasses that probably cost more than our last apartment was for rent every month. Then the first words out of your mouth were to address your ‘people' and the hired help. So yeah-" He cocked an eyebrow, "-definitely very princess like. You know the bitchy kind of princesses, not the Disney brand ones."
His insult killed any of the butterflies that were still freaking out halfway through his response and set the hope that had been growing inside me on fire. I glared at him, his arms still loosely holding me. We stood staring at each other, his words hitting their intended mark.
His hands left my waist, and I realized my hands were still gripping his lapel; hastily I let go and stepped back. My cheeks burned with heat.
“See you ‘around’ princess.” He said before turning around and going back to his date.
"What was that?" Vee burst out as soon as he turned his back on me. I blinked at his retreating form and couldn't respond to my best friend, I wasn't sure what exactly that was; my emotions were confusing the crap out of me. "No seriously Tay, you are the only girl that likes boys in the whole school that has not drooled all over those two, and just now you made a beeline straight to them and then danced with them both. And when I say dance, it was like you fucked with your clothes on."
I had no answers for the rest of her rant. What would I say anyway? Oh you know Vee, they've been living with me, and I just found out that we may not be that different after all, but I'm entirely clueless on how to fix what a bitch I've been to Marcus. Oh and Marcus kissed the shit out of me last night, and I want him to do it again, even if he is a player. Right. That would go over like a lead balloon. She would flip out on me.
“I really don’t know anymore.” I sigh my eyes on Marcus dancing with Erica. A slight jealousy burning it’s way through my stomach. The sight of her in his arms made me want to throw up. I turned away from the dance floor and headed over to grab a coke.
“Well that went well,” Wade fell into step next to me, his hands in the pockets of his tux.
“No thanks to you.” I grumble. I could still feel the flush of embarrassment on my cheeks. “What was that?” I turn to Wade looking for a response. Not that he could really give me one. I was the one that played with fire.
“It looked like you were getting under Marc’s skin. Wasn’t that the goal?” He tilted his head to the side with a slight frown on his face. He leaned against the table as he watched the dance floor.
“Not like that.” Definitely not anything like that. That was a train wreck. A disaster. How was I supposed to live in the same house with him now? He hated me.
“Like what then?” He scratched at his temple.
“I- I don’t really know.” I replied with a sigh. “But not like that. He hates me Wade. Like really, really hates me.”
“I don’t know about that. Hate is a strong word.” He reached out to pat my head like he really was some sort of big brother and I moved out of his reach. No way. He might be right about hate being a strong word but he was not going to pat my head to console me.
Chapter 25
Marcus
Erica tried to make conversation on the way over to Donovan’s but I was still fuming. How could Taylor do that? She was flaunting everything I couldn’t have right in front of me. Like it was some kind of game for her. It was making me crazy. Seeing her dance with Wade like that had been the last straw.
Why was it different for Wade? Why didn’t she draw that invisible line in the sand for him too? What was so different between them? I wasn’t jealous. I couldn’t be jealous of my own brother. But I had watched him follow her afterwards. I had watched him talk with her. I felt like I was a bull seeing red. I still felt that way.
I made a beeline for the keg, even though I promised myself not to do that again. Erica trailed behind me, probably sorry she even said yes to going to the dance with my sorry ass. I didn’t blame her one bit.
“You don’t have to stick around.” I told her after taking a long drink. I didn’t want her to stick around. I wanted to sulk.
“I’m good.” She quietly sat down next to me on the couch I was sprawled on. “So what is going on with you and Taylor Hale?”
Inhaling the next drink I cough and try to get it out of my nose. Erica’s question caught me off guard and I basically spit alcohol everywhere. She stared at me with an open gaze, her eyes curious not accusing.
“She—“ sucking in a deep breath I look away from Erica’s earnest gaze. “I can’t explain it. She gets under my skin and not always in a good way. You know?”
She was nodding her head in agreement before I finished talking, “I know someone like that.” She smiles slightly and looks away.
“Yeah?” I look over at her. I had asked her to the dance because she was the nice girl, but her words hinted at more.
“Yeah. Trying to forget.” She folds her hands in her lap. Straightening up and putting a smile on her face she looks back at me, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll keep you company.”
With a nod I drink the rest of the beer in my hand. I wasn’t sure I was fit for company tonight. But she sat next to me for the next three hours, as I progressively got drunker. I told her about my brother and about Taylor and all the feelings she pushed to the front in me. She just listened.
“You are pretty awesome.” I slurred the words and patted her on the shoulder. “The guy, whoever he is, he’s stupid.”
“Well, guys can be stupid every now and then.” She laughed at me, her eyes seemed to twinkle a different meaning at me.
Was she calling me stupid? Nah. She was so nice she wouldn’t do that. Not like my princess. My princess would call me stupid. Where was my princess? I didn’t see her yet at the party. Donovan said she would be here. Not that I asked. Adam did. It wasn’t for me though. Not really.
I looked around the room and found Adam leaning against a wall. “Hey, Adam.” I shout over the loud music. I try to find my feet and sway a little. I had drank too much. I stumble over to him, Erica forgotten on the couch behind me. “You were right, she is just like ice.” I grasped his shoulder and caught my balance a little bit. “She isn’t here.”
“I’m pretty sure I saw her.” He smirks over at me. “I take it you’ve given up on the bet?”
“What? No, of course not. I’ve got this.” With that I climbed up onto the nearest table and start
ed shouting for Taylor. “Hey, where is my princess? Have you seen her?” I pointed at a random guy staring up at me. “Has anyone here seen my princess tonight?”
“Hey, you should get down.” Erica pleads with me. Her kind eyes shone with something I can’t read. “You remember when I said guys can be stupid every now and then? Yeah? Well, that’s you right now.” She held her tiny hand out to me. But she was wrong. This was the easiest way to find Taylor.
“Taylor, my princess, have you seen her?” I announced, to the now quiet party. Someone had shut off the music. All eyes were on me. Some girls had their mouths covered in shock. Some giggled uncomfortably. Of course they would, I wasn’t a free agent. I hadn’t been since I had moved into her house. She had caught me in her web without even trying. I needed to apologize to her for being such a dick earlier. “I just need to talk to her.” I pleaded with the watching crowd.
Wade broke through the gathered crowd and he grabbed onto my arm and pulled. “You’ve got to get down man.” I pulled back. I wasn’t going anywhere without Taylor. “Marc, you are going to regret this in the morning. Get off the damn table.” He pulled again.
“No. I need to see her. I have to explain.” I told him trying to pull my wrist from his grip. I looked down and the room spun. I couldn’t focus on anything. The room was a swirl of colors as it spun before my eyes. It felt like I was on a merry-go-round and it was spinning too fast. Sitting down on the tabletop I tried to lift my head again and couldn’t do it. It gave Wade the opening he needed and he pulled me off of the table and onto my unstable feet.
“It’s over. Go back to the party.” Wade called to the people around us as Erica put my arm around her like she could hold any of my weight. “Let’s get him out of here.”
The next thing I knew I was being shoved sideways into the backseat of my truck. With a groan I held onto the bench trying to make it stop spinning. The spinning only got worse when Wade started the truck and we started to really move. I am going to be sick. Instead blackness came over me as I passed out.
