Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

FORREST

The way I feel about these parties, about this shit, isn't healthy. I know it's not. Being extremely anxious, disgusted, and angry isn't good for anyone. But that doesn't change the fact that I hate them with every single part of my being. I do. My parents, their friends, their friends' kids.

All of them.

They're pretentious and full of shit. The day I walked away from this inner circle was the best day of my life. I should have stayed away. I should have saved every penny from playing hockey and invested it like all of my friends. Instead of wasting it all on bullshit. Which is exactly what I did.

I wasted every single dollar I made because I thought I'd have my inheritance. It was always my fallback, and now I feel desperate to get it… but at the same time, I'm wondering if I want it that badly.

Just because I spent everything doesn't mean I can't make more and have a good life. Is it worth coming here and essentially crawling on my knees, begging for them? I know it's my money. Family money. My father didn't make it. He got his the same way I'm supposed to get mine.

I have to put on a whole-ass show for all of these people in order to kiss my parents' asses in hopes they'll throw me a fucking bone and release my trust fund. I feel like an asshole for this. When I was in North Carolina, this seemed like a fantastic idea, but now, all I want to do is leave.

Brooklynn's fingers flex against mine and she clears her throat before she begins to move, essentially leading me. I let her because I don't think I can move my own legs at this point.

"Forrest, is that you?" a voice calls out from the side.

Stopping, I turn my head to see a woman waving me over to her small group of people. I don't recognize her immediately, but then it hits me. It's a girl I went to high school with, one of my parents' friends' daughters. Then I hiss because I remember we went to prom together and did everything that kids do on prom night.

I can't believe she's here, although, at the same time, I can because I'm sure our parents are still friends. I can't imagine my parents wouldn't continue their friendships with the same level of elite people.

"Sascha?" I murmur as I approach her group. There is a man standing beside her and another couple across from them.

She turns toward me, her lips curved up in a grin as her eyes take me in. "I can't believe you came. You know, we watch your games all the time. My husband, Jake, is a huge Fury fan," she announces as she lifts her hand and touches the man beside her on the bicep.

Introductions are made, and then it's my turn to show off my date. "It's nice to meet you all," I murmur. "This is my girlfriend, Brooklynn."

With her etiquette on point, Brooklynn extends her hand, her smile wide as she shakes everyone's hands. Then Sascha gasps and reaches out, her index finger touching Brooklynn's purse.

"Is this a Tyler Ellis?" she asks, her eyes wide and her lips parted in awe.

"It is," Brooklynn says. "I fell in love with it and thought it went with the shoes, so I had to have it."

I know what Brooklynn is doing—she's drawing attention to her two showstopper pieces, but she doesn't realize that her dress is just as fucking amazing. But honestly, what really makes the showstopper is just her.

Brooklynn draws attention to herself without even trying. There's a light that surrounds her. It radiates from her. It's the first thing I noticed about her. The second was her height, and the third was that she was hot as fuck.

"Those shoes are divine," Sascha breathes.

Brooklynn opens her mouth to say something else, presumably to thank her, when my mother floats over. The group snaps their lips closed at the presence of Queen B—my mother, the queen of bitches.

"I'm sorry to interrupt the young people's gathering, but I need to steal Forrest away. There's someone I'm just dying for you to meet," she says.

Her voice is a singsongy tone that I haven't heard in years. It makes me wonder if she's on her antidepressants again. My mother takes my hand and begins to pull me away from the group. Then she states that Brooklynn can stay and chat.

"No," I bark. "Brook comes with me."

My mother's eyes widen, then they narrow. I've defied her publicly, and she did not like that. Well, I don't like a whole hell of a lot when it comes to them, so I don't much give a fuck if I've pissed her off.

"Forrest, it would be boring for her. Please, come with me," my mother all but demands.

Shaking my head once, I take Brooklynn's hand and tug her behind me. Ignoring my mother, I begin to walk toward the amassed group of people, assuming that whoever the fuck my mother wants me to meet is somewhere there.

Stopping, I allow my mother to catch up, then pass us. Neither she nor Brooklynn says a single word. Brooklynn because she's supporting me, my mother, because she's pissed the fuck off.

Following behind my mother, I watch as she stops in front of two women. They look like they could be mother and daughter. I recognize the actual daughter. And then it hits me. This is a fucking setup. Because only my mother would try and hook me up with someone when I've brought a fucking girlfriend with me.

I knew this shit would happen.

brOOKLYNN

The party from the outside seems amazing, and I'm sure that if I were a different guest, I would think that's exactly what it is—amazing. But since I'm here with Forrest, I do believe that this party sucks.

It sucks because I really do like a good party where I can dress up and feel beautiful. This one is just that, and I feel beautiful, but at the same time, I know it's Forrest's version of hell, and that makes me sad for him.

But as we walk toward the two women who are staring right at me, I can't help but feel as if I'm a lamb being led to the slaughter because those two look as if they're ready to pounce. The moment we approach them, their entire demeanor shifts, and they both lock in on Forrest.

Oh. My.

This is why his mother didn't want me here. This is clearly a plan they came up with. This girl wants Forrest. Well, she's going to have to fight for him. Because he may not be mine, but he sure as shit is not hers and will never be. I can spot her shitty mean-girl attitude from a mile away.

"You remember Kiki Bass and her mother, don't you, Forrest?"

I don't look away from them, and I know they can feel my eyes focused on them, but they ignore me. These women are, without a doubt, mean girls. They don't care that I'm standing here holding Forrest's hand. They don't care that he's introduced me as his girlfriend.

They couldn't give a fuck less. They want what they want the way they want it, and they're going to do anything and everything they can to get it.

Mean.

Girls.

"I do," he murmurs, plastering on a fake smile.

I know it's fake because he hasn't smiled a real one since we got here. His entire body is tense, and his face is a little pinchy, too. His jaw is set hard. He's miserable, and there's nothing I can do to help him.

"Brooklynn, I'd like you to meet Kiki and her mother, Mrs. Bass," he says.

The two women's bodies jerk, and I watch as Kiki actually snarls toward me. I almost laugh. Almost, but I don't. Because I can't let my guard down with these people. They are, without a doubt, straight-up vipers.

"It's so lovely to meet you all," I say, my voice and tone sugary sweet. I will never give them anything. Not an ounce of weakness. Not a damn thing.

Holding out my hand, I wait for one of them to shake it, but neither of them does. They leave me hanging. I almost laugh but decide against it. Nothing about them intimidates me at all whatsoever, but I don't want there to be a catfight, either.

I mean, I'd come out the winner if there were any kind of physical altercation, but I know that Forrest has me here for a reason, and I'm going to be everything he needs me to be. Even if I want nothing more than to take this bitch down by her overly processed and damaged hair.

"Forrest, I have been begging Mummy to get us together for years. You just never come around any longer. What have we done to offend you?" Kiki asks, poking her bottom lip out in a fake pout.

God, I'm ready to slap her just for being annoying. I don't, even though I really, really want to. Biting the inside of my cheek, I try to keep myself composed. Breathing in and out of my nose, I focus on her for a moment, then shift my attention to Forrest's mother.

She's smiling.

She loves this. Why wouldn't she, though? She's curated it. If I didn't think this was a planned setup before, I know it is now. When her gaze flicks to me, her smile turns to a smirk before she shifts her attention away.

"Offend?" Forrest says. Then he continues. "I've been busy playing hockey. There is a lot of training and travel that goes with that. And then there's Brooklynn."

I don't miss the snarl that crosses Kiki's face at the mention of my name. My lips curve up into a smile, and I tug on Forrest's arm as I look up into his eyes. He tips his chin down to me, and I curl closer to his body the way any lover would.

His mouth turns up into a small smile, and for the first time since being here at this party, that smile reaches his eyes. His hand slides around my waist, and he tugs me a little closer to his body. Then he clears his throat and shifts his attention back to the bitches.

When I look at them, I can't help but smile at the expressions they wear. Anger, hate, and jealousy. It's great, the best even. Even if nothing else comes out of this, I want to watch these three conniving witches get their just desserts.

All of them.

Even Forrest's mother, because I have a feeling she's the worst of them all. This is probably only the tip of what she's done.

"Then there is Brooklynn," Kiki says, her face looking as if she's sucking on a lemon.

Forrest clears his throat. "Yes, we spend a lot of time together when she's not working. Brooklynn owns her own salon. She lives across the street from me. That's how we met."

"Her own salon? How quaint."

I almost laugh because I know they're trying to make me feel bad for my career, likely because they don't have them aside from being mean. But I decide against it. Instead, I give them a big smile. I don't know what else to do, so I'm going to act as if they don't affect me. Because they don't. These women have zero bearing on me, my life, or my future.