11. Nice Shot

11

Nice Shot

Teal

Don’t look up.

I feel Declan’s eyes on me the moment I walk into Sigma House. My spine tingles from his attention, and it takes everything in me to pretend I don’t notice him leaning against the railing up above me.

He’s in his usual spot on the second-floor balcony, watching the door. A throne where he looms over his subjects before joining the party. At least it gives me a chance to duck out of sight before he can catch up with me and my friends.

I stay huddled in the thickest group of people, refusing to look up at Declan or to hand him any hint of authority.

The flow of the crowd pulls Violet, Patience, Mila, and me deeper inside Sigma House. A sea of bodies ripples around us. It’s my worst nightmare, and I’m thankful I remembered to take my anti-anxiety medication right before we left, or I’d probably be one shoulder shove away from a nervous breakdown.

I scratch the back of my hand and try to ignore the growing desire to peel off my flesh.

I’m here to prove a point to Declan, so I need to get through this.

Especially after Declan succeeded in pissing my father off at the fundraiser. Mom called me this morning to let me know Dad is frustrated but waiting it out. But that doesn’t change anything between him and me. I can’t rely on Declan to save me from this long-term. He’ll bail the second he gets whatever he’s in this for. Either that or he’ll get bored of me.

I’m no trophy. I’m a plague. Declan must see that.

Rumors have already started circulating about Declan and me. He’s associating with Bristal’s crazy girl , and after enough time, that will affect his reputation.

I glance around at the ocean of beautiful girls who fill Sigma House and wonder why Declan is even bothering. The pleasure he gets from blackmailing me can’t be nearly as satisfying as their praise.

Still, he won’t stop texting me. He won’t stop claiming me.

He’s acting like he wants me around, and it doesn’t make sense.

Declan already has it all. Between running his evil house of horrors and ordering around his minions, he is handed anything and everything he could ever need. But I guess that might be part of the problem. Power feeds power. The more they have, the more they crave it.

The crowd closes in around us the deeper we get into the party, but Kole cuts through everyone like they don’t exist, making a beeline for Violet. He moves in front of a guy from Violet’s creative writing class when he catches him waving at her. Kole’s glare has me wondering if he’s considering dismemberment simply because the poor guy dared to say hello to his girl.

She doesn’t notice or care as he pulls her in the moment she’s within reach. He dips down to claim her mouth with his, and they kiss like they’ve been craving each other their entire lives.

I wonder what that’s like.

“Gross.” Patience crosses her arms over her chest and glares at them.

“Yeah,” I agree, even if something deeper makes me wonder what it would feel like to trust someone like that.

“Someone get this girl some alcohol.” Mila rolls her eyes at Patience. “I appreciate that you pulled the stick out of your ass long enough to join us, but don’t ruin the party. Loosen up.”

“You do realize you’re talking to Patience Lancaster right now, don’t you?” I arch an eyebrow at Mila.

“You two are hilarious.” Patience glares. “Get me a shot.”

“That’s more like it.” Mila smiles, grabbing our hands, as Violet disappears with Kole.

Mila steals the first two shots that are set down on the bar, handing one to Patience .

“And a water for you.” She snatches a water bottle off the bar and gives it to me.

“Thanks.” I spin the cap off and take a drink.

Declan still hasn’t moved from his perch above everyone else, and for some reason, that angers me more than if he came down the stairs to torture me the moment I walked through the door. He’s the one who insisted on me being here. So, of course, he’s hovering overhead and pretending not to give a shit.

“Here’s to showing Marco what he’s missing out on.” Mila holds up her shot glass. “And wreaking havoc with Sigma Sin.”

“I’m only toasting to the first part.” Patience shakes her head, tapping her shot glass against Mila’s.

“Cheers to both,” I say, lifting my water bottle.

After spending my senior year of high school being treated like a pariah for not drinking, I’m thankful to have friends who understand I can’t. They clink their glasses against the plastic bottle like it’s a shot and don’t say anything.

Dr. Parish adjusted my dose again two days ago, and for the first time in a year, my head is a little more level.

“Let’s go do something.” I take another sip, anxious the longer I stand with Declan staring at the top of my head. “Aren’t there pool tables somewhere?”

Mila’s jaw falls open. “You want to actually be social?”

“Not with everyone.” I shrug. “But if I have to be here, I’d rather do something other than stand around.”

“I second that,” Patience says, surprising both me and Mila .

“All right, ladies.” Mila rolls her shoulders back. “Let’s go play with some balls.”

“That’s not what I suggested.” I shake my head. “Just for the record.”

Mila smiles, not caring.

She leads us deeper into the crowd, weaving us through the maze that is Sigma House. Mila parties here regularly, so she knows where we’re going, while I already can’t remember where the front door is.

When we reach the pool table, there are a couple of guys in the middle of a game. But that doesn’t stop Mila from interrupting.

“Hey, boys.” She rests a hip on the table, distracting the dark-haired one who is shooting and making him miss his shot. “Can we join you?”

He groans, seemingly annoyed, until he glances up at Mila, and every hint of irritation slips away. His gaze scans over her skin, and when he stands up tall, he’s grinning.

Mila’s naturally charming and ridiculously pretty, rendering most guys incapable of resisting her.

“Sure thing, beautiful.” The dark-haired guy grins. “I’m Oxy.”

“Like the drug?” She hitches an eyebrow.

“Like the drug.” He slowly walks over to her. “Cuz if you let me, I’ll get you feeling good all night long.”

Patience snorts out a laugh. “I’m sure you will.”

He glances over at Patience, his eyebrows knit like he’s not sure what to make of her sarcastic comment.

“I’m Mila.” Mila ignores Patience altogether, pulling Oxy’s attention back to her .

Mila isn’t the least bit shy, and Oxy’s relaxed smile tells me he appreciates that.

Oxy’s blond friend steps forward when she says her name. “You’re Marco’s girl, right?”

The mention of Marco is enough to make Mila’s shoulders tense. “I’m no one’s girl.”

“But he—”

“Is fucking whoever he wants,” Mila cuts him off, and through her confidence, her voice cracks with the hint of hurt I know she’s trying to hide.

“ No one’s girl … I like that.” Oxy smiles at her, stepping closer. “Ignore my friend. He’s an idiot.”

Mila smiles, but Oxy’s blond friend tosses his pool stick on the table, stalking away, irritated.

“Looks like your game just ended. Pity.” Mila forces a frown that is so fake Patience chuckles. “Want me to rack ’em?”

“Sure thing, babe.” Oxy winks at Mila, and they collect the balls, being overly obvious with their flirting while they do.

“I don’t get it.” Patience leans closer to me, dipping her hands in her back pockets. “Does she actually find this act charming?”

“Probably not. But he meets her bare minimum qualifications, so I’m not surprised she’s entertaining it.”

“And those are?”

“Tattoos, nice arms, and big dick confidence.”

Patience laughs. She’s loosening up, which means her one shot must be getting to her. It’s rare she cracks a smile when she’s at Sigma House, but it’s even rarer she drinks, so it’s taking the edge off.

Once Mila is done racking the balls and flirting, they start a game. It’s obnoxious to watch, but at least it’s entertaining.

By game two and drink three, it’s me against Mila. Which Oxy uses as an excuse to stare at Mila’s ass every time she bends over.

A couple of Oxy’s friends, Ryan and Finn, have joined to hang out. And they’re friendly enough while keeping their distance, so I don’t mind it. It’s enough of a distraction to help me forget the fact that I was dumb enough to show up here for Declan.

“Eight ball, corner pocket.” I point from the ball to the pocket.

“She’s kicking your ass, Mila.” Patience laughs from the chair in the corner.

“Only if she makes it.”

“I’ll make it,” I tease, eyeing my shot. “Unlike you, I’m not drunk or distracted.”

“Very funny.” Mila walks over to me, leaning in close enough that only I can hear her. “I already won the only pool stick I’m interested in grabbing the rest of the night.”

Her gaze cuts to Oxy, and I burst out laughing.

Of course Mila cares more about the guy than the game. It’s how she distracts herself from the shit she doesn’t want to think about.

Bending over, I line up my shot, wiggling until I get my position just right. I pull back, smooth and slow, and then I strike. The cue ball glides across the felt, and it’s a perfect shot, ending the game.

“Well, damn.” Mila frowns, even if she doesn’t actually care about losing.

Standing up, I open my mouth to say something snappy when the energy in the room changes.

Patience’s gaze drifts to someone behind me, and I’m overwhelmed by the heat of his body and the faint scent of peppermint.

Trouble.

Bad decisions.

He’s so close I can feel the static radiating from his body, but he leaves just enough space that it makes the gap feel torturous.

Declan brushes my hair off one shoulder, leaning in so close his breath rustles the hair on the top of my head.

“Nice shot, Tealene,” he says, and I swear the room silences for him. “But I’ve got next game. So how about we up the stakes?”