Page 19 of Unhinged Love

“You have already spent too much time thinking about anybody other than me,” Briggs tells Wren, winding his arms around her waist from behind and nuzzling her neck.

She only smirks and swats at his arms. “I’m just going to say hi. Maybe take her a drink.”

Maya’s eyes light up before she pulls a fresh cup from the stack on the counter so she can pour one.

For fuck’s sake. The more we argue about this, the longer I have to think about her, so I mutter, “Hang a left at the top of the stairs. It’s the room across from mine. The one with the door closed and locked.”It had better be, anyway.

“See?” Maya winks, before picking up two cups and winding her way through the crowd filling the room. She’s halfway through the kitchen with Wren close behind before calling out over her shoulder, “Was that so hard?”

“One thing I’m learning.” Tucker takes a drink from his freshly poured beer before shaking his head. “It’s just easier to give in right away. Because once one of them gets an idea in their heads, you can’t change their minds.”

I’m starting to figure that out. I’m also starting to figure out I’m going to need a lot more to drink tonight if there’s any hope of getting Elliana off my mind.

EIGHT

Elliana

Slowly,the noise downstairs gets louder. There’s laughter, music, and life. In other words, it’s easily the last place I would ever want to be.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy to ignore all the fun everyone else is having. I haven’t flipped a page in my book since I picked it up. I’ve been sitting here, staring at it—physically in my room, but mentally downstairs—wondering how it’s so easy for these people to have fun. What would it be like, going to a party and not worrying that somebody was planning to hurt or humiliate me?

I’m still remembering the humiliation of the last party I attended when a knock startles me. It’s not possible to call out with my heart in my throat the way it is now. Why can’t people leave me alone?

“It’s us! Wren and Maya!”

I didn’t expect them to actually come to my room. I’m too flattered to pretend I can’t hear them, so I get up from my deskand unlock the door for them. “What are you doing up here?” I ask with a shy, disbelieving laugh.

They both look so pretty, showing more skin and wearing more makeup than I’ve seen on them so far. Wren tosses her shoulder length hair over her shoulder, and I catch the scent of her shampoo and perfume before she leans in for an impulsive hug. I’m so surprised, I don’t know what to do, so I just stand stiff before patting her back. What is wrong with me? These girls are going to give up on me pretty soon. It might be easier if they do. I won’t have to wrestle with wishing I could be more like them.

“Here, have a drink.” Maya holds out a cup filled with ice and a pink-colored concoction. “It’s pink vodka and lemon-lime soda. You’ll love it.”

“I don’t really drink.” Though it does kind of smell good.

“Give it a shot. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to finish it.” Wren stands in the center of the room, hands on her hips. “Closet?” I point to the closed door on the other side of the room, next to the bathroom door, and she scurries over to it.

“What are you doing?” I ask. My shoulders start to creep up around my ears, and my skin feels too hot and prickly all of a sudden. This is all wrong. It’s too much. I don’t know what to do.

“I like your room.” Maya takes her purse off her shoulder and sets it on the dresser, then unzips it and starts pulling out makeup.

“Thanks. What are you doing?” I ask her—the second time I’ve had to ask that question in ten seconds. It’s like I’m standing in the middle of a storm that won’t stop swirling around me, no matter how much I wish it would.

“Getting you ready to go to the party.” Eyeing my cup, Maya adds, “Maybe take a few sips of that. It’ll loosen you up.”

“We can’t stand the idea of you being up here all alone. It’s too depressing.” Wren reappears with a few dresses over one arm. “You have so many cute things in there!”

Dresses Mom picked out for me—the kind of clothes she wishes I would wear. “I never feel right in things like that.” I sink onto the bed, then raise the cup to my lips because why not? I might as well at least give it a try. The fruity soda is sweet and refreshing. There’s only the slightest taste of alcohol on the back of my tongue before I swallow. This could be dangerous.

The whole situation could be dangerous.

“I bet we could pull this up into a bun.” Maya touches a hand to my hair, letting it slide through her fingers. “It’s so pretty, and it would be nice to see it pulled up, away from your face.”

“I don’t know. I’m… I’m not used to any of this.” Another sip of my drink doesn’t give me any of the liquid courage I’ve always heard about.

“Sometimes you just need to jump in and figure things out as you go along.” Wren holds up two different dresses, both of which are the short, tight kind Mom loves to wear. “Which one do you think?”

“She can try them both on,” Maya decides. “Then we’ll play around with makeup a little bit.”

“You girls don’t have to do any of this.” I feel my protests getting weaker, not that it matters since they haven’t listened to a word I’ve said. I can’t decide if they’re being too kind or maybe slightly pushy.

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