Page 69 of The Sweetest Revenge

"You are mine, and I can prove it again if you want me to." His eyes challenged me, dark with memories of whatever moment he believed had staked his claim.

I narrowed my eyes, mind racing to decipher his meaning while my body remembered something my brain couldn't, or wouldn't, access. Heat crawled up my neck. "Whatever, Zaiden. What do you want?"

He stepped back, satisfaction written in the relaxation of his shoulders. He'd gotten the reaction he wanted.

"I think I've made myself clear." A slow grin spread across his face, the kind that made girls write his name in their notebooks surrounded by hearts. "See you tonight."

My jaw clenched as I watched him walk away. He was so infuriatingly aggravating and hot, and I wanted to hate him so badly, but a small part of me had already forgiven him even if he didn't ask for it. Everyone had their own way of dealing with grief, and his was tormenting me because he thought I was responsible for her death. Or at least that was what I was telling myself, and there was no way I was going to ever admit it to him.

My brain shouted all the reasons to stay away from him: dangerous, manipulative, cruel. But my traitorous body remembered things my mind couldn't access, the weight of his hand at my waist, the heat of his skin, something else just beyond memory's reach. Logic against instinct, and instinct was winning. Again.

CHAPTER34

ARIELLA

The floor beneath my feet vibrated as I stood on the old wooden front porch of the frat house. My gaze dropped to give myself one more glance before I went in. I wasn't typically the type of girl who took hours to get ready. In fact, it usually took me ten minutes to throw on a pair of jeans or skirt, a tank top or sweatshirt, shoes, and lip gloss, but tonight was different. If all eyes were going to be on me, then I was going to give them something to look at.

And—

It may also have had a little to do with Zaiden.

I ran my hand over my short skirt, continuing up to my bare, tanned stomach. I tugged slightly on the small white crop top, which was held together in the middle by a tiny string, creating an alluring gap that accentuated my cleavage.

My phone buzzed, and I reached into my back pocket, pulling it out.

Mila: Where are you?

I smiled at my phone.

Ariella: Walking in now.

Twisting the doorknob, I shoved open the door and walked through the entrance into the darkened house.

Mila: We are in the kitchen. Meet us there.

Bodies pressed in from all sides as I shouldered through the crowd. Cologne mixed with spilled beer and sweat, the air thick enough to taste. Red solo cups bobbed above heads, silhouettes swaying to the music in the blue-black darkness. In this press of strangers, I was just another shadow.

I stepped into the brightly lit kitchen, smiling when I spotted Mila and Journey.

"Holy shit," Journey said, her eyes scanning me up and down. "You look fucking hot."

"Who did you get dressed up for?" Mila teased as I stopped on the opposite end of the kitchen island.

"Myself." I bounced my eyebrows as I reached across the counter and grabbed one of the lined-up solo cups in front of the bottle of clear 1800 tequila. I needed to feel the burn. I threw back the cup and winced as the hot liquid slid down my throat.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Journey scowled, snatching the cup out of my hand. She tipped it towards her, staring into it. "Do you not remember what happened the last time you took red solo cup shots?"

I shook my head, a grin spreading across my face. "Must have been a good time."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, so much fun, Zaiden carried you out of the party."

I reached for another cup filled with a different liquor. "Well, that's a chance I'm willing to take." If I was going to deal with Zaiden being part of my friend group tonight, I needed all the alcohol.

"Anyways," Mila said. "So I talked to my brother?—"

"We should probably wait for Zaiden," I cut her off. "Otherwise, you're going to have to repeat yourself."

"I don't think he's going to make it," Mila said. "I have a few hockey players in my Eco class, and I overheard them say that their coach called a mandatory meeting tonight."

---