Page 88 of No One Else

I lay a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “Hey, I’ll help you look, okay?”

She nods gratefully and I turn to Evan. “Go put out your fire,” he says, smiling easily. “I can entertain myself until you get back.”

“Thanks.” I squeeze his hand, relieved he understands and go with Angela to search for the missing baskets.

Ten minutes later we locate them, in a closet each of us swear appeared out of thin air, and set them out with plenty of time for people to still bid on them.

I leave her to find Evan again, but before I can, Carter finds me first. His tux fits him well, his hair perfectly styled and in place, reeking of wealth and sophistication, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Evan.

“The party turned out nice,” he compliments me.

“Thanks,” I say absentmindedly, trying to peer around him to find Evan, but I can’t see over the crowd. I should have worn taller heels.

He steps fully in front of me, blocking my view until I have no choice but to look up at him. “I’ve missed you.”

“We’re not dating,” I remind him, sidestepping to get around him, but he moves along with me in the same direction.

“Maybe I can change your mind.”

“I don’t think so.” That uneasiness from earlier is back in my stomach, sending warning signals to my brain.

He glances behind me then steps in quick, disorienting me, and pulls me toward him, pressing his mouth to mine.

I immediately struggle, but his hands are unyielding around my upper arms, keeping me in place. He mashes his lips against mine too hard for me to get enough leverage to bite him, which yes, I am totally prepared to do.

I maneuver my leg in my tight dress so I can knee him in the balls, but it’s only a second later that my ex-boyfriend is pulled off me by none other than my current boyfriend, who immediately cocks his fist back and punches Carter square in the nose, knocking him to the floor.

The crack of his knuckles against bone, as well as Carter’s anguished moan, causes everyone in the immediate vicinity to turn toward us, gaping first at Carter lying prostrate on the ground, hand over his face, then at Evan standing over him, glowering down furiously, like he wishes Carter would try to get back up so he could hit him again.

I stand there shocked for a moment, then grab Evan’s arm, leading him further away in case he really does decide to punch him again. He comes willingly but never takes his gaze off Carter, who’s now rising, hair mussed, fury in his own eyes. The bridge of his nose is red, and I imagine it’ll start swelling soon. Evan hit him in just the right spot.

“I told you to stop messing with her,” Evan says darkly, his voice carrying across the distance I’ve put between them. His body is vibrating with restless energy, and I fear my hand on his arm is the only thing restraining him from going back over there and beating Carter to a pulp.

“She’s my girlfriend,” Carter taunts him, sounding nasally. Oh God, all I need is for Evan to have caused serious damage to his nose. Carter will find some way to retaliate. “You’re the one who needs to back off.”

Evan takes a menacing step forward, literally dragging me along with him. “She’s mine,” he growls.

Christ, it’s like two boys fighting over who gets to play with the toy truck.

“You’ve already come to my house and threatened me, now you’re pulling this shit?” Carter asks, his eyes gleaming with vindictive delight.

I look between the two of them. “What’s he talking about?”

Evan glances away, guilt all over his face.

“Oh, didn’t he tell you? He showed up at Kappa Delta Phi house saying he was going to beat the living shit out of me. That’s a direct quote. One of my frat brothers even recorded him. And look, he’s already getting started,” Carter says, gesturing to his nose.

The forming crowd parts and an enraged Brittany appears, making a beeline straight for me. “What the hell is going on?” she hisses, her face slowly turning as red as her gown.

“Nothing,” I tell her soothingly, glancing around at the circle of people pointing and whispering. “It’s taken care of.”

“Really?” she asks sarcastically. “Because it looks like your guest just punched Carter. And his family made asizabledonation to the fundraiser.”

My feathers ruffle at her hostility. “Carter kissed me-”

“I don’t care what he did,” she cuts me off, pulling me further away from the crowd, keeping her voice low. “He,” she points her finger menacingly at Evan, “needs to leave. I don’t need any more scenes tonight.”

“But it was Carter’s-”

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