Page 6 of Rebel Secrets
I turned to head back to the party, but just as I was halfway down the hall, I heard Rebel say, “Erin.”
I froze, exactly as if I were guilty of listening to a private conversation.Which I was.Shit.Shit, shit, and shit.
For fuck’s sake, act your age.You’re twenty-nine years old.Not five.
I took a deep breath and plastered on a smile, though I made sure to aim it at Dante.Who looked like a deer in the headlights.
Shit.
“I’m sorry.Really.I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.I just wanted to say I’m sorry.And I’ve said it, so I’m going.”
Dante blinked, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something.And I paused, waiting.And then he didn’t say anything, and my gaze flashed to Rebel.
Bad move.The look on his face made me want to kick him in the shins.Hard.But not hard enough to actually hurt him.He played hockey, and I didn’t want to do anything that would hurt his game but, oh, just one jab with the pointy tip of my shiny black pumps.Which were killing my feet, by the way, but they made my legs look amazing, if I did say so myself.Which I did.There was no one else in my life who would, except for maybe Rainy, but she was busy and?—
“The party’s that way.”
Rebel crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin toward the event room.I would call it the ballroom, but Miss Raffi never called it that, and I wasn’t sure if it would insult her if I did.
I wouldn’t mind insulting Rebel, though.The man existed on this earth just to piss me off.I could swear he was sneering at me, even though he looked exactly like he had a minute ago.
Way too handsome for his own good and built like a hockey player.Broad chest, heavy muscles and a jawline that?—
Well, never mind.That was a stupid thing to even think about.So he was handsome?All the Lawrence men were.It’s just that Rebel?—
Grr.
“I know where the party is.”
Ugh, god, what’s wrong with me.I sound like a toddler.Just walk away.
But I couldn’t seem to drop his gaze.I couldn’t help myself.He just made me want to throw things at him.Hard things.Not like my rolls or muffins or anything like that.No, I wanted to throw really hard things.Which I know he would catch because, well, I just knew he would.He was good at things like that.
Walk away, you idiot.
With a huff, I forced myself to turn on my heel and go, even though I had so many more words on the tip of my tongue to say to him.Angry words.Frustrated words.None of which would make this situation any better and would just make Rebel even more convinced I was an idiot.
Amazingly, he said nothing behind my back as I tried not to escape.Which I wasn’t doing.I was making a strategic retreat.I’d made a mess of things already and didn’t want to make more of one.
And I was not going to cry, damn it.There was no reason.That man did not deserve my tears.Stress.That’s all it was.I had so much going on right now.And I know that was my own fault.I always took on too much.
But I had all these ideas, and you only lived once, right?Unless the romances I read with ghosts and reincarnation actually were true.Anyway.
Just stop.You’re spiraling.
I headed back out to the party, telling myself I could put this out of my head, just forget it ever happened.Of course, I knew I couldn’t, but I had to try.Or I had to leave.
Leaving sounded good, actually.The toasts were made.I could eat at home.I mean, I didn’t have much in the fridge because I’d forgotten to go to the store, but I could always make something and?—
“Oh!”
I collided with another body, but where I bounced, they absorbed the impact like an oak withstood a car crash.
I looked up to see Kaden Felix gazing down at me, with a smile I would’ve sold my eye teeth for at one time.I’d had a wicked crush on the guy for several months after I’d moved here, until I realized he’d never give me the time of day.He was into cool blondes who knew how to keep their mouths shut for more than two seconds.Like Sunny Yeakley.She and Kaden would be perfect together with his dark pirate vibe and her blonde goddess looks.
Except for the fact that he had absolutely no intention of ever settling down, and Sunny was looking for the love of her life.He’d told me flat out on our first and only date.I hadn’t known whether I should admire his honesty or hubris.
“Hey, there.You okay, hon?”
