Page 27 of My Favorite Secret
I groan, because fuck him for holding all the power again. “Is this party even legal?”
“I do some fucked up shit but none of the sex inside that pool house is illegal. And don’t tell me I’m disgusting when I saw all over your face how much you were into that scene inside. You love having everyone’s eyes on you when you dance. Maybe you’d love being watched during sex.”
“Shut up. It’s like everything out of your mouth is designed to piss me off.” I walk away, heading back to the main house. Though, I have no idea how I’m supposed to face Tyler after what I just witnessed. Before I get too far, I turn abruptly on my heels. “Please tell me you’ve never done something like that in public.”
A lazy grin spreads over his lips. “Public sex isn’t mykind of thing, Red. But I can make an exception if you want to give it a try.”
“You’re infuriating. There is no way I would do that withyou, of all people. What were they even doing to her? I mean, I know what they were doing, but… It can’t really feel that good.”
“The three of them were high on eclipse,” he says, watching the poker chip flip up and down in the air.
“What’s eclipse?”
“A new drug. It heightens your libido and emotions. Lowers your inhibitions. Takes sex to the next level of pleasure.”
“The girl must be really high because there’s no way…thatcould feel good.”
“Anal sex. You can say the words and no one will think any less of you.”
“It’s inappropriate.”
Finally, he catches the chip and looks at me with smug amusement, taking a step toward me, laughing when I step back. “You don’t talk about this stuff with your little ballet friends?”
“Most of them are virgins. The ones with boyfriends would never do…that.”
“And what about Tyler? You don’t talk about sex with him?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. Besides, he wouldn’t know much. He’s a…”
Felix laughs. “A virgin? Don’t tell me you seriously believe that. Tyler is just as bad as every other guy here tonight.”
His words hit me hard in the chest. They’re clearly a lie designed to hurt me. I know better than to believe them,but they still sting. “You’re lying. Tyler is nothing like you. He wouldn’t get involved in anything this messed up.”
“And you’d know because you spend every waking moment with him? You were away for three months in Italy. Tyler is the life of the party.”
My jaw clenches because he’s caught me in a weak spot. Since returning from Italy, Tyler has openly kept secrets from me regarding Felix. He wouldn’t tell me why Felix was skipping school during their first day back. When I asked Tyler about his summer, he brushed over the topic. I’ve had this sick sense that he’s been keeping something from me.
“You’re making this up,” I say, hearing the vulnerability in my voice.
“Don’t believe me? Ask Tyler yourself.”
I try to think of some comeback, but I have nothing. My throat hurts and my eyes are stinging. Humiliation courses through me. I’m a stupid, naïve little girl. Every time I think I’ve grown stronger against Felix’s games and that he can’t hurt me, he finds some way to tear me down.
The things he’s said about Tyler can’t be true. Felix is trying to come between us. But as I march back to the house, I have this sinking feeling within me that this time, Felix isn’t lying, and that maybe Tyler isn’t the saint I think he is.
CHAPTER TWELVE
TYLER
Each step back from my car to the movie room is filled with stomach-clenching nerves. I keep running through the scenario that’s about to unfold once I read Harper this letter.
Please, fuckingpleaselove the letter, Harper. Please, be my girlfriend. Let me love you. Let me be more than your friend.
What if she hates the letter and she turns me down?
“Harp—”
The movie room is empty when I step inside. I was gone longer than intended, sitting in the driver’s seat of my car, fighting an inner battle of whether to pull out the letter from my glove box and give it to Harper.
