Page 18 of Rivals
“Yes, we can,” I grit out. “We can do what we did, only it can be better.”
“I don’t know if I can do it without the drugs,” she says sheepishly. I find that odd, but whatever. There’s more.
“Then take more, I don’t care. But you are not leaving this apartment until this piece is done.”
Chapter 16
Revna
Hethreatenedme,blamedme, kissed me, and is now holding me captive. I have believed a lot of things about Lachlan McKay, but insane was surprisingly not one of them. He’s right. I know he is, but I won’t tell him that.
I’m still staring at the door. I wanted to leave because of the way that kiss felt. I didn’t like the way it made me grasp for something before I floated away. It felt like…no. I understand why he doesn’t want me to leave. I made a deal with him, and I should keep my word. I have to admit, though, it was weird that the painting caught on fire. I could have sworn the hot plate was off. I guess stranger things have happened, but still.
Lachlan doesn’t trust me, nor should he, but the one feeling I will let myself have is disappointment. Of all the things that I have done, I certainly wouldn’t have put myself and everyone in this building at risk. And as much as I dislike Lachlan, I wouldn’t intentionally hurt him or others.
I turn to face him and drop my bag on the floor. I am always ready to go at a moment’s notice like this. “Why are we even bothering, Lachlan? What is the point here?”
He frowns and grumbles something to himself. He’s either still coming down, or this is the real Lachlan. I doubt it’s the drugs, though. He’s so big it probably cleared his system a while ago. But the question still begs to be answered. Why are we bothering? The likelihood of us making it into the next round is slim. The way things worked out with the first round was pure luck. I don’t know what he expected from this.
I also felt good about the piece we put together. I liked how it had an abstract angle to it, but the mind could create the picture. Then it burnt up. He’s still pacing, and I consider grabbing my bag and making another attempt to run for it. It’s not that I feel unsafe around him, as much as that surprises me. It’s that I want to put as much separation between me, him, and the feelings that he drew out of me with his expert tongue.
I almost speak up to ask him what he’s freaking out about. Why is he pacing? I only pace when I’m trying to make a decision…oh. “What can’t you decide, Lachlan?” His footsteps halt, and his expression is full of surprise, like he can’t believe I knew what was going on. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist.
He takes a deep breath and crosses his arms. I bite my tongue, waiting for him to spit it out. “I need to prove myself, Revna. And because we are in this position, I need you in order to do that. Trust me, I hate that I need you for any of it.”
I try not to take offense to that, but I can’t disagree with it. “Ok, but you don’t have to be so angry all the time.”
He huffs. “Because you’re not pissed off at the world for ninety percent of your life already?”
I shoot him a glare, and my feet move me towards the couch. “Touché.”
I know I will need something to take the edge off, and this time, it has nothing to do with creating the art.
“Youowe me, Revna, and you know it.“ I shrug and ignore him. I dig my sketchbook out of my backpack along with a pencil and see if I can fall into an idea. Then we can both be done with this because the last one was clearly not meant to be.
I go to his kitchen and grab the little baggie of pills. The comedown will be worse because I’ve had double the dose, but bottoms up. I don’t want to think about why I take the OBA, but I feel like it might make this situation more tolerable, if anything. That’s a good enough reason for me. I toss the pill back and down it with a beer I found in the fridge. “Alright, let’s do this,” I say with more confidence than I actually have.
Lachlan tilts his head and stares at me. His eyes go dark and I want to take back everything I said. “Are you scared, little bird?” I throw him a look.
“Don’t call me that,” I mutter.
“Why?” He pauses. When I don’t give him an answer, he takes a step forward. There is still plenty of space between us, but I feel like the walls are closing in. “Look, I’m trying hard not to tear into you right now. I don’t like your tone and don’t take kindly to being told what to do.”
The corner of his mouth tips up, and it only incenses me more. “You smug bastard. What is your problem? What have—“
“You are scared, aren’t you?” he says. He takes a step forward, and I take a step back. We seem to like this dance.
“Stop, stay where you are.” I hold my hand out as if that will stop him.
“Let’s finish this then.”
He turns his back and grabs a new canvas, the last blank one that I can see, and sets it up on the easel. Then I watch him go to the kitchen, take another pill, and slam it back with his own beer. We’re on the same level now, and I like that.
We’re back to square one while we stare at the blank canvas again. My stomach rumbles. I didn’t realize I was so hungry, so I grabbed a slice of the half-gone pizza. The music pumps louder through the speakers. The beat bumps into my bloodstream, and it makes me want to dance. Lachlan’s back is to me as I start swaying my hips. “Hey, what if we—“
I open my eyes to see why he stopped talking, and his gaze is dark on me. A shiver tickles my spine, and I halt my movements. Lachlan takes a step closer, and I see his pupils are a little wider. My chin lifts as he gets closer whileAble Heartplays in the background. He grabs my hand and spins me so my back is to his front. Our hips start swaying together to the beat. His height cocoons my body, and it makes me feel safe. It makes my heart hurt as it beats out of my chest.
I don’t let myself get close to people for a reason. Through this short time, it feels like Lachlan has gotten closer to me than I’ve ever let someone be. I don’t like him. I haven’t liked him since I’ve laid eyes on him, but I have always felt this uncanny connection to him. It’s something I have avoided because of my past. But in this moment, in this time we spend together, I want to let him be close. Even if just for a moment.
