Page 99 of Exactly What I Needed
“Miss Duval, is this him?” Caralee quietly asked, her gaze flickering between Danny and me.
“Is this him? What is she asking?” Danny swung his eyes toward my students. “Who is she? Who are they?”
Selena frowned, disgust written plainly on her face, while Caralee watched in confusion.
“These are two of my students.” I crossed my arms. His brow lifted, his gaze trickling down to my cleavage. Scowling even harder, I slid my positioning to cover up my chest. “What do you want?”
His face fell flat. “Do I need to teach you manners again? I thought your parents did better, but clearly the message—”
And I slapped him across his cheek. Elysia gasped and quickly covered her grin with her hand as my two students’ eyes widened. Selena wassmiling wickedly, but Caralee’s jaw fell open wide. He placed his hand against the red print that was slowly forming on his skin.
“Why would you smack your boyfriend, Miss Duval?” Caralee croaked in shock.
“Because he’s—”
“Exactly,” Danny cut me off with a hiss.
Elysia rolled her eyes and stepped forward. “Leave. She doesn’t want you here.”
“What?” Caralee gasped, still completely confused as Danny suddenly stepped right into my personal space. He snapped a hand around my upper arm and jerked me forward. Instinctively, Caralee jumped into Selena’s side as the two girls flinched away.
“Get. Out. Of. My. Face.” My words sliced like a guillotine blade, and I shoved against his body.
But he dipped his head and placed his mouth right next to my ear. “I told you I wasn’t finished,” he warned and then let go.
All the rage that was twisted on his face immediately fled as he smiled at my two students. “Nice to meet you girls,” he said, swinging a glare at Elysia before slipping back into the crowd and disappearing.
My heart squeezed in my chest as worry filled my body. I looked at my friend, fear evident on my face. “You don’t think he knows, too, do you?” I whispered, and she took a deep breath.
“Honestly, Cosi. I have no idea. No idea.”
We stepped forward in line once again.
“You okay, Miss Duval?” Selena’s voice quivered as I slowly nodded.
I wasn’t, but not because I was worried about Danny. I was worried what he might do that could hurt those I cared about. I was worried that he might expose me to the world. Obviously only if he knew, but the way things had felt, I think he somehow did.
“That’s not your boyfriend. Please tell me that’s not,” Caralee piped in, still clutching Selena’s arm.
I shook my head. “No, he’s not. He’s an annoying ex who seems to think that he has some right to me.”
“Oh, good.” Caralee breathed out in relief. “Besides, he definitely doesn’t give off the carefree vibes that the guy on your Picsnap did. And he’s a bit bulkier.” Her eyes remained locked on where Danny had been last, clearly still afraid he might return.
“Selfie and then we go?” Selena quickly asked and tugged on her friend. I nodded once as the girls huddled around. I took a couple with my phone for good measure, making sure Elysia was in some of them before the two girls jolted off and we ordered our drinks.
Apprehension sat heavy in my stomach, curdling nausea into my throat. I was incredibly worried that he knew about Asher and me and would somehow use that against me. That timer that had been ticking steadily in the background seemed to be snapping faster and faster toward the end. A finality that still evaded me.
Chapter 33
Sweat was heavy in the air. Shrill screams dancing so loudly, I was surprised that any of the guys could hear themselves. Asher touched the earpiece, his mouth against the microphone as those eerie words slid from his tongue. (17, 18) His Adam’s apple bobbed, dancing with the words.
Sydney shrieked as he turned our way and sang, leaning forward, and reached his hand out. Fingers that slithered across my body so frequently, I immediately began to heat up. His eyes locked onto mine, tipping his head as a hungry grin filled his face. His tongue flicked out across his lips, and right before Sydney was able to touch his hand, he tore it away.
She squealed even louder as I bit back a grin, knowing that was on purpose, that he was merely toying with her. I watched as he danced away to the other end of the stage, wondering if I might be able to spot Nova or Ava. Both girls said that they enjoyed being in the crowd like regular fans, but it was so jam-packed and dark besides the stage lights, I couldn’t make a single thing out.
Eventually, the song came on that my students had required I sing, and I handed Elysia my phone. (19) Her mouth fell open as she recorded me, singing along in perfect harmony as Asher made his way back to this side of the stage. His eyes trickled across the crowd, reaching forward once again as fans screamed and attempted to grasp his outstretched hand.
The shouts and shrieks heightened, growing louder and louder, and I knew that meant Asher was getting closer. Elysia’s grin widened as I felt heat swamp my back. Glancing over my shoulder, I stopped singing. He was squatting down directly in front of me, belting out the haunting lyrics as he slowly reached forward. Someone else shoved me from behind just as Sydney tried to jump into the space in front of me.
