Page 70 of Ruse
Mav’s amused expression quickly changes when he notices my dreary frown, and something resembling ire takes over as he steps into my space, crowding me and sucking in the air around me. “Come on Phoenix, you have to be joking?” he scoffs, turning away.
I reach out and grab onto his forearm. “No, Maverick. I’ve never been more serious.” The vulnerability I felt moments ago when I almost gave into my feelings for him is something I can’t risk happening again. It’s all too dangerous, becoming too real, and it’s unnerving in so many ways.
My mother trusted a man with her heart, gave him everything, and although she may not have truly loved him, even if he may not have been her better half, he destroyed her just the same. I can’t imagine what would happen to me if these feelings I’m discovering are real.
“We both know what that was in there,” I continue, releasing my hold on him. “It was a distraction, a game if you will.”
Now it’s anger, volatile and all-consuming, that appears on his face, cascading down like a volcanic wave of scorching lava turning everything in its path to ash. “That sure as fuck wasn’t a game and you know damn well Nyx,” he growls, gripping my shoulders and bringing me against his heaving chest.
I try my hardest to keep my composure, to continue to show that I’m not affected by him, by his voice, his touch, and the way his eyes are boring into mine searching for answers. He won’t like what he finds. I look up and the vision of him standing there illuminated by the almost black sky all around us; the moon shining down upon him, it’s mesmerizing, capable of making me lose all train of thought.
“It has to be Mav,” I choke out, fighting back the tears pooling in my eyes. “It can be nothing more. You have to understand, you’re my stepbrother…”
“Would you just stop fucking saying that for a minute!” he yells interrupting me.
Suddenly, and as if sent from the heavens above, Donovan, Darcy, Brooklyn, and Fitz appear heading directly toward us.
“There you are!” Donovan shouts, throwing her arm over my shoulder. Maverick releases me and steps back clearly frustrated and annoyed by the interruption. I, on the other hand, am relieved they’ve shown up saving me from whatever argument Mav and I were about to have.
Dee leans in close to me, the scent of tequila strong on her breath as the tip of her nose rests against my cheek. She gasps and giggles quietly enough that only I can hear. “You smell like sex,” she whispers into my ear. I elbow her, silently shutting her up with my murderous glare. She scowls at my action, but quickly smirks when she realizes she’s spot on with her assumption.
Beside her, Darcy looks at us in utter disbelief and that’s when I know she’s caught the end of what Dee just accused me of, and caught not only my reaction, but my obvious admission. Though if she does, she says nothing, just nods and turns away, directing her attention back to the guys in front of us.
“Where the hell were you two?” Brooklyn asks, stumbling and slurring his words. Surprise, surprise, he’s fucking wasted. When is he not lately? The only positive thing about his current state is that he doesn't seem to suspect anything.
“Yeah,” Fitz is the next to speak, eyeing us warily. “Dee said she told you to meet us at the Ferris wheel to watch the fireworks. Where were you?” Fitz, who isn’t hammered, looks back and forth between Mav and I, accusing us with his inquiry.
I foolishly stare at them, unable to come up with a good enough lie to hide what I was doing without having them suspect. Cutting a glance to him, he’s watching me just as expectantly, challenging me to come up with an excuse.
Fucking asshole is enjoying this.
Luckily, I’m saved once again only this time I wish I weren’t.
“Well, well, look who we have here.” Her annoying and nasally voice irks me just as much as the sight of her standing there in her frumpy top, her tacky blonde hair now adorned with thick chalky pink highlights taking us back to the early 2000s. To make matters worse, she’s hanging on Chad’s arm like a clingy parasite he just can’t shake off.
Well, that’s what happens when you let the vile leech sink her claws into you. A lesson I’m sure he wishes he would have learned sooner.
This little game ofwhose dick is bigger than whoseTate wants to play, is the last thing I need right now, not when I’m already one stupid remark away from a psychotic breakdown.
Wonder if my mother needs a new roommate?
“I swear I thought they started sweeping the garbage off of our beaches this week, but it looks like they missed some,” Dee sneers, damn proud of her comeback.
Tate’s lip twitches as she bites her tongue on the inside trying her hardest to keep composed. It’s futile, since her mood is written all over her face.
Instead of pouting or returning Dee’s insult with a half-assed remark of her own, she grins playfully, running her fingers up and down Chad’s bare arm. I don’t know what planet she’s currently living on and thinks I would care in the slightest that her and Chad are an item.
“A little birdie told me a rumor about a dear friend of ours,” Tate murmurs coyly, taking two steps in my direction. She releases Chad and steps around me, placing a hand along Maverick’s leather clad shoulder, gaudy pink nails slowly trailing up his sleeve.
“If you’re talking to birds now Tatum, I think we should be the ones who are worried.” Shrugging Donavan’s hand off my shoulder I step forward, coming to stand between Tate and Maverick, scowling down at the placement of her hand on him. Not sure if anyone else catches my subtle movement, but the way Maverick’s scowl curls up at both ends as he shrugs her off tells me he’s noticed.
The surrounding noise has reached a higher volume as the night crowd prepares to continue the party now that the sun has set and the little ones crowding the rides have headed home. People bustle back and forth excitedly, teenagers enjoying their last night of chaos before the sun begins to set earlier on the horizon, only making their recurring escapades now fall under the watchful gaze of the moon above.
“Oh darling, the birds aren’t the only ones I’m talking to.” Tate’s gaze lifts to Maverick’s, who watches her suspiciously, a hidden message flickering in his eyes. Frankly, I’m really getting pissed off by the animosity that's circulating in the air. Not only do the two of them seem to have some secret they’re keeping between them, but that everyone around us is now watching us closely like they know something is about to unfold here.
I should just walk away from this whole mess and ignore the bitch who’s clearly only acting this way to get a rise out of me, but of course I don't. I can’t get myself to move, not when she’s purposefully taunting me by trying, and obviously failing, to “seduce” him.
Maybe Maverick is right. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding whatever’s happening between us and just accept it. Especially if it bothers Tatum so much.
