Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Something cold slides down my spine because that sounds exactly like Jude, smells exactly like him, feels exactly like him.
“He can’t help it,” he continues. “Good genetics and too much money. Tragic really.”
Slowly—
Too slowly—
I turn around.
And there he is.
Jude. Mere feet away from me.
The object of my fear.
The object of my guilt.
And one of the most attractive human beings I’ve ever seen in real life, walking slowly toward us, eyes only for me.
Seduction the note said.
Him?
He wouldn’t write that.
Someone else had to.
So, someone else wants to use me to get to him.
Again.
I won’t fall for it twice though but if I don’t then does that mean my name appears on the list? Do I risk letting history repeat itself to keep my new identity safe? My new life? Or do I break him again the way he’s promising to break me? Do I hurt him first out of fear?
Tit for tat?
If it’s not love. It’s war. It has to be.
So, for the first time since seeing him, I manage to conjure up a smile as he finally makes it to our table, stares down at me and says. “I’m going to marry you someday.”
And just like that my stomach plummets.
Because more than seven years ago, it was the exact same thing he said to me in front of his mom.
And the first time I fell in love with him.
“Isn’t that what I said last time? When I saw you? Or maybe it was just every time I saw your face until suddenly I didn’t.” He holds out his hand like we haven’t already met. “It’s been a while.”
“Wow,” Charlie claps her hands. “You’re right about this one, better be careful, Lilah he’s dangerous.”
“De-lilah.” Jude corrects still not taking his eyes off of me. “I like the full version better, maybe it’s the dark side of me that hopes when I fall asleep you’ll steal all my strength…in exchange for the hottest sex of my life one can only hope.”
Old Jude would never have said that to me. He would have never taunted or teased me to make me uncomfortable, he always knew that it was a no-fly zone because it was playing with my feelings, just like he was right now. In front of people.
Old Jude was my friend and my first love. This Jude was my enemy. And my shame.
“Wait, you two know each other?” He points between the two of us. “For real?”
“I should have known,” Jude pulls out a chair. “My Cousin, Axel here only loves the crazy ones, no offense roommate,” He winks at her then brings his full attention back to me. “And of course I know Lilah, she’s the only girl in high school who wouldn’t let me kiss her, the only girl who slept next to me but not with me, and the love of my life until she crushed my heart and ran away nearly killing me in the process. Completely heartless, this one. Imagine wanting someone so badly and not realizing the entire time you wanted, they waited with a knife to stab you with. But hey, water under the bridge.”
Charlie’s mouth drops open.
I can’t elbow her, but I do flick her with her straw. She’s unfazed as it lands in front of her, and my heart is pounding so hard I swear Jude can hear it as well as everyone else in the club.
“I uh—” I shove my chair back. “Need to use the restroom, I’ll be right back.”
I bolt in a flurry of confusion toward the restrooms and try to gain my composure when I look at my flushed cheeks in the mirror.
Not true.
He’s lying.
He’s using me.
He’s taunting me.
He hates me.
Don’t let him get in. He’s dangerous.
Shaking, I tuck my hair behind my hears, wash my hands for literally no reason other than I need the cold water to shake me out of my own head, grab a paper towel, and toss it in the trash before jerking open the door and nearly colliding with the guy from earlier.
“Whoaaaa.” He steadies himself with me and blinks up in a blur of drunkenness. “Knew you’d be back for more.” He shoves me hard against the wall. “Hmmm, wanna come inside the bathroom? Nobody’s in there.” His hands move to my hips and slide down to my ass. I shove him away. He keeps me pinned.
He’s clearly stronger.
“Let me go,” I hiss not wanting to resort to hurting him or making him angry. “I’ll scream.”
“Like anyone could hear you in the club.” He laughs and leans his face in and tries to kiss me. I turn away only to have him grab me by the neck and hold me steady as his soured whiskey breath exhales on me. His mouth descends and then he’s gone, jerked away from me so fast I choke out a breath.