Page 25 of Just Wait

I want to hate her.

Maybe I do.

Ultimately, this is on him.

He’s the one who promised a thousand times that he wouldn’t disappoint me. The one who assured me it was me and him against the world.

I knew better than to believe him, but I wanted it to work so badly that I deluded myself into thinking I was wrong.

I can’t see what happens next since my eyes fall closed, but a low growl rattles out of his chest.

My teeth dig into my cheek, and my system screams to make a scene.

It feels like someone jabbed a hot poker into my chest, and I want him to hurt as badly as I do.

No.

I’m not doing this.

We can hash things out in private.

I’ve already caused a spectacle once tonight. Opening my eyes, I push off the wall. The greenroom is my destination. I need to make some calls and see if I can stay with any of my friends back home.

Only, Theo pulls back from their kiss, and his face twists into a mask of horror as he spots me.

“Jesus Christ,” he whispers. “Lumen, wait. It’s not what it looks like.”

“Fuck all the way off,” I toss over my shoulder, striding away with purpose.

Riser and Kincaid stand, talking and leaning against the wall about twenty feet down the hallway.

Both their heads whip in my direction.

Yeah.

That figures.

It wouldn’t be the second worst moment of my life if there wasn’t an audience around to witness it.

“Lumen, goddammit. Wait,” Theo says, his hand wrapping around my wrist.

He tugs me back toward him.

His hold is firm, but not aggressive.

I still don’t care.

“Don’t touch me!” I hiss, violently trying to rip my arm out of his hold. “I swear to God, Theo. Don’t touch me right now.”

I want to say so much more, but my head shakes, and I don’t even know why. It’s almost like my brain thinks it can physically shake away the images replaying in my mind.

It doesn’t work, and my stomach rolls.

“What is happening?” the woman asks in a shrill tone that makes me want to deck her.

“Let me go,” I snap, whacking his arm with my free hand. “I’m not doing this here. We’re done. Actually, we were over the second you stuck your dick in someone else.”

“What are you even talking about?” Theo says, getting even closer. “I love you.”