Page 15 of Blitz

“I’m fine, thank you,” he says. He waves me away. “Go back to the party.”

He pushes past me, back to the video game room. The girls separate for him to pass through, giggling.

I used to be like them. I used to titter and giggle when a hot guy paid me attention. I used to gather outside with my friends, waiting to be beckoned in. Waiting to be selected.

Now I make my own decisions.

Draining my cup, I head back over to the keg. The guys surrounding it make room for me, pushing me to the front of the line. The frat brother in charge of the keg fills my cup for me with a wink.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, sweetheart.” His eyes scrub over me. I should feel flattered. Instead I just feel dirty.

I want my King. I want the guy I used to know, the one who would bring me a cup of tea or rub my calves when I got cramps. The guy who used to love me so openly, so freely, that he couldn’t imagine a time when we weren’t together. The guy who built a future for us, something we could both believe in.

The guy I destroyed.

Oh, look, my cup is empty again. I wonder how that happened.

There are a bunch of guys doing shots in the kitchen. A few guys from the track team, a few basketball players. Mark nods at me and offers me a shot. It’s a dark amber color, cheap, and probably disgusting.

I chug it without hesitation. It burns all the way down.

“Get it, girl,” Mark says.

I hold the Dixie cup out. “More, please.”

“Slow down, there’s no rush,” he laughs. He refills the cup.

“I know what I’m doing.” I down the shot again and hold my cup out for a third pour. I know exactly what I’m doing.

Chapter seven

Tucker

My phone rings a little past two o’clock in the morning, waking me from a dead sleep. I normally wouldn’t answer. Nothing good happens after midnight. Mason’s name flashes over the display, and I scramble to accept the call.

“Hello?”

“I fucked up.”

“Mason?”

“I messed up. I never should have—” She hiccups. “Never should have—”

“Princess, where are you?”

“I came to the Delta party to see you. And you’re not heeeeere.”

She’s drunk.

“You know I don’t go to those types of parties.”

“I want to see you.”

“That’s not a good idea right now, sunshine.” I clench the phone in my fist so tight the case creaks. Less than twenty-four hours after I saw her, I’ve already kissed her and called her by the nickname that was only mine to give her. She’s going to drag me back into a history I don’t want to repeat. “Where are you?”

“I miss you.” She sniffs. “I made a mistake.”