Chapter 52

Chapter 52
JULIET

I don’t know what was in Roy’s cologne, but standing beside him made my heart race in a way no guy ever had—not even Matt. And the way he looked at me… like I was someone powerful, someone worth looking at.

We’d slipped away from the main room, the music still pulsing in the background as we leaned against the balcony railing on the second floor. Below us, the party raged on—Harley and Shane still clinging to each other like some tragic fairytale. I rolled my eyes.

“They look so perfect together, don’t they?” I said sarcastically, sipping from the drink I’d snagged earlier. “Everyone thinks she’s some sweet, tragic little thing who deserves the world.”

Roy glanced down at them, then turned to me with that easy, unreadable smirk. “You don’t like her much, do you?”

I scoffed. “Harley? She doesn’t deserve half the things she has. And she’s definitely not strong enough to be with someone like Shane. She’s weak. Always has been.”

Roy nodded slowly, as if he was absorbing my words. “You two live together, right?”

“Unfortunately,” I muttered. “Step-sisters. Ever since her mom died, she’s been in our house. Honestly, she’s lucky we didn’t throw her out years ago. We feed her. We clothe her. And she still walks around like she’s better than all of us.”

Roy leaned a little closer, his voice calm but deliberate. “Do you think… you could be nicer to her? Just a little? At least for now.”

I blinked at him. “Wait. What?”

He shrugged casually. “She trusts you. If you’re on good terms, it’ll be easier for all of us to… get along. I want her to feel comfortable with me. You’re her sister. That connection could be useful.”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out what game he was playing. “Why do you even care about Harley?”

He gave me that unreadable smile again. “Let’s just say I have an interest in her future.”

Something about the way he said it sent a chill down my spine. Not that it scared me, exactly—it just reminded me that Roy wasn’t like the high school boys I was used to manipulating. He was dangerous. Older. Smarter.

And I wanted him anyway.

“Well…” I said, twirling my hair and stepping a little closer to him. “If I help you with Harley… does that make us a team?” I tilted my head coyly. “Because I’d love to be on your side.”

He raised a brow, amused. “You asking me something, Juliet?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Maybe. I mean… are you single? Because I’m very available.”

He didn’t respond right away. Just gave me this long, considering look. The kind that made it impossible to tell if he was intrigued… or already three steps ahead of me.

But before he could say anything, a voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“Juliet?”

I spun around.

Matt.

Crap.

He stood at the end of the hallway, arms folded, eyes narrowing at me like he’d just caught me shoplifting. His jaw was clenched, his expression equal parts angry and hurt.

“What the hell’s going on?”

“Matt—” I started, stepping forward with my best innocent face.

“Who is he?” Matt asked, gesturing toward Roy.

Roy, ever the gentleman, stepped back, giving us space. “I’ll give you two a moment,” he said smoothly, already turning away.

“No, wait—” I called after him, but he was already gone, disappearing back into the crowd like smoke.

Matt’s eyes snapped back to me. “So you did ditch me.”

“I was going to text you!” I said quickly, trying to take his hand, but he pulled it away.

“You said we were coming to the party together. I waited at your house for over an hour, Juliet. Your mom said you left with someone else!”

I sighed, already annoyed. “It wasn’t a big deal. Plans changed. I ran into Lauren and—”

“And that guy?” he snapped. “You left with him? Who is he? Are you cheating on me?”

“Oh my God, Matt,” I groaned, rolling my eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“Dramatic?” he repeated, voice rising. “You’ve been acting weird for weeks, Juliet. Distant. I see you flirting with every guy who so much as breathes in your direction, and now you show up here with that guy and expect me not to say something?”

“He’s a friend,” I said flatly.

Matt stared at me for a long moment, and for the first time… he didn’t look angry. He just looked tired.

“You didn’t even want me, did you?” he said quietly. “You just wanted to take me from Harley.”

That hit harder than I expected.

I opened my mouth to snap back—but the words didn’t come.

Because maybe… deep down… he wasn’t wrong.

“I need a minute,” he muttered, turning around.

“Matt—”

But he was already walking away.

I stood there for a second, heart pounding—not from guilt, but frustration. Everything was spiraling, and I wasn’t used to losing control.

Then, from the shadows at the far end of the hall, Roy reappeared, a slow smirk curling on his lips as he met my eyes again.

“You okay?” he asked.

I exhaled, lifting my chin. “I am now.”

And just like that, I slipped back into the game. Because I might’ve lost Matt—but if I played this right… I could gain so much more.