Chapter 18 A THOUSAND TIMES MORE INTERESTING
CHAOS.
I slouched in the parlor, my eyes roaming around, looking for something interesting to settle on.
The low hum of laughter and music from downstairs barely reached me. Turning my attention to my glass, I swirled the amber liquid inside it, watching the way it caught the light, but I couldn’t shake this feeling of being trapped.
“Chaos! You good?” one of my teammates called from across the room. I could hear the concern in his voice, but I didn’t know how to explain what was wrong with me, nor was I in the mood to analyze it.
“Yeah, just peachy,” I shrugged, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I took a deep breath once more, hoping to find some calm amidst the indescribable chaos inside me.
Just like the flow of chaos going all around with Valtor’s party.
I shook my head at the irony.
Just then, Juniper came around and slipped into the space on the sofa beside me. She draped her arm around my shoulders, her red nails trailing over my chest with a familiarity that made me tense. “You look like you need some fun,” she said in a sultry voice as she curled her fingers into the hair at my nape.
I stiffened, not because I liked it, but because I felt a deep sense of irritation deep down. “Not in the mood, J,” I snapped, my tone sharper than I intended. I could feel the heat of her gaze, but I didn’t want to deal with it right now. To soften the delivery, I added, “I just need some quiet, alright?”
I saw her expression shift into a frown, the playful glint in her eyes dimming slightly. “Chill, Chaos. I’m just trying to keep your sad ass company and lighten the mood,” she replied. I could hear a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice. But honestly, I really wasn’t in the mood. I just wished I could fade into the background so I could escape the pressures of the party and the expectations that came with it.
“Yeah, well, maybe I don’t want to be lightened right now, so leave me the fuck alone,” I shot back in frustration. I knew those words were harsh, but I didn’t look at her face. I took a long sip from my glass, hoping the burn of the alcohol would somehow drown out the exasperation in my head.
But it didn’t.
It never did.
“Dammit!” I muttered, and of course, Juniper wrapped her arms around my shoulders once again. This time, I managed to bite my tongue and just ignored her completely.
I usually kept Juniper around because she was my favorite type of distraction. But today? It just wasn’t working for me.
She cupped my jaw, her touch light and inviting, and I took another sip from my drink before reluctantly turning to meet her gaze. Her glossy lips formed a pout, and I could see the question in her eyes. “What’s with the long face? Why are you so glum?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
“Don’t know,” I finally replied with a shrug. “Could just be missing the game.” I figured I had to tell her something; otherwise, she wouldn’t let it go.
“Aww,” she purred with a small smile, looking at me like I was some adorable puppy. “It’s only for a while. No one can keep you away from what you love for too long,” she said, and I knew she was right.
That somehow made me feel better, but I knew it wasn’t just about the game.
There was something else.
I studied Juniper for a moment. She was beautiful, no doubt; runway-model stunning, exotic even. But even with that thought lingering, I turned away from her after my silent scrutiny.
She began to run her nails over my cheek. “You know if you’re feeling down, I can think of a dozen ways one could cheer you up.”
I wasn’t surprised.
It was Juniper’s MO, suggesting ways to make me forget about my worries and think of other things, like her body and face were the solutions to all the problems in my world. Her thigh pressed against mine, and I felt her hand rake down, hooking a finger into my belt loop over my crotch. I simply watched, waiting for my body to react the usual way, for some sign to take her up on the offer.
But nothing came.
I got up without a word and started to walk away. “I need some air,” I said before she could ask me anything else.
As I strolled out of the upper floor, I surveyed the partygoers. The bottom floor was so packed with people that I could barely see the floor beneath their feet. This was Valtor’s kind of thing—crazy bashes that people talked about for weeks. His dad let him use their family mansion on this side of town because it was only ten minutes away from Pinnthorpe, and they didn’t use it much anyway.
I would never throw this kind of scene for myself.
I loved my privacy. Which is why I turned down my father’s offer for the mansion next door and opted for something much smaller, which I paid for myself.
Sure, it was a penthouse, but it was only one floor and nothing like the extravagance of where I was standing now. I continued stalking from the staircase, looming over the party while I leaned my elbows on the banisters.
As I looked around, I felt a sudden prick in my chest, an undeniable pull that made me turn my head to the back patio door where a redhead walked in. My eyebrows pulled together, and I was seconds away from turning away when something else caught my attention.
And Merrielynn strolled in right after her.
Interesting.
I could suddenly hear the blood rushing in my ears.
The itch, the emptiness, and boredom I was feeling instantly faded into dust as I continued to watch her.
“This party just got a thousand times more interesting,” I muttered to myself, tilting my glass back and draining it in one go.