Chapter 20: Chapter 20

LEXI

The ride to American Airlines Arena was the longest, most uncomfortable ride of Lexi’s life. She kept her eyes turned toward the tinted window, watching her reflection as they traveled to their destination. Trying to ignore Fiona’s flirty remarks.

Fiona would say, “My ass is real.”

And Daniel would reply, “Hmm.”

“I have light-brown nipples.”

“Hmm.”

“I love how hard your body is.”

“Hmm.”

Lexi had to fight the urge to scream, “Shut up!” As she sat there quietly, she prayed for the night to be over as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Then her phone buzzed. A text from Reece.

Reece

How’s it going? Are you there yet?

Lexi

Fiona’s date is Daniel. I’m so humiliated.

Not even four seconds later, Reece called.

“Hey, I can’t talk now,” Lexi told her best friend so she’d know she wasn’t alone.

“I know. I told you he would try to make you jealous, so listen up. I’m gonna say a bunch of things to you, and you’re going to give me flirty answers. Understand?”

Seeing Daniel narrow his eyes at her, Lexi nodded in blind agreement.

Reece began her game. “I know you look so good right now.”

Lexi blushed and answered, “You told me it would look good on me. Thanks, babe.”

Reece chuckled. “I bet he’s staring right at you. Take a peek but be subtle.”

Lexi looked over at Daniel, who was clearly seething. His eyes were so dark she couldn’t see their natural color anymore. Her heart sank.

“Don’t you dare feel sorry for him,” Reece said. “He started this. Now keep going.”

Lexi forced a flirty smile and clung to her cell phone shyly. She turned her face to the window so she wouldn’t have to see the anger in Daniel’s eyes.

“Take care of yourself tonight, and don’t go home with any boys when I’m not there,” Reece told her.

Lexi giggled naturally. “Okay, I won’t. I’m not that kind of girl.”

Everyone else in the car was dead silent.

“My work here is done, Dray,” Reece said. “Have fun at the concert. I love you.”

Lexi looked up at Daniel and stared right through his dark eyes into his soul. “I love you too,” she replied.

Call ended.

***

Walking through the sea of screaming fans was an experience Lexi would never forget. She wasn’t invisible tonight either; men stared at her as if she was a full-course meal, and they’d been starving for days. Her throat felt dry from all the thirsty looks she was getting.

Daniel looked like he wanted to punch every last one of them, even as some girls shouted his name. He walked slowly enough that it might look like he and Lexi were together, though Fiona latched onto his arm like a blood-sucking mosquito. Lexi rolled her eyes.

Fiona moved between her and Daniel, squealing, “Omg, Lexi, can you believe that we’re here?”

Lexi forced a smile on her face. She was determined to look unaffected, even though on the inside she was far from okay.

“Guys keep staring at you. I didn’t know you were this hot under all the baggy clothes you normally wear.”

Lexi shrugged and kept on walking. She didn’t trust her voice not to be shaky, since Daniel hadn’t taken his eyes off her for even a second.

Fiona must have felt like a third wheel. Even with her arm wrapped around Daniel’s bicep, he obviously wasn’t interested.

Lexi hid her smile as she walked.

The arena was dark, but the stage was lit up with flashing lights, a creative backdrop, and Hellfire’s name spelled out in LED lights. Daniel left them for a moment, and Lexi snapped a few pictures for Reece.

When he returned, Daniel announced, “I ordered a few bottles, ladies. I’m not sure what you girls would prefer, so I ordered different choices.” With a flashy grin, he poured Crown Royal into his red plastic cup and Moët wine for both women.

Lexi was surprised that Daniel poured her a cup. She assumed he would’ve been petty enough to just hand her the bottle.

“Thank you so much, baby,” Fiona exclaimed with a bright smile. “This is amazing!”

Lexi thought she deserved an Oscar for this performance, but then Fiona stood on her toes and gave Daniel a kiss on the cheek, and she felt her eyes go dark. She couldn’t help but wonder if they were both pretending or if Fiona was just another one of Daniel’s victims.

“Anything for a beautiful woman,” Daniel replied with a cocky smile.

The sound of lips smacking drove her deeper and deeper into jealousy and anger. Her thoughts were running at a speed she could not catch up to.

~He must have fed the same line to poor Gloria before she got pregnant. I still haven’t been able to wrap my head around that monumental shock. But apparently, he’s over it and over her… He’s over the both of us.~

Lexi secretly hoped the next sip of whiskey he took would end up drowning him.

***

When Hellfire ran onto the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers and screams. Lexi could barely hear her own thoughts through the noise, and she was happy for the distraction. She could keep her eyes fixed on the stage, pretending to be enthralled by the performance.

Reece finally responded to the pictures she sent.

Reece

Sucks that I’m not there. What’s Mr. Player doing?

Lexi

Last I checked, he let Fiona kiss him.

Reece

He’s really trying hard to get your attention.

Lexi

I want to smash both their heads into the metal railing.

Reece

😂

Reece

Just ignore them, try to seem as unaffected as you can be. He’ll confess by the end of the night.

Lexi

How can you be so sure? All he’s done so far is stare at me.

Reece

I’m never wrong about these things. Just have a good time and ignore him. It’ll drive him crazy.

Lexi smiled and pushed her phone back into her purse. As the concert progressed, she tried her best not to look over at the couple beside her, even though she could feel Daniel’s intimidating eyes on her body.

Halfway through the show, Lexi heard Fiona announce that she needed to use the bathroom. She placed her cup on the high table and walked away.

Lexi felt the air get thinner. The music itself seemed to stop. The only sound she heard was her stubborn heart beating in awareness.

Daniel stood next to her, so close that his shoulder touched the fabric of her leather jacket. Lexi shivered. He didn’t speak, and she didn’t turn to him, but she could tell that he was taking in every curve of her face.

She knew very well what Reece said. She’d heard it more than twice: ~ignore him.~ It was a simple request and yet the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.

“You don’t have to stand so close to me,” Lexi eventually said, stepping to the side.

“I hate that I’m like this too,” he responded.

That strange voice forced her to look at him. His eyes sparkled as he stared at her.

An overwhelming wave of emotions exploded in Lexi’s chest, and her heart began to beat so hard that it was physically painful. She tried to hang onto what little control she had left. “What do you want from me?” she asked with tears in her eyes.

“I don’t know,” Daniel said, and those simple words sounded meaningful. Like he really didn’t know what the hell any of this meant.

Before he could say another word, his date returned.