Hurts to See You with Her

RAINEY

We’re all huddled around a table in the back of the club. Riley’s eyes are wide as she stares at the boys, still in shock.

I remember feeling the same way when I first saw them. Ansel and his brothers are identical.

“Did that jerk lay a hand on you?” Alaric asks, slipping a joint between his lips.

“No, but he was trying to start something,” Ansel replies.

“Good thing I showed up. I wouldn’t want you to get your hands dirty, Ansel.” Alaric exhales, his eyes already glazed over from the drug.

“You know how you get when you’re mad. You’re our family’s only hope, so let me handle the dirty work, okay?”

Why is Ansel the only hope? I’m guessing it’s because he seems to be the most level-headed of all his brothers.

He also earned a scholarship to Crosshill because of his impressive grades.

“I still can’t believe how much they all look alike. It’s kind of eerie,” Riley whispers to me.

I can’t help but laugh a little. She’s not going to let this go anytime soon.

Arden keeps glancing at Riley from across the table, a mix of desire and admiration in his eyes. Alex notices and shoots his brother a warning look.

Arden gets the message and just smiles, shaking his head as he looks away.

Alaric’s phone buzzes in his pocket, and he pulls it out. I notice healed bruises on his knuckles as he answers the call and leans back in his chair.

“Hey,” he says into the phone, holding his joint between his fingers.

Ansel turns to me. “You okay, Rain?”

I nod. “Yeah. Are you?”

“Yeah. I just hate that that asshole touched you. How did he get your number?” His brow furrows, and a look of displeasure crosses his face.

I shrug. “He said his aunt is the headmistress, so I guess he stole my file.”

I can’t stand rich kids who use their family’s status and money for their own selfish gain.

“Yeah, I got the stuff.” Alaric’s conversation catches my attention. “Yeah. They better have the money. I don’t do credit. Okay, I’m on my way.”

~Stuff?~

He hangs up, and Aiden looks at him. “Was that Max?”

“Yeah, he says some guys want some dru—” He glances at me and then Riley before he continues. “Stuff. They want some stuff. So let’s go.”

“Are you leaving?” I ask Ansel.

He starts to answer, but Alaric interrupts.

“Are you girls up for a real party?” he asks, a smirk on his face as he looks at Riley and me. “There’s a party at my friend’s house. Want to come?”

“Party?” Riley’s face lights up at the offer, and Ansel frowns.

“Alaric, I don’t think it’s a good idea to—”

“It’s fine, Ansel. I’ll keep an eye on them,” he assures. “So, are you girls in?”

I’m not sure about this, but Riley seems excited. She never passes up a chance to get high or drunk.

“Sounds fun. What do you think, Rain?” She’s giving me that pleading look. I hate when she does that. It’s hard to say no. Most of the time.

“Okay.” I shrug. It’s not so much that Riley wants to go; it’s because Ansel will be there, and I want to spend more time with him. I won’t see him again until Monday.

“Good choice.” Alaric smiles, standing up from the table. “You girls are in for a real party.”

I look at Ansel, and he doesn’t seem too thrilled about this. I wonder why.

***

I follow closely behind the boys’ cars to make sure I don’t get lost on the way to the party.

When we get there, people are all over the lawn, and the modern three-story house is pulsing with music. The ground vibrates beneath us as we step out onto the pavement.

“Rich kids party every damn weekend,” Riley comments.

“Wow, I love your car, Rain.” Alex smiles, admiring the deep blue Mercedes as he crouches to get a better look.

“Mm. It’s my mom’s,” I tell him, as we start to follow Alaric up the walkway.

“Your mom has good taste.” He nods appreciatively at the car.

“But not in men,” I mutter.

Ansel chuckles a little. I guess he heard me. He’s probably the only one who did. He turns to look at me. “Stay close to me, okay? This place will be packed.”

I nod. His simple words of protection give me a warm feeling, and I realize that I’m probably falling for him more than I thought.

Alaric opens the door, and we walk into a room filled with dancing bodies and loud music. I’ve been to parties before, but this is on another level.

Smoke fills the room from burning cigars and bongs, and some of the girls are barely dressed.

Everyone here looks like they’re in college or older, and it’s a lot different from Tate’s party. This one feels more grown-up. It feels epic.

“Hey! Alaric, my man!” A muscular guy comes over, giving Alaric a fist bump. Two guys stand behind him, and I notice how they look at Riley and me like we’re fresh meat.

“Max, where are the boys?” Alaric asks, his voice a notch lower than usual.

~Max~. That name rings a bell. It was mentioned the night Ansel had a run-in with Ken and Joe. Alex showed up later, saying Max was the one who tipped him off about the fight.

“They’re out back,” Max replies, thumbing over his shoulder.

Alaric assures us he’ll be back soon and trudges off with the twins, following Max and his buddies.

Ansel, Alex, Riley, and I start to head for the living room. The place is packed, and I lose sight of them when a group of girls cuts me off, bustling about.

I stand on my tiptoes, trying to spot Ansel’s head in the sea of sweaty bodies, when a hand lands on my hip. I jump and whirl around, my eyebrows knitting together.

A brown-haired guy is standing there, a smirk on his face and a bottle of booze in his hand. His eyes are bloodshot, probably from whatever he’s been smoking.

“Haven’t seen you here before. Need some company?” He licks his lips, his eyes half-closed and glazed over.

“No, she’s good. Back off,” a voice says from next to me before my hand is grabbed. Ansel holds me close as he guides me away from the creep and through the dense crowd.

“I thought you were with me, Rain.” His voice is tight, a hint of worry in it.

When I don’t answer, he looks at me, but my eyes are on our intertwined hands. He sees where I’m looking and gives a small smile as he nudges people out of our way.

When we reach the living room, Riley is already downing a beer and laughing with Alex. I can’t help but notice how cute they look together, and a soft smile tugs at my lips.

I find a spot on the big suede couch, and Alex reaches into the cooler next to him. He hands Ansel and me each a beer.

The air conditioning is cranked up high, and as I sip my beer, I shiver, glad I haven’t decided to chop off my hair yet. It provides a bit of warmth in times like these.

“Are you cold?” Ansel asks, bringing his bottle to his lips.

“Yeah. The air conditioning is really high.” I give a small smile, taking another gulp of my beer.

He sets his bottle on the wooden floor and starts to pull off his black jacket. He’d thrown it on as soon as we got to the party.

He’s the smart one. I forgot to bring one, and now I’m paying the price. But it’s not fair to take his.

He takes off the jacket, revealing his muscular arms as he moves closer to me. Suddenly, I’m not cold anymore as warmth floods my cheeks.

“No, it’s okay.” I shake my head. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

He smiles, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s even legal for someone’s smile to be that gorgeous.

“I’m really not cold, Rain. I’ll be fine, but your face is all red. Are you sure you’re not freezing? Or is there another reason you’re blushing?”

His eyes sparkle with a knowing look, and I really hope he hasn’t noticed how often I blush around him.

Sam warned me. She said I need to stop turning red around him if I don’t want him to catch on, but it’s easier said than done. Ansel makes it hard for me. He makes it hard for anyone.

“I—I’ll take the jacket,” I quickly agree, hoping he won’t push his suspicions any further.

His smile widens as he drapes the jacket over me.

Riley nudges Alex’s knee, a smile on their faces as they sneak glances at us.

He adjusts the jacket on me, and his scent surrounds me. I’m practically swallowed up by it, but it’s so warm.

“Better?”

I smile. “Yeah, it’s warm.”

Ansel chuckles. “Good. But you know, Rain, I’m gonna need this one back,” he teases, picking up his bottle from the floor.

My smile broadens when I realize he’s talking about the last hoodie he gave me.

“Ansel?!” A woman’s voice makes me look up, and Alex nearly spits out his beer as he wipes his mouth.

“Lea?”

A girl is standing in front of Ansel. She has a round, cute face and is wearing an oversized sweater and jeans. Ansel’s face is unreadable as he looks up at her.

I glance at Riley, and she has the same puzzled look on her face as me.

“You haven’t called me in a while,” the girl says. “I thought you missed me just as much.”

Her words stir up the same feelings I had at the club, that sickening pang of jealousy. Who is this girl?

Honestly, I’m mentally exhausted from all these women boldly flaunting their attraction to him. It’s a heavy burden on my heart.

“How have you been?” Ansel asks. I try to read his expression, but it’s impossible.

“Can we talk somewhere private?” she asks.

Ansel sighs. “I’m really tired. Had a long day at the café.” He gives her a tight smile.

“It’ll just be for a minute. I just need to talk to you. Please?”

“Lea—”

“Ansel,” she sighs, “it’s just for a second, okay?”

He lets out a heavy sigh, then turns to me. “Rain, I’ll be back, okay?”

I manage a nod and a smile. The girl looks at me. There’s a strange look on her face, and it’s not a friendly one.

Ansel gets up and walks off with her, and I watch them go, a painful feeling tugging at my heart.

Riley sighs and moves over to sit next to me. “She’s probably just another girl who’s chasing after Ansel,” she shrugs, taking a sip of her beer.

“Actually…Ansel and Lea used to be a thing,” Alex shares, his attention on the label of his beer. “Lea’s his ex.”

Riley’s mouth falls open. “Ansel…Ansel had a girlfriend before?”

Alex chuckles. “Don’t look so shocked. There’s a lot you girls don’t know about Ansel.”

That feeling, the one where it feels like your heart is being pounded over and over, is one of the worst feelings in the world, and I can’t stand it.

“I need to find the bathroom. Be right back,” I mumble, standing up from the couch and walking away.

I search the entire first floor for a bathroom, until I decide to ask a tipsy girl leaning against the kitchen counter.

She gives me directions in a slurred voice, and I use my common sense to figure out the rest.

I quickly do what I need to do, wash my hands, and leave the bathroom.

As I close the bathroom door, I notice an open door at the end of the hallway that probably leads to the pool area. My eyes wander further, and I spot Ansel and Lea.

They’re standing and talking. Ansel seems relaxed, but Lea is nervously playing with her thick curls, looking upset and hurt.

Then, before I can process what’s happening, Lea pulls Ansel into a hug, resting her head against his chest.

I swallow hard, and a feeling I’ve never experienced before washes over me.

I feel heartbroken.

This is ridiculous. This isn’t me.

I shake my head at how emotional I’m being right now.

“Rain, why are you standing here all alone?”

A familiar voice sounds behind me, and I turn around to see Alaric approaching me.

“Oh…just looking for the bathroom,” I reply, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

His eyes follow my gaze, and he smiles slightly. “Ah, I see what you saw.”

I look down.

“Don’t worry about that. Ansel is over her. She just hasn’t gotten the message yet. She will soon.”

“It’s not like that,” I tell him. “I’m not upset or anything.”

Alaric smiles, crossing his arms over his chest. “I didn’t say you were, Rain.”

It’s a little unsettling how these King boys use psychology to their advantage. He just made me admit how hurt I am. They could all be psychologists.

I’m sure they could attract a lot of female clients with their good looks and mysterious personalities.

“Come on, I’ll get you a beer. Drinking solves a lot of problems.”

“I don’t have problems.”

“You sure don’t, kid.” He throws his arm around my shoulder and leads me to the living room.

“Hey, a beer for my sister-in-law!” He calls to a guy, and I look at him with wide eyes.

He laughs. “What?”

The guy hands me a beer, and I thank him.

“Don’t start crying now. Drink a beer. It’s pretty much the same thing.”

I smile slightly. “I don’t cry.”

“I can see that.” He smiles. “I have some things to take care of, so enjoy your night.” He pats my shoulder before walking away. Alaric is cool, but it’s sad that he’s cheating on Sam.

I return to the couch. There’s something magical about a bottle of beer, because I don’t feel as bad as I did before about Ansel and Lea. But I know the feeling might return when the alcohol wears off.

Riley, Alex, and I sit on the couch, talking and drinking the night away.

Before long, Alex and Riley are sound asleep on the couch, and I’m seeing double. My brain isn’t functioning properly, and I’m nodding off every few seconds.

Ansel comes back to the couch. I lift my eyes to look at him as he approaches me, but his face is just a blur.

“Rain, are you okay?” He touches my cheek as soon as he sits next to me, turning my face to look at him.

I start laughing uncontrollably, and he looks taken aback.

“Rainey?”

“Y-you… I s-saw y-you—” I gulp, scratching my neck and scrunching up my face. “I—I didn’t like it. I hate it, okay?” My face twists as I lick my lips.

“Hate what, Rain?”

I mumble something unintelligible as I close my eyes, feeling sleep washing over me.

Ansel realizes I’m completely drunk, the strong smell of alcohol confirming it. His eyes move to Alex, who’s snoring with his mouth wide open.

He sighs and walks over to his brother, nudging him awake.

Alex sits up quickly, his eyes barely open as he scratches his neck. He looks around the room in confusion before his gaze lands on his brother’s disapproving look. “Where am I?”

Ansel frowns. “Why did you let them drink so much, Al?”

He sits up, scratching his head. “They said they could handle it. Are they drunk?”

“Take a guess. Come on. I’m taking them home.”

Ansel shakes his head and moves over to me. While Alex lifts Riley into his arms, Ansel gently picks me up from the couch, holding me close.

I wake up immediately from the movement and the familiar scent of him. I open my eyes, and my gaze meets his blue eyes.

They look even bluer than usual, and I feel like I’m drowning in the deepest part of the ocean. It’s probably the alcohol.

“I’m taking you home,” he says.

I mumble something as I fall back asleep, burying my face in the comforting smell of his T-shirt.