Chapter 2

Melissa Pov

Tasha, who I had considered a friend. Who I let borrow my notes more times than I could count. 

Troy looked at the camera, then scanned the crowd. When he saw me, his face went pale like a ghost.

“Babe, it isn’t what it looks like!” He sounded cracked and panicked.

“Melissa…”

Everything felt too loud and too quiet at the same time. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. My hands trembled at my sides.

I saw Aria pushing through the crowd toward me,with two glasses of wine in her hands. Her eyes were dark with anger.

She reached me and pressed one glass into my shaking hand. 

Without a word, I walked toward the VIP section. My heels clicked against the floor with each deliberate step. The crowd parted for me, everyone watching, to see what I’d do.

Troy scrambled out of the VIP area, his shirt was wrinkled, and his hair was messed up from Tasha’s fingers. His eyes were wide, pleading.

I raised the wine glass and poured it directly over his head.

The red liquid ran down his face, staining his white shirt, dripping onto the floor. It looked like blood .

Tasha shrieked as some splashed onto her exposed chest, her hands flying up to cover herself.

The VIP section went completely silent. Even the music seemed to stop, as everyone stared at us.

I looked Troy right in the eyes, my heart was shattering into a thousand pieces inside my chest.

“I hope she was worth it.”

I marched toward the backstage area behind the huge television screen. My hands were shaking with anger. 

I yanked the wire out with more force than necessary. The screen went black instantly.

The crowd groaned with disappointment, but I didn’t care. 

My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. 

By the time I walked back to the VIP area, Troy had put his shirt back on properly . But red wine still dripped from his blond hair.

“Babe, please listen…”

“Don’t call me that.” My voice sounded calm despite the storm raging inside me, despite the way my hands trembled at my sides. “You don’t get to call me that anymore.”

His face crumpled, desperation filling his eyes. “Melissa, please, just listen. I was drunk. I wasn’t thinking clearly, I swear…”

“Ohh, so that’s your excuse?” A bitter laugh escaped my throat . “You weren’t thinking when you decided to stick your tongue down her throat?”

Heat burned behind my eyes, but I refused to cry. 

Tasha shifted uncomfortably in her high heels, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger like this was just some casual conversation. The audacity of it made my blood boil.

“Girl, just chill. It’s not like you guys were that serious anyway…”

My head snapped toward her so fast my neck cracked. “Excuse me?”

She had the nerve to shrug, examining her nails like they were fascinating. “I’m just saying, Troy told me you guys have been having problems. That you’re always working and never fun, not even in bed. It’s not my fault he thinks I’m better than you.”

The words hit like a slap. My vision went red at the edges.

“Tasha, shut up,” Troy hissed, his face going pale.

“Boring ?” I repeated, the word tasting like poison in my mouth. “Did you call me boring because I didn’t want to attend your parties ? Because I was busy with school? Because I have actual goals and a future I’m working toward?”

“That’s not what I…”

“If you insult my friend one more time, I’ll break your nose.” Aria’s voice cut through like a blade as she appeared at my side. Her presence steadied me, reminded me I wasn’t alone.

“You’re calling her boring?” Aria’s laugh was sharp . “But tell me, what’s your idea of fun? Giving random guys blowjobs in VIP rooms? That’s not fun, babe. That’s called being desperate.”

Tasha’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You’re just jealous.”

“Jealous of what? Your chlamydia?”

Tasha’s mouth fell open, her face going from pale to bright red in seconds. “How did you…?”

“It’s a small campus, babe. Of course word gets around fast.”

“Now do yourself a favor and get out before I tell everyone how you got drunk and pissed yourself at Delta Kappa’s party.”

Tasha’s face went from red to purple. She grabbed her purse and stormed out, nearly tripping over her own heels in her haste to escape.

“I made a mistake,” Troy said, reaching for my hand. His fingers were cold and clammy.

I jerked away like he’d burned me. “I’ll only say this once. We are done, Troy. We are over.”

“No.” He shook his head frantically. “You don’t mean that. You’re just upset . Tomorrow…”

“No, I am not upset.” My voice grew stronger with each word.“I am not confused. I did not stutter. We are done, and trust me, I have moved on.”

“Babe, please!” Troy called after me, his voice cracking with desperation.

I bent down to grab my purse from where I’d dropped it earlier. But I was rushing,and these ridiculous heels weren’t made for quick movements. My ankle twisted.

I lost my balance and fell forward.

I closed my eyes, ready to hit the ground and add physical pain to the emotional humiliation of this disaster of a night.

But I didn’t hit the floor.

Instead, strong arms caught me, steadying me instantly.

I looked up and found myself staring into the most beautiful ice-blue eyes I’d ever seen .

The man was massive. Easily over six feet tall, with broad shoulders that blocked out the lights behind him. He was dressed entirely in black…black shirt, black pants…which somehow made his eyes seem even more striking. There was something utterly reckless and dangerous about him, something that made my breath catch in my throat. His dark hair fell effortlessly over his eyes, giving him a careless, almost predatory look.

My heart stuttered in my chest.

“Are you okay?” His voice was deep, sending shivers down my spine .

For a moment, the whole world faded away . The crowd, the music, Troy…all of it disappeared. It was just me and this stupidly attractive older man holding me like I weighed nothing at all.

“Yes, she’s fine,” Troy’s voice shattered the moment like glass. He pushed through people to get to us. “This is between me and my girlfriend.”

“Ex.” I said as I gripped the stranger’s arms, not ready to let go. “Ex-girlfriend.”

I leaned closer to the stranger, standing on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “Can you please play along?”

Before he could respond, before my rational brain could stop my impulsive heart, I captured his lips in a kiss.

He wrapped his hands around my waist, lifting me off my feet. He crushed our bodies together, and I felt his chest, his abs, his thighs. Heat exploded through me.

The kiss wasn’t gentle, it was possessive.

When I finally pulled back, my heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst straight out of my ribcage. My lips felt swollen. 

I turned to face Troy, still in the stranger’s arms.

“What the fuck?” Troy’s face turned bright red, like he’d just been slapped. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

The stranger set me down gently but kept one arm around my waist. He straightened to his full height, and suddenly Troy looked like a child standing next to him. 

The man’s expression didn’t change one bit as he looked at Troy. His face was calm, almost bored. 

“She said it’s over. Leave.”

“This is none of your business…”

“You made it everyone’s business when you put on your little show.” The stranger’s voice was quiet. But it carried absolute authority that made people around us instinctively step back.

“Let’s go. This is stupid.” He reached for my arm, trying to grab me.

Before I could register what happened, Troy was on the floor. His nose was bent at a weird angle, blood already streaming down his face.

The stranger stood over him, his knuckles slightly red. “I said leave her alone.”

My mouth fell open in shock. He’d moved so fast I hadn’t even seen it happen.

Then, without warning, the stranger reached out and gently wrapped his arm around me again. He escorted me toward the exit.

I heard Troy’s mindless screams behind us, his voice high and panicked. But I didn’t turn back. 

We walked through the front doors, and the cool night air hit my flushed face like a slap. 

Aria appeared beside me, breathing hard from pushing through the crowd.

“Do you need a ride?” The stranger’s voice came from behind us.