CHAPTER NINE: ESCALATION

CHAPTER NINE: ESCALATION

SERAPHINA’S POV 

Dylan walked behind me.

“Sera,” he whined again, sounding like a bitch. I was getting tired of hearing his nasal voice.

“Come on, babe,” he added, stomping his feet like a child.

We were in the parking lot of one of my favorite restaurants, and he was ruining the experience for me.

I turned around, disgusted by his pouting lips.

“Do you always pout that much?”

Dylan straightened up without a word, and I turned back, walking to his car. He got in the driver’s seat and started driving back toward campus.

My phone screen lit up, and I picked it up, grinning when I saw who the message was from.

“You sure text a lot more now,” Dylan commented slyly.

I ignored him, replying to the raunchy text I’d just received.

“Departmental meeting, so boring, I wish I could drop dead,” Marcus had written, a skull emoji replacing the word death. I was teaching him slang, and he was getting fast with emojis.

That was the only reason I’d even accepted this fake date with Dylan. When I’d called Marcus earlier, he’d sounded exhausted, telling me about some departmental heads meeting. Even though he was in gaming, it was still part of the athletics program, and he had to be there.

“You can sneak out,” I’d told him, biting my lip.

A few minutes later, the bubbles appeared and more texts came through.

“Nah, I love seeing the ends of these things. Usually the best part.”

My heart tingled.

“That’s one of my favorite things too. I always finish what I start.”

“Yet, you almost quit because of Dylan.”

I looked at the boy in the driver’s seat beside me.

“I think Dylan wants to score.”

He’d been hinting at it for a while now. Always pushing to come over, reaching out for more than kisses. I’d had to dodge and make up fake classes just to avoid him.

“He doesn’t touch what’s mine,” was the only reply I’d gotten from Marcus. Then radio silence.

Lately, he’d been acting off. Even when I told him I had plans to go out with his son, he’d just grunted and told me he was busy before hanging up.

He apologized later, but I hadn’t forgotten it.

“Seraphina,” Dylan snapped his fingers in front of my face. “We’re here.”

I looked around, confused. “Where exactly is here?”

Dylan grinned.

“I told you I was taking you to a party, babe,” he said, jumping out of the car.

This guy. I seethed under my breath, ready to give him a piece of my mind as I got out.

When I rounded the car, I noticed Dylan wasn’t beside it.

“Dylan?” I called into the night. It was chilly, and I hated that I hadn’t worn a bra or brought a jacket.

I heard voices from behind a nearby room.

“Dylan, is that the party?” I asked, walking toward the noise, cursing the sand seeping into my shoes.

“For fuck’s sake, Dylan,” I muttered. “I thought you were taking me home.”

Bright lights nearly blinded me, followed by a wave of loud screams and surprised gasps.

“What’s going on?” I squinted, spotting teammates and a few dorm mates. Louise stood among them, a deep frown on her face.

“Where’s Dylan?” I snapped, turning back.

There was a large, blown-up picture of me, clearly edited, showing Dylan holding my waist. We looked like a mess.

The banner read: “WOULD YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND AGAIN?”

I stopped reading.

“Turn around,” someone called.

I did, and found Dylan on one knee, holding a ring.

“Dylan?” I stared, shocked.

“Baby, this isn’t marriage,” he rushed in, not letting me interrupt. “I’m sorry for all the hurt, all the pain. I want you to accept this as a token of my love, in front of all your friends.”

Everyone watched silently.

“Say yes, baby. Take me back.”

I suddenly couldn’t breathe. “Take you back?” I repeated.

Then I burst into the most crazy laughter. Mouths dropped all around me as I laughed in his face. The best part? Watching him realize just how much I hated him.

“Dylan, did you really think all this would make me take you back?” I asked, completely baffled. “Playing with your feelings?”

I stepped closer, bent toward him, and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You fucked me over, Dylan. This was actually one.”

Dylan stood up, rage in his eyes. “Fucking bitch,” he shouted in my face.

“Go ahead, Dylan. Call me a bitch. Want me to play your own messages to the very same teammates you dragged out here tonight?” I asked, looking around at them.

“Fuck you, Seraphina!” he screamed as I turned and walked away from his circus.

He could rot in hell.

I made it to the road and ordered a ride. When my driver pulled up, I got in the back seat and gave him my address. Then I texted Marcus: Guess what?

His reply came almost instantly: What?

Marcus just wanted to own me. He could destroy my career, but I could destroy his too. We’d slept together, after all.

But I never got that vibe from him. I saw the way he watched me when he thought I wasn’t looking. He hunted me, like a lion watching its prey.

And I was the deer, but I wasn't easy after all.

I replied: Dylan asked me to forgive him and I said yes.

I typed quickly and hit send before I lost my nerve. I turned off my phone the second the message was delivered.

Playing with men had never felt better.