Chapter 4

ZULEIKA’S POV

Boredom had clawed its way into my chest like an infection.

It had been two days since I last spoke to my parents, and I still hadn’t made a move to pack up and move in with Zade. Honestly, I was stalling. I knew Mom must’ve told Zade about it by now, but I didn’t care. I ignored his calls like my life depended on it.

To kill the boredom, I just scrolled endlessly through my phone, tapping on random videos, barely even watching.

Zade hadn’t pushed yet. He was too busy juggling classes and gym commitments. As for Lavin… he was like a ghost. Or worse—an itch under my skin I couldn’t reach. He acted like nothing had happened. Like the kiss, my slap, and the entire emotional storm meant absolutely nothing. Like we were back to the usual game of taunt-and-ignore.

And that annoyed me more than it should have.

So when Freckles texted me about a frat party, I didn’t hesitate.

Frat party tonight. Come get wasted with me before we both die of boredom. Also: slut fits required. No negotiations.

She even added a skull emoji.

It was the weekend. I had nothing better to do. So I agreed.

When the time came, I threw on a tight black crop top and a micro skirt that should’ve been illegal. I wasn’t about to lie—I wanted Lavin to see me and regret ever messing with my head. Not that I expected him to show. Zade wasn’t coming, which usually meant Lavin wouldn’t either. They were practically glued at the hip.

When we arrived, the frat house was packed. Bodies everywhere. The bass thumped so hard I could feel it in my chest. The smell of beer, sweat, and cheap cologne was suffocating.

Freckles squealed beside me, already dancing before we even got to the drinks table.

Neon lights flickered across the living room where bodies writhed like snakes on a dance floor too small for this many people.

We found a spot near the drinks table and Freckles immediately poured something cheap and fruity into two red cups and handed me one.

“To make more bad choices,” she cheered, lifting her cup above her head.

Mimicking her, I said, “And to pretend we have our lives together.” We clinked and drank.

Everything was fine at first. It was loud, chaotic, and mind numbingly until I saw him.

Lavin.

He stepped into the room like he owned it, dressed in black jeans and a fitted gray tee shirt that clung to him like it wanted to live on his skin. Hair tousled like he didn’t try, but still managed to look like every girl’s mistake. His presence punched the air out of my lungs.

I cursed under my breath.

“Of all nights,” I muttered.

Freckles followed my gaze. “Wait—isn’t that—?”

“Don’t,” I said sharply.

Lavin’s eyes found mine. Instantly. Like he knew exactly where I was before walking in. I looked away quickly, lifting my drink to my lips and pretending to care more about the red cup than his stupid face.

But my throat went dry. My stomach flipped—the same annoying flutter it always did around him.

Before I could mentally recover, one of the girls nearby screamed his name and ran into his arms. She threw herself on him like she’d been waiting her whole life for that moment.

He didn’t push her away.

Instead, she dropped onto his thigh like he was her personal throne and started grinding on him. Right there. In front of everyone.

I looked away. I tried not to care. I failed miserably.

My gaze flicked back just once. Just one second.

That was enough.

Lavin was still looking at me. Even as the girl leaned in, lips inches from his, his eyes stayed locked on mine.

Something twisted deep in my gut. I hated how much it hurt. I hated that I even cared. He wasn’t mine. He never was. So why did it feel like betrayal?

My chair screeched as I pushed it back. “I need air,” I muttered, grabbing Freckles’ arm.

“You okay?”

“I just—need a second.”

She didn’t follow as I slipped through the crowd and out into the cold night.

I wrapped my arms around myself as the night breeze slapped my exposed skin. But it wasn’t the cold that shook me—it was everything else.

Jealousy? Heartache? I didn’t know.

What right did I even have to feel like this?

I was the one who slapped him. I was the one who said he should stay away.

And yet here I was—shivering on a frat porch, breathing like I’d just run five miles, all because Lavin’s eyes didn’t look away.

“Hey.”

A voice came from the shadows. I turned.

Some guy stood near the edge of the house, smoking like he was mad at the world. Smoke curled from his lips, and his eyes glinted under the porch light.

“You’re Zuleika, right?” he asked, flicking ash into the gravel.

I said nothing.

“You’re hot,” he added, stepping closer. “Gimme your number.”

“Not interested.” I turned to head back inside.

But he moved fast. His hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me toward him.

“Don’t be rude, baby,” he sneered, pressing his chest to mine.

“Let go,” I hissed, trying to pull away, panic crawling into my throat.

“You think you’re too good to talk to me?”

I shoved at him, but he didn’t budge. And just when I felt true fear rising in my chest—

“Back. Off.” Lavin’s voice cut through the air, low and dangerous.

Relief rushed into me, warm and dizzying. The guy let go—but not because he suddenly had respect. Because Lavin was already on him.

He grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall so hard the porch rattled. The guy barely got a breath before Lavin punched him. Once. Twice.

“Lavin, stop!” I screamed, grabbing his arm, but he was locked in. Eyes blazing.

That same strange feeling crawled up my spine—the one I couldn’t name. The one that made my skin tingle, my breath catch.

It wasn’t just anger in Lavin’s eyes.

It was something… primal.

By the time he stepped back, the guy had slumped to the ground, blood trickling from his nose. Lavin stood over him, chest heaving, fists clenched like he wasn’t done.

“She’s not like those other girls,” he growled, voice edged with something feral. “Don’t touch her.”

Then he turned to me.

“Why are you doing this?” I demanded, breathless. “Why do you even care?”

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t! You let that girl grind on you like I wasn’t even in the room!” I yelled before I could stop myself. Damn, what the hell was I saying?

“You think I wanted that?”

“You didn’t stop her!”

“Because I was trying not to do this!” he roared. “Not to fall into this mess with you again!”

“I don’t mean anything to you. You made that clear,” I spat.

“Who told you that?” he shot back. “’Cause it sure as hell wasn’t me.”

He stared at me like he could see straight through me. Like he was fighting himself.

His voice dropped, rough and ragged. “Move in with us. This happened because you were alone. I can’t let that happen again.”

I crossed my arms. “Why would I live with my enemy?”

“I’ll leave instead,” he said. “But stay close to your brother, Leika.”

My name on his lips made everything inside me stutter.

The rage. The pain. The fear.It melted into something dangerous.

I wanted to kiss him.God, I almost did.

But I turned away. My chest a battlefield of emotions.

“You don’t have to leave,” I whispered. “I’ll move in tomorrow.”