Chapter 022

TALIA

It was while we were shopping for clothes- costumes as Ruby kept reminding me- that I told her everything that had happened with Cassian. Ruby’s eyes grew rounder and rounder.

When I joked that they looked like they would pop right out of her head, she clutched my arm and urged, “Tell me more. Tell me everything.”

When I got to the part where Cassian said he would give me an answer later about accepting me as a mate, Ruby shrieked, drawing the attention of a few shoppers who threw amused glances in our direction before moving away.

“Keep it down,” I whispered.

“Oh, I can’t! I can’t!” she squealed, practically vibrating with excitement. “Can’t you see? The guy has already fallen for you.”

“What? You think so?”

Ruby nodded vigorously. “Of course! That explains everything. Why else would he go to the extent of lying about you entering a competition just to keep you in school? Or involve himself in your family squabbles? Or want to see you late at night? He is falling head over heels, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Men are very protective of the ones they love."

“Love,” I echoed, heat crawling up my cheek.

It could be that Ruby was exaggerating a little- something she usually did- but was it not possible that she was on to something?

Maybe Cassian liked me... was attracted to me even.

“Yes. You better believe it, girlfriend,” Ruby said, giving me a dazzling smile. “Not that. Definitely not that,” she added suddenly, plucking a dress I had absently reached for out of my hand.

She waved over the nearest shop assistant who was arranging clothes on a rack.

“How may I help you?” the girl asked when she came over.

Ruby gestured at the clothes on display. “We can’t seem to find what we’re looking for.”

“Perhaps I can help then. What exactly do you need?”

“Clothes for a costume party,” Ruby explained, “We are going as Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.”

The attendant smiled. “Oh, Harry Potter fans, I believe?”

“You can say that again."

“Well... unfortunately we don’t have any clothes that match the look you want. But over here…” She moved two aisles down, and we followed her to another rack full of clothes. “We have some short skirts and dresses. I'm assuming you both are from South Ville Academy. Some students bought these." She took out a dress, held it up."The trick is in the pairing. If you select the right combination of clothes, you could almost look like the characters you’re going for.”

Ruby shook her head regretfully. “Almost isn’t good enough for us.”

She grabbed my hand and led me out of the store.

“So what now?” I asked once we were outside.

“Shame. I really thought this store would have what we needed,” she sighed. “Anyway,” she added brightly, “I’ll just order our dresses online." She looked me over. "I know your size. Your costume is going to be a knockout."

"I am entirely in your hands," I replied, shrugging and Ruby grinned.

"The dresses will be delivered tomorrow, so that settles that. So where are we hanging out this afternoon? Your place?”

Wanting the company, I said yes. Since the store wasn’t far from my house, Ruby and I walked.

Ruby was chatting about the color of the dress she planned to get me as I pushed open the front door. As I stepped into the hall, I stopped dead. Ruby walked right into me.

“Talia, what-" she began, then went silent.

Ethan was sitting cross-legged on our sofa, with Mother and Tessa on either side of him. He was drinking coffee and had apparently just made a joke, because Mother and Tessa were laughing.

The three of them saw me. The laughter stopped.

Mother made a face and muttered something under her breath. Tessa, frowning, busied herself pouring another cup of coffee.

My greeting of “Good afternoon, Mother” was almost drowned out by Ruby’s cheerful, “Hello, Mrs. Westwood!”

“Ruby dear, how was school today?” Mother asked, completely ignoring me.

She smiled only at Ruby.

As I turned toward the stairs, I noticed Ethan’s eyes were on me. There was a look in them I had not seen before. It made my skin prickle uncomfortably.

Mother said something to Ethan. He dragged his gaze away from me- almost regretfully, I thought.

I hurried up the stairs, Ruby right behind me.

Once my bedroom door was closed, Ruby asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously, “Is it me, or was Ethan looking at you differently just now?”

I stiffened. I had already begun convincing myself I had imagined all that.

“You noticed it too?” I asked.

Ruby snorted. “Of course I did. What am I? Blind? So what’s up with that? What's his deal?"

I dropped my bag on the floor, massaged my shoulders, and kicked off my shoes. “I don’t know. And I honestly do not care. In fact, I’m so happy he rejected me. Can’t believe I was ever so shaken up over him. I mean, who would ever want to date a sadistic asshole like that?”

“Tessa would,” Ruby pointed out. “If that crazy sister of yours finds out Ethan is giving you any kind of attention, she will lose her mind. For real this time.”

Ruby made a face, and I collapsed on my bed laughing. She joined in.

******

I flipped open another page of the textbook and made a note in the notebook I kept handy. Ruby had gone home an hour ago. I was alone.

The door creaked open. Probably my mother coming to inform me that a late lunch or dinner was ready. I looked up and felt my heart lodge somewhere in my throat.

It wasn’t Mother. It was Ethan.

He entered the room with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, like he owned the place.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” I stammered, wishing like hell Ruby was still with me.

Ethan had not closed the door. That was good. If he tried anything, I could run and hope he didn’t catch me first.

Ethan did not answer. He looked around the room, his eyes taking in everything.

His lips curled in disgust. With one booted foot, he kicked my schoolbag out of the way, sending a few books skittering across the floor.

“So this is your room,” he drawled with a sneering little laugh. “Looks a whole lot lamer than I imagined, which is saying quite a lot.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, what else can one expect from a loser?”

I swallowed hard, bit my lip and said nothing. Maybe if I stayed quiet, he would just leave.

The silence stretched.

Suddenly Ethan turned toward me. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes dragged over my chest. It felt like he was stripping me naked with his gaze.

I couldn’t suppress the shudder of revulsion. If he noticed, he didn’t show it. I dug my nails into my palms to keep from crossing my arms over my chest.

I strained my ears for the slightest sound from downstairs. The house was quiet. Too quiet.

Were Mom and Tessa in the house? Why didn’t Tessa come for Ethan? She didn't usually let him out of her sight.

Slowly stroking his jaw, Ethan murmured, “You have changed a lot since I rejected you.”

“That was only a few weeks ago,” I said through clenched teeth. “And nothing has changed.”

“Oh, you’re wrong.” He shook his head. He moved closer, gaze still glued to my chest. “A whole lot has changed about you.”

My heart pounded. He was so big, and his broad frame had already blocked the exit. He moved nearer the bed.

I cringed away, scrambling across the bed to put space between us. Ethan stiffened. When his eyes snapped back to my face, they were hardened and dark.

“What?” he scoffed. “Do you really think I want to touch you? You? Fuck! You have a really high opinion of yourself, don't you? You might as well accuse me of wanting to touch a booger on the floor, ’cause that’s what you are, Talia. A fucking piece of filth I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole!"

Okay so I'm a piece of filth. Now can you leave me alone, I wanted to say, but couldn't.

I could not find my voice and Ethan looked so mad.

Taking a deep breath, I clutched my pillow. The only thing within reach.

My pen was gone. It had rolled off the bed. Goddess knew what good a pillow would do if he attacked.

Ethan exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling. Suddenly he lunged forward. Before I could react, he grabbed my chin, squeezing so hard tears pricked my eyes.

“You are nowhere near the standards of people I keep company with,” he spat.

Abruptly, he released me, shoved me backward and stepped away. He gave me one last look filled with disgust and loathing then turned and walked out.