Chapter 9- Nice Dress

Paige's POV

The music pounded through the house as we entered, laughter spilling out onto the porch as people squeezed past us with red cups in their hands.

I couldn’t believe I’d actually caved to Leah’s relentless nagging. I barely even went to class parties, let alone frat parties.

Leah had done a great job of dressing me up to the extent that I barely recognized myself. I was dressed in a skimpy short gown that fell just below my thigh, gone was the girl with oversized hoodies.

I tugged at the hem of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time

“I still can’t believe you talked me into wearing this.”

Leah didn’t even glance at me.

“Oh, please.” She waved me off. “You look hot, like scary hot”.

“I look exposed.”

She laughed.

“Those hoodies have been hiding that body for two years, it's time you flaunted everything under it” she said shouting over the music.

“I like my hoodies.”

“I know.” She smirked. “But this looks way better.”

I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to pull the dress up this time instead.

The house was packed. People laughed around beer pong tables. Someone yelled from upstairs. I had never been to a frat party before, this one definitely exceeded all my expectations.

Students were openly kissing and making out in public. I looked calm as an ocean, but deep down my nerves were all worked out. Had coming here been a mistake?

“Leah.” Someone called out to her.

Her face lit up.

“Oh my God.”

Before I could ask what she’d seen, she was already weaving through the crowd.

“Knox!”

I let out a quiet sigh.

Of course, he would be here.

While Leah disappeared into the crowd, I scanned the room taking in faces I vaguely recognized.

Then they landed on Mike, my stomach dropped.

He looked…

Annoyingly good.

His dark shirt hugged his shoulders, sleeves rolled to his forearms the way he’d always worn them. His hair was slightly messy, like he’d run a hand through it one too many times.

For a heartbeat, it was easy to remember why I’d fallen for him.

Then my gaze shifted. She was standing beside him, her blonde hair curled to perfection.

Avery.

The same girl he’d constantly said they were childhood friends.

My chest tightened.

Apparently I wasn’t as over him as I’d convinced myself.

I inhaled slowly. I was done letting Mike unravel me.

I lifted my chin and forced myself to keep walking.

Heads turned and conversation slowed.

Someone gasped, and a guy even tripped over the beer pong table.

“Who's that girl?”

“….Wait isn't that the captain’s ex?”

“Seriously…, she looks so hot.”

I tried not to react, but my stomach tightened.

Leah spotted me immediately.

“There you are!” she said, slipping her arm through mine. “I was wondering where you disappeared to” she whispered

“I was trying to convince myself not to run back home.” I whispered back “And that's why you really wanted to come for this party?” I said, as my eyes strayed to Enzo.

She laughed before turning to the guy beside Knox.

“Oh! Paige, this is Enzo.”

Enzo offered me an easy smile, extending his hand to shake me.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

I glanced sideways at her.

She was trying very hard to act normal.

I bit back a smile, she really did like him.

My gaze shifted, straight to Knox.

He folded his arms across his chest.

The permanent scowl on his ridiculously handsome face hadn’t gone anywhere.

One day…

I really was going to punch him.

His gaze met mine.

Like he was waiting for me to say something first.

I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction.

“Paige..” He opened his mouth and then closed it. “Nice dress.”

I blinked.

“…. Was that a compliment?” I asked, trying to ignore the way his shirt clung to his torso. He was wearing a T-shirt, hinting at the tattoos snaking beneath the sleeves.

“I was making an observation,” he said, with a smirk plastered on his face.

“There it is,” I said

“What?”

“Arrogance.”

“Why must you two always be at each other's throats?” Leah said, grabbing a drink from the bar.

Enzo looked at Leah.

“What the hell happened between the two of them?”

“Nothing.” Both of us replied at the same time.

Both Enzo and Leah laughed.

Before I could come up with a comeback—

Paige?”

I stiffened.

I’d know that voice anywhere.

I slowly turned around to face him.

Mike.

“Can we talk?”

I glanced back.

Knox and the others were still talking amongst themselves.

“I’ll be right back,” I muttered to Leah.

She gave me a questioning look but nodded.

Mike led me a few steps away from the crowd, toward the hallway where the music wasn’t quite as deafening.

He shoved his hands into his pockets.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

His eyes swept over me.

“You look…”

He paused.

“…different.”

A humorless smile tugged at my lips.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“I didn’t think parties were really your thing.”

“They weren’t.”

“So… what are you doing here?”

I held his gaze.

“That's none of your business, Mike.”

He looked speechless, he definitely wasn't expecting me to be so confident in my response.

“I just…” He sighed. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“Funny.”

“Why?”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you with her either.”

His expression hardened.

“Paige, it’s not—”

I looked past him. I nodded in her direction.

“I think your girlfriend’s waiting.”

His jaw clenched.

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“I really don’t care what she is,” I replied, raising my voice. “You lied to me. You cheated on me. On our second anniversary, Mike.”

Mike hung his head and stared at his feet. “Look I'm very sorry, if you could just let me explain—”

I scoffed “No, I'm not interested in any explanations” Then I smiled.“Have a nice night, Mike.”

Without waiting for a response, I walked away.

The moment I looked up, my eyes collided with Knox’s.

He hadn’t looked away.

Hadn’t even blinked. His jaw clenched, fingers wrapped around his untouched drink. His eyes locked on mine.

My throat tightened. His gaze was so intense it sent an unexpected shiver racing down my spine.

And for the first time that night…

I wasn’t thinking about Mike anymore.