“Good for you.”
I knew the rules. I patted him on the arm anyway.
Much to Monroe’s amusement. She chuckled next to me.
Tex held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”
Monroe blushed and took his hand. “Don’t kill my brother, Trace.”
“I will try to control my urges.” I saluted.
“Oh, I wish you wouldn’t.” Chase plopped down next to me and smirked.
“Leave!” Nixon yelled this. Both Phoenix and Chase left the table.
“Why’d you do that?” I gave him a pointed look.
“Because he shouldn’t be flirting with you.” Nixon shrugged and plucked a strawberry off my plate.
I felt myself blush. “He wasn’t flirting.”
“Yes, he was.” Nixon stole another strawberry.
“No.” I smacked his hand sending the strawberry to the floor. “He wasn’t. He was just being nice, you should try it.”
“Sweetheart, I can be nice to you. Believe me. I can be so nice you won’t know what hit you. But is that what you really want? For me to be nice?” His breath smelled like strawberries as it trickled across my face. I licked my lips and forced myself to look away from his piercing gaze.
“Here.” He held out a strawberry in his hand.
I reached for it, but he pulled back. “Tsk, tsk. Allow me.”
He held it out again. I groaned and leaned forward.
“Open.”
“No.” I grit my teeth.
“Then no strawberry.”
“I think I’ll survive.” I jerked away from him and stood. His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
“Sit.”
I did.
“I don’t want to make your life hell. You know that, right? I don’t want you to cry to sleep every night or curse me every morning. Know that you make your own choices. You create your own destiny. And baby, I have the keys. So either play by my rules, or don’t. The choice is yours.”
“Why does it matter anyways? Either way I could never trust you.”
His eyes flickered before he broke his gaze with mine. “Trust is like love. It doesn’t exist. It’s a fairytale society feed us in order to get us to conform. I don’t expect you to trust me. I expect you to follow the rules. Rules keep you safe.”
“And if I don’t?”
He stood and dropped the strawberry on the plate. “Then you will be forcing my hand, and the last thing I want is to hear stories from my sister about how you cry yourself to sleep every damn night just because you couldn’t follow a few simple guidelines.”
I swallowed. “Fine.”
He smirked and straightened his tie. “I knew we’d understand one another… eventually.”
“I’m not agreeing with you. I just knew that would be the quickest way to get you to leave.”
Nixon was deathly silent and then he reached up and touched my cheek. I fought against every instinct to slap him. My treacherous body was starved for touch, for attention. I missed my grandma. I missed my grandpa. I wanted someone to hug me and tell me what to do. But I was alone.
I shuddered.
“Dance with me,” he commanded.
I opened my mouth to deny him, but he was already leading me toward the dance floor.
People gaped as a slow song came on and Nixon pulled me into his arms. He didn’t say much. Neither did I. Instead, I began to shake because I knew. I knew it had already begun. I challenged him and he was going to make me pay. He was going to make my life hell. I didn’t know how or when, but I knew he would strike, and it would be where it hurt most.
Right when I began to relax, just as the song was coming to an end, Nixon pushed me away. I stumbled but otherwise stayed on my feet.
The music stopped.
Great.
“What?” Nixon yelled and then laughed. “Are you insane?”
Clueless, I looked around me then back at him.
“You think I would actually sleep with someone like you? What type of girl are you anyways? Do they do things different out on the farm?”
I felt my face turn bright red.
“Oh they must, huh?” Nixon folded his arms across his chest. “Trust me, Farm Girl. I don’t care how much makeup you put on, or how expensive your clothes may be. I don’t even give a rat’s ass that half the student body likes you right now. You are charity. I wouldn’t even screw you if you paid me. So, the answer is no. And next time you feel like showing up to one of my school’s parties, at least have the decency to wear some new shoes.”
I broke. I lunged for him, but strong arms held me back. I didn’t want them to see me cry. I didn’t know what else to do. I was shaking so hard that I thought I would pass out.
“Shhh…” Monroe said in my hair. “Tex, let’s get her back to the room.”
He nodded and soon Chase fell into step with us.
“Get away from me!” I screamed at them, but instead of leaving, Tex and Chase walked on either side of me. And then I realized why.
People were attempting to throw food at my head. But the minute the guys offered their support, people stopped and watched us leave the party.
Nixon was going to be pissed. But I didn’t care. I was so incredibly ashamed of myself. Ashamed that I would fall for anything that guy said. And most of all, angry that he would make fun of my grandma’s shoes. The very same shoes that gave me confidence today.
We walked in silence back to the dorm.