Consumed (30 page)

I’m scowling at her through the mirror in my sun visor, but she isn’t looking at me. Her attention is on her fucking pink nails. “He must have a magical dick because there’s no way I’d keep dating someone who cheated on me every week.”

“Alright Selena.” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. “We get it.”

“Shit, sorry.”

“I can take you.” Seth offers, running a thumb along my thigh, comfortingly.

I shake my head. “No, it’ll just make things worse. He doesn’t cooperate well under pressure.”

“I’m taking you.” Seth says and I realize his offer wasn’t actually an offer, but a demand.

I open my mouth to protest, but his words cut me off.

“I’ll stay in the car with Jackson. At least you’ll have someone there if he decides to pull anything.”

His commanding eyes lock onto mine briefly before they turn back to the road. I won’t fight him. If he wants to take me to Blade’s house, then fine.

I see Selena’s gigantic, sandstone-looking house in the distance as we drive up her street. Right on queue Jackson the sleeping beauty yawns, awakening from his too long nap.

“We’re here already, huh?” Jackson’s voice is husky from sleep.

I open my mouth to answer, but the distinctly kissing noises and giggles stops me and I roll my eyes. If there is one thing I won’t miss about this trip it’s the long make out sessions between Selena and Jackson.
Jesus
. It’s never ending! Thankfully, we pull up in front of Selena’s house. 

“I’ll call you.” Selena calls to me as she climbs out and Jackson followers her.

Right in front of the car they practically hump each other goodbye and I groan, throwing my head back against the seat.

“You must be real happy to be away from that.” Seth laughs, leaning back in his chair.

“You have no idea.”

His hand curls around my wrist and he pulls it to his lips, kissing it softly. His lips are surprisingly warm on my skin and tingles burst in my stomach.

“When we’re done here we’re going to swing by your place, get that ring and take it back to that fucking guy.”

I angle my body toward him.

“Do I detect jealousy?” I tease. 

He smiles against the back of my hand. “Jealousy? No. Possession? Maybe. If anyone is gonna buy you things in pretty red boxes, it’s me.”

I pull my hand back. “Thanks, but I don’t need to be bought things to be happy. Blade seems to think I do, but that just reflects how little he actually knows about me.”

“And what do you need to be happy?”

I sit for a little while thinking. I’ve never been asked a question like that before. I tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear before I speak. “I want what everyone wants, I guess. Health. Loyal friends. Love. I don’t know...”

He smirks at me, his eyes glistening with admiration.

“If I had to choose something materialistic, I’d choose a bath.”

“A bath?” He repeats, almost laughing.

“Yep, a nice hot bubble bath. It’s been years since I’ve had one.”

He drops my hand and runs his fingers through his hair. “You’re so cute I can’t even handle it.”

“I’m cute?” I scoff, almost offended. I’ve never been called cute before. “I’m not cute.”

He reaches across to pinch at my already pink cheeks and I swat him away.

“Okay, where to now?” Jackson asks, sliding back into the car and slamming the door behind him. His face comes between our seats and I look at him. When I think about it, Jackson and Selena look very similar. His hair is a little darker, but they both have the same green eyes and facial structure—sharp and angular.

“We’re going to swing by Olivia’s place and pick something up to drop off to her ex.” Seth tells Jackson like it’s no big deal.

“We’re going? You sure that’s a good idea?”

“No.” I state firmly.

“Yes,” Seth answers over me. “I think it’s a very good idea. Her ex is a douchebag.”

Jackson leans back in the seat and his obvious disapproval hangs in the hair, making me uncomfortable. “All the more reason not to go.” He replies.

“You’re more than welcome to walk home.” Seth says, pulling out onto the road.

“Seth—”

“No,” Jackson interjects. “I’ll tag along, just don’t do anything stupid.”

I glance sideways at Seth. His face is neutral, void of any specific emotion. He wouldn’t do anything stupid, would he? The last thing I want is to get Blade hurt or Seth in trouble. The closer we got to my house, the more nervous I became. I have no idea what I’m going to say to Blade or if he’ll even be home. I pull my phone from my pocket.

“I should probably call him.”

I dial his number and put it to my ear. He answers immediately. “Babe?”

Seth glances at me slightly and his brows furrow. I think he heard it. Momentarily, I’m unsure what to do? Should I correct him or just ignore it.

“Olly?”

Screw it. I’ll correct him next time. “Blade, hey.”

He seems upbeat and excited—like he’s expecting good news from me. “How are you?”

It’s dead quiet in the car and it’s unnerving. “Good, thanks. Are you going to be home today? I need to—”

“Yeah, I’ll be home all day. When are you thinking of coming?”

“I should be there in half an hour.” I look at Seth and he nods.

“Great! I’ve really missed you, Olly.”

I almost cringe. “Yeah, I’ll see you then.”

I hang up and put my phone away. My fingers nervously find each other, tangling in a edgy fidget.

When we pull up outside my home, I grab my travel bag off the floor and jump from the car. Seth and Jackson wait while I run upstairs to grab the little red box. I don’t bother changing my clothes. I’m too comfortable in my jeans and t-shirt. I step into my bedroom and immediately find the red box on my bedside table. My travel bag lands with a small thud on the carpet beside me and I step over it. I grab the box and feel the nice velvet material on my fingertips before I push it into the palm of my hand. For some reason, my hands are shaking and I feel a little anxious. I’m ninety-nine percent sure I know what’s inside... but I don’t know what kind of emotions are going to be opened along with the box. It creaks as my index finger pushes it open a little. I take two deep breaths—in and out, in and out—and open it the rest of the way. I inhale sharply, totally floored by the pretty, gold ring nestled in the white, silk fabric. It’s truly beautiful and something I definitely would have appreciated when we were together. But now, I don’t want it. It represents all of my mistakes and everything I’m trying to learn and grow from. I close the lid and stuff it into the pocket of my jeans, making it bulge ridiculously. I don’t want to spend too much time up here so I run back out the front door, making sure I lock it behind me. I give Seth Blade’s address when I get back into the car, but other than that no one said anything to me, thank God.

***

When we pull into Blade’s driveway the butterflies in my stomach have magnified tenfold and I almost cry. The thought of seeing Blade’s face when I return this ring is going to suck—especially knowing that he probably spent a lot of money on it.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Seth asks, stroking my wrist with his thumb.

A small laugh falls from my lips. “No, I don’t think that will go down too well.”

“We’re here if you need us.” Jackson says, sticking his head between our seats again. And I smile at him.

“Thanks.”

I pull the little box from my pocket and open the door. Blade’s place is much like mine. It’s an apartment complex with the front stairs leading straight to his door. I slide out of the car and shut the door behind me. Blade appears at the top of the stairs and there’s no sign of happiness on his face. I knew I should’ve come alone. He stuffs his hands into the front pocket of his jeans.

“Please tell me he’s only dropping you off.”

I shake my head as I approach the steps. “This won’t take long.”

His blue eyes glower past me and into Seth’s car. Dread rolls through my stomach when I hear two car doors open and close. I turn to them and watch as they lean against the car just waiting for Blade to do something. Jackson is shaking his head slightly—almost like he’s saying ‘I told you so’. Seth face is intimidating, even to me. His thick arms are crossed over his chest and his eyes are dark and daring. I try to give him my best ‘relax’ face and I’m sure he knows what I mean. I turn back to Blade who’s still watching the boys with such disgust and hate.

“Forget they’re even here.” I say, climbing up the stairs.

He drags his eyes to my face and smiles at me, flashing his dimples. “Easy done. Do you want to come in?”

“No.”

He almost flinches. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to stay long...” I hold out the little red case. “I can’t accept this.”

He doesn’t take it. “I bought it for you.”

“I know, but we aren’t together. It’s wrong for me to take it.”

“Then consider it an ‘I want you back’ gift.”

Oh boy. This is not going to be easy. “It’s beautiful—it really is—but I don’t want it.”

“Olly, baby—”

“And you need to stop calling me baby. It’s inappropriate.”

He raises his voice, becoming increasingly angry and commanding. “Like fuck it is. You were my girlfriend for six years. I’ve earned the right to call you that.”

I scoff. “You haven’t earned a damn thing. You were my boyfriend for six years. I was your girlfriend for two. That’s when you started cheating on me.”

“I don’t think it was—”

“Two years, Blade.”

He stares at me, waiting for me to say or do something. Blade’s gaze drags over my head to Seth and then back to me.

“And you think
he
cares about you?”

I almost laugh. Seth does care about me. I’ve spent enough time with him to know that he does. “Yes,”

“Trust me,” his hand rests on my shoulder. “I’ve seen him with the girls at Heaven’s. He doesn’t respect women, Olly.”

Ha! Pot. Kettle. Black. I shrug him off. “You don’t know a damn thing about him. I get how he comes across, but he’s different with me.”

Blade works his bottom lip between his teeth, an annoying habit that I’ve had to put up with the last six years. To avoid seeing it, I’d try to avoid arguing with him.

“Have you fucked him?” He blurts out startling me from past annoyances.

My voice comes out a lot quieter than I intend. “That’s none of your business.”

Blade pushes past me, almost knocking me down a step. Panic sears in me, this is exactly what I wanted to avoid. My legs shake and threaten to give way as I jump from the steps and chase after Blade. This is too much drama for me to handle. A slight smile pulls at Seth’s lips and his large frame pushes off the car as Blade comes in close.

“Have you fucked her?” Blade demands, stopping just short of Seth.

There’s a devious gleam to Seth’s eyes and I realize I’ve seen it before. He has the same look as he did that day at my work.

“I’ve done more than that.” Seth smirks.

Jackson pushes his way between the two boys and his hands fly to Blade’s chest, causing his yellow polo shirt to bunch up. He inches him back a bit.

“Don’t do anything stupid, guy.” Jackson warns in a low voice.

Blade shrugs him off and shoves him backwards. “You’ve probably fucked her too.”

I cringe. Hearing him talk about me with such a disgusted tone makes my chest constrict. I look at Seth, he glowers at Blade now, his eyes glinting with a dark and lethal gleam. I swallowed harshly, feeling my hands begin to shake with panic.

“Nah, man.” Jackson assures him, casually. “She’s his.”

“His?” He almost spits the word and he snaps his ice blue eyes to me. “His?”

I swallow hard. “Yes.”

I thought I’d be happy rubbing Seth in Blade’s face, but sadly… it makes me feel like shit.

“But I saw you all over the internet. You looked so uncomfortable and you were wearing the dress I bought for you. I thought—”

“That doesn’t mean anything... Selena made me take the dress.”

I extend the little red box to him again. His gaze drops to it and then back to my face. In my six years of dating Blade, I’ve never seen him so hurt... and it’s too much for me. I need to leave.

“Take it.” Seth says, leaning back against the car. “She doesn’t want it.”

Blade’s long, thin fingers reach out and curl around the box. His cool fingertips linger on mine for a little while longer and I drop my sight to the concrete before pulling my hand away. Blade moves to the side and without looking at him I step toward the car. When I’m right beside Seth, his voice breaks the uncomfortable silence.

“You know what I did after the fight?” Seth says to Blade with a sardonic grin.

Oh shit
. My eyes widen and blood drains from my face. “Seth—”