Page 79 of Deck of Scarlets
“Nickie, give her some air,” said Josh, coming up from behind her. She giggled again before stepping back into his arms, curling against his chest. She began to play with the collar of his white shirt, swirling her finger along his collarbone. It was hard seeing them this way, cozied up and oblivious to the crowd. He bit her ear, enticing a moan from her lips, and I hadn’t realized I bent the cup, soda flowing through the slit in the red plastic.
Chloe came up beside me. “Girl, you just hulk-smashed your cup.”
Josh glanced at me as I fought an internal battle with my emotions. I should not be feeling this way. Why am I feeling this way?
His voice filtered through my head. Feeling what way?
Panicked, I turned to Chloe, desperation in my eyes. “How do I block him out?”
Catching on, Chloe leaned in so only I could hear. “Block him out.”
“I don’t know how, that’s why I’m asking you.”
She shook her head, taking the damaged cup from my hand. “No, I mean, block him out. Build a wall inside your mind.”
Was it that easy? Keeping my eyes averted from where they embraced, I imagined bricks stacking on top of one another, shutting out his voice and face entirely. Relief flooded my body, tension easing from my shoulders.
“Nickie, what are you doing here?” I finally asked, ignoring the intense way Josh was studying me. If he was trying to gain access, I couldn’t tell.
“Well, that’s a stupid question,” laughed Nickie.
Snickers from Anna on the couch had me grinding my teeth in frustration. “You know what I mean.” Nickie hated frat parties just as much as I hated attending the college that threw them.
“My boyfriend is hosting it, silly. Of course I’m going to be here,” she slurred. I wondered how much she had already drunk. Judging by the empty solo cups on the table where she sat, I assumed more than her typical amount at a club.
Josh had a firm grip on her waist, ensuring she didn’t topple over.
“Woah, someone’s half in the bag,” Chloe said behind me.
Clenching my fist, I stepped forward, ready to take her out of his hands and bring her home, when the words out of Anna’s mouth had me seething. “She told us some fascinating stories about you, Remi.”
“Oh, yeah, how she peed herself in the fourth grade because—” Nickie slipped on her heels, dragging Josh halfway down with her.
“I think it’s time you sober up, hun,” suggested Josh. Nickie ended up on the couch courtesy of him and Baron. She was sprawled out, laughing hysterically over something, and it only boiled my blood more.
“You think?” I scoffed.
Josh pivoted, glaring at me. “What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem? My problem is you!”
Anna laughed hysterically on the couch. “Oh, this is great. The Scarlet fighting with her Saint.”
“Shut up, Anna,” warned Baron.
“Why? Remi is nothing but a loose cannon. She’s going to get us all killed,” Anna stated.
“That’s rich coming from the girl who almost got half the squad killed,” sniped Chloe.
“Will you all keep your voices down? We’re not alone,” Baron advised through gritted teeth. I’d never seen him so furious.
“Give us a minute.” Josh unexpectedly grasped my arm and led the way out of the living room. He turned a sharp right up a set of stairs and opened the first door on the left, showcasing a room with a big queen-sized bed in the middle. Posters of heavy metal bands covered the walls, with an acoustic guitar displayed in the corner by a desk to the far left. Stacks of notebooks were piled on the floor, and a laptop lay open, playing a slide show of family photos and soft music.
Nothing could have prepared me for the words out of his mouth. “Now that we don’t have an audience for you to get attention—”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I snapped.
“All during the ceremony, you were fine. Now, you have a problem with me. Why?”