They Read My Secret Crush Story Out Loud At The Party Chapter 04

His grip was tight, pressing against the same spot he’d grabbed last night. I flinched.

“Blake, let go of me.”

Sloane came over, sounding as though she was trying to help.

“Raina, Blake’s trying to smooth things over. He even let it slide when you called him a stand-in last night.”

“Now you’re getting another man to pick you up? Is that really necessary?”

I was exhausted by the way she twisted everything. Still, I kept my voice patient.

“Blake, you said there’s no chance for us. Let’s stop wasting each other’s time. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

He hesitated, his gaze flicking away. “I’m just curious who’s coming.”

I didn’t answer. I started prying his fingers off my wrist.

He’d never stopped me from leaving before.

Whenever a party ended and I asked him for a ride, he’d turn to his friends.

“Whoever’s going her way, give her a ride.”

I’d sit in an unfamiliar car with the music blaring, watching Blake speed past with Sloane beside him.

He’d never waited for me, either.

Once, I’d gone bungee jumping with him despite my fear of heights. Up on the platform, I shook so badly I couldn’t fasten my harness.

He watched me with an amused smile. “Why’d you even come if you’re this scared?”

I forced myself to jump anyway.

By the time I was back down, doubled over and throwing up, he’d already taken Sloane to the next activity.

Now I didn’t have to force myself to do things that terrified me or say things I didn’t want to say.

I didn’t have to keep holding on to a stand-in.

The more relieved I looked, the tighter Blake’s grip became.

“Raina Bennett, I’ve just been trying not to lead you on these past two days. I never said I didn’t want you around.”

I paused, then nodded. “Okay. I understand.”

That only seemed to irritate him more.

“What exactly do you understand? You’ve always been like a little sister to me. I was harsh last night because I didn’t want you getting in any deeper.”

“Don’t use someone else to get back at me, Raina. You’ll only hurt yourself.”

I looked at him. “I’m not using him to get back at you.”

Sloane pressed me. “Fine. Then who’s so important that you’d rather see him than stay with Blake?”

I opened my mouth to say Julian’s name, but a gentle voice came from the entrance.

“Raina.”

I turned toward the sound, my face brightening.

Blake looked over, too. The moment he saw Julian’s face, his expression changed.

“Raina Bennett,” he said through gritted teeth. “Who is he?”