Tangled

134 Ava: The Party (V)

134 Ava: The Party (V)

He seems nice, Selene says.

Yeah, he does. When we part so I can return to Lisa’s side, he doesn’t cling or say anything, just waves me off

and wanders back into the crowd.

Feeling buoyed by my success at dancing with a stranger and managing a conversation with someone. in the pack, I hunt Lisa down. The dance with Teddy has cemented something inside of me; no matter how handsome another man is, he doesn’t bring about the flutters that a single word from Lucas can stir in my belly.

I need girl advice tonight.

Trying to find Lisa in the throng of shifters is impossible. She’s nowhere to be found. My skin prickles with the sensation of being watched, assessed. Whispers hiss through the air, just quiet enough that I can’t make out the words. But I can imagine well enough what they’re saying.

Mia and Chloe are holding court with a group of male shifters. Mia’s dark hair tumbles over her shoulder as

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134 Ava: The Party (V)

she laughs, leaning into the broad–shouldered man beside her. Chloe’s green eyes flick to mine, a smirk curling her lips. I quickly look away.

I don’t know what their goal was in bringing me here,

but I don’t need to know.

They’re not on my side. That’s enough to know I want nothing to do with them.

Someone jostles me from behind and I stumble, barely keeping my balance. A red plastic cup is shoved into my hand, sloshing sticky–sweet punch over the side.

“Oops, sorry!” a male voice calls, but when I turn to look, he’s already disappeared back into the crowd.

I stare down at the cup in my hand, the sickly artificial scent of fruit and alcohol wafting up to my nose. My stomach churns. I don’t want to be here anymore, suffocating under the weight of shifter superiority and teenage hormones. I just want to find Lisa and go

home.

Clutching the cup, I weave my way through the mass of bodies, heading for the refuge of the kitchen. It’s quieter there, only a few people milling about. I set the cup down on the counter with a shaky hand and pull

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134 Ava: The Party (V)

out my phone.

Where are you? I can’t find you

and lean back against the counter, watching the three

went 2 get air,

More like

out in a shadowy corner somewhere.

I can

then I stare at her text, a sinking feeling in

never uses

out soon though. Not really feeling the party vibe.]

where r

[AVA: Kitchen.]

my gaze, the

beside it.

don’t understand why someone would just

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The Party

Did they think I wanted one? Did

parties aren’t my scene. I feel lost

not right, Selene whispers in my mind,

Lisa’s sudden use of text speak and that odd wrong feeling that’s been plaguing me since I got here…

a shiver running down my spine despite the warmth of the

room.

appears in the doorway. Teddy. His warm brown eyes meet mine, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he weaves his way through

furrowing as he takes in my

I say automatically, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. “Just tired, I think. It’s

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The

to me. Something flashes in his eyes, too quick for me to catch, but it makes

says, his voice light but his expression serious. “It’s

confusion warring with a sudden surge of unease. “What?

into the sink. The sickly sweet smell is stronger for a moment but he turns on the water and rinses it all down the drain, his movements quick and efficient,

neutral. “Just trust me on this one, okay? There’s some stuff going

my mind racing. What does he mean? What kind of stuff? And

me?

that I’m suspicious of the

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The Party (V)

“The alcohol level in the punch is a bit

the way your nose wrinkles every time you look

slowly, my voice sounding small even to my

problem. You sure you’re okay?

shake my head, still feeling uneasy. “Thanks, but I’m good. My friend’s meeting me here.”

to say something more, but then he nods. “Alright. Well, take care of yourself, okay? And

here.”

New?

to get new blood, but it feels awkward to pry. He hadn’t mentioned it, even when he talked about his job and aspirations. It might be private, and

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