Chapter 4

"Austin, do you even remember that I'm your girlfriend?"

His steps paused for only a fraction of a second before he puffed up with self-righteousness. "I'm just stating facts. I'm not going to play favorites just because we're dating."

I let out a dry, bitter laugh, stepping aside to clear their path. "Whatever you say."

Watching their figures blur in the distance, I wiped away a stray tear with a quiet scoff.

Austin, this is the very last tear you'll ever get from me.

When Chloe walked out of the dean's office in tears, I already knew how the conversation had gone down.

The unfortunate part was that Austin was still selected as one of the male co-hosts.

To build chemistry before the showcase, the student council reps organized a mandatory team mixer at a private lounge off-campus.

Shortly after Tiffany and I sat down near the sound and lighting crew, Austin walked in, trailing Chloe behind him.

Tiffany made sure her voice carried across the entire room: "Pretty sure Chloe isn't part of the Gala crew, right?"

Chloe instantly slapped on her most fragile, wounded expression, tugging lightly at Austin's sleeve.

"Maybe I should just leave... It feels like I'm not wanted here."

Austin gripped her hand firmly, glaring at the room.

"She's my plus-one. Anyone disrespecting her is disrespecting me."

The council rep, playing the desperate peacemaker, quickly stepped in with a placating smile.

"Come on, guys, we need team harmony for the show. Let's just keep the peace for my sake."

Just then, the lounge doors swung open, and two guys stepped inside.

One was sharp and striking, the other sunny and bright.

The energetic one caught sight of me, and his eyes went wide.

"Yo, Liam! Isn't that the girl from the—"

The sharper guy cut him off with a lethal glare, and the golden retriever instantly clamped his mouth shut.

I stared at their faces for a long moment, drawing a total blank.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, the guy named Liam suddenly turned his head, his dark eyes locking squarely with mine.

My heart thudded against my ribs as I looked away instantly. God, he looks terrifying.

"Liam, man! Thanks so much for mentoring the crew tonight!"

The council rep gestured toward the VIP center seat, but Liam brushed it off.

"I hate crowds. You guys do your thing; I'll just sit over here."

Without hesitation, he walked straight past everyone, strode right up to my couch, and sat down beside me.

For the next few rounds of drinking games, I sat on pins and needles.

I could physically feel the heat of his intense gaze burning into my side.

During a round of Truth or Dare, Chloe pulled the unlucky card.

Half-buzzed, the crowd cheered and jeered: "Card pass with mouth! No hands! There are tons of hot guys here, pick whoever you want!"

Chloe held the card, biting her lip shyly. "I only really know Austin... so I pick him."

The second those words left her mouth, everyone in the room who knew Austin and I were dating turned their eyes directly onto me.

Even Austin seemed to realize the optics were awful. He leaned toward me, murmuring, "It's just a drinking game. Our lips won't even touch."

In that exact moment, I knew that if I showed even an ounce of protest, he would instantly label me crazy, insecure, and unreasonable.

So I gave him an easy, radiant smile. "Go ahead. I don't mind at all."

Yet the moment they leaned in close, my heart still gave a pathetic, involuntary twist.

His heart had checked out of this relationship long ago. Even without Chloe, there would have been a second girl, and a third.

I thought about how I had stayed up late waiting for his texts, only to receive a cold: “Was gaming, didn't see this. It's late, going to bed.”

I thought about skipping meals and busting my ass at the dining hall to buy him an expensive gift, while he casually dropped thousands to impress someone else.

Since this relationship had lost every shred of meaning, it was time to set myself free.

While I was lost in my spiral, Tiffany suddenly started smacking my arm like a maniac.

"Scarlett! It's your turn! You got Dare!"

I looked down at the coaster. Drawn on it was: Kiss a guy in the room.

The council rep chuckled. "Come on, Scarlett! You've got an unfair advantage here—just kiss your man!"

Chloe's face instantly soured.

As Austin stood up automatically, fixing his collar to walk over to me, I felt that piercing gaze from beside me once again.

Gathering every ounce of courage I had left, I turned my head to face the gorgeous senior next to me.

"Liam... could you help me out?"

In that split second, the air in the lounge seemed to freeze completely solid. All I could hear was the rushing in my ears and the frantic, deafening rhythm of my own heartbeat.

Just as the blood rushed to my cheeks, threatening to burn me alive, the man let out a low, velvety chuckle.

"Of course. My absolute pleasure."

The next second, his warm, intoxicating cedar-and-cologne scent completely consumed my senses.