002: Bad Luck

EDEN

I part my lips to protest, but he dips his head, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "Play along, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice low enough to melt my last three brain cells.

And I do. Because apparently, my survival instincts have left the building.

“Um... yeah," I say weakly, plastering a shaky smile on my face. "My boyfriend."

I’m shaking with both rage and infinite disgust at the mere sight of him. But what can I do? I’m trapped.

He straightens up and flashes the group his movie-star grin. "If you'll excuse us, I need to talk to my squirrel for a minute."

He still hasn't dropped that nickname, what the fuck?

Before I can blink, his hand is already on the small of my back, steering me out of the lounge room.

The moment we hit the empty hallway, I spin and slam my heel into his shin.

“OW! What the hell, Clarke?!" he grits out, staggering back.

“That's for—" I wave a hand wildly. "For whatever that was!"

He scowls, rubbing his leg. "Is that seriously the thank you I get for saving your ass in there?"

“Saving me?!" I bark out a laugh. "You practically ambushed me! What are you even doing here, Hayden? And were you—" I point at him accusingly. "Were you eavesdropping on me?!"

He raises both brows, infuriatingly calm. "Relax, Nancy Drew. It's not my fault. Blame it on your bad luck."

I gape at him. "You—"

He cuts me off in a maddeningly lazy tone. "Let me guess. You came here hoping to show everyone how well put together you are now. Big city girl. Stable job. Maybe a hot boyfriend to rub in their faces." His gaze drifts over me with a cruel glint. "Instead, you walked in alone, realized your high school crush is engaged to your ex-best friend, and lied through your teeth to save face."

The words slice deeper than I expect. Because damn it...he's right.

I blink hard, feeling my throat tighten. "Shocking," I manage, my voice trembling. "You really haven't changed."

He tilts his head, the smirk returning. "Still brutally honest, sweetheart. It's a gift."

My hand moves before my brain catches up. But he grabs my hand before it can collide with his cheek. Fuming, I pull away from him.

“Feel better?" he asks softly.

“Actually, yeah." I cross my arms, my chest heaving. "I hope I never see you again, Hayden."

He chuckles. "Oh, you will."

I narrow my eyes. "Not if I can help it."

He leans in, close enough that I can smell his stupidly intoxicating cologne. "See you soon, squirrel."

And just like that, he walks off, limping slightly, leaving me standing there contemplating murder.

…....

By the time I slump into the driver's seat of my car, my mascara's halfway down my face. It is ridiculous. Really. But everything is finally hitting me, and I can't stop crying.

I don't even bother heading home. Instead, I head straight for my best friend's apartment.

She opens the door in pajama shorts and camisole, her hair in a pineapple bun.

“Jesus, Eden. You're a mess."

“Ava, do you think I have bad luck?" I croak, pushing past her.

Her brows shoot up. "What? No! Where is this coming from?"

Five minutes later, we're on her couch with a bottle of tequila. I pour myself a glass, then another, and by the third, my tongue's numb and my brain's a slideshow of every humiliating thing I've done tonight.

Ava just watches quietly, sipping her drink. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I take a deep breath. "Let's see. My boyfriend turned out to be a cheating idiot. My high school crush is engaged to my ex-best friend. And my mortal enemy pretended to be my boyfriend in front of everyone."

Ava whistles. "That's... quite a night."

“I'm thinking of moving to Antarctica."

“Do they serve tequila there?"

“Don't ruin my fantasy."

My phone vibrates, and I glance at it, hiccuping.

Alex.

I ignore it at first. But, it rings again. And again. And again.

“Answer it," Ava mutters. "Let’s hear what the jerk has to say."

“Oh, I'll answer it," I slur, grabbing the phone shakily. "But not for forgiveness."

I swipe the screen. "What the hell do you want, Alex?"

His voice shakes. "Eden, please. I need to talk to you."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Now you want to talk? Hilarious."

“I know, I know, I messed up. But I swear it wasn't like that—"

“Oh, I saw it, Alex. It was exactly like that."

“I'm not going to lie to you anymore. I've always been... into guys. But you're the only woman I've ever—"

I choke out a laugh, more tears rolling down my cheeks. "What, loved? The only woman blind enough not to see through your chameleon ass?"

“No, Eden, please. I love you. I really want to marry you."

I close my eyes. My chest feels heavy, a bone-crushing exhaustion climbing in. "You don't get to say that after destroying everything. You don't get to decide you love me when what you really loved was the convenience."

He starts saying my name again, pleading. I cut him off.

“You have eight hours to get your things out of my apartment," I say coldly. "And when I come back, I don't ever want to see you there again."

“Eden, wait—"

I hang up.

The silence that follows is deafening. Even Ava doesn't speak. She just reaches over and refills my glass.

“Eight hours?" she murmurs.

“Generous, right?"

We drink. And drink. The night blurs at the edges until everything is fuzzy, and I'm sprawled across her couch with my heart feeling like overcooked pasta.

…....

When I open my eyes, sunlight is spilling through Ava's curtains. My head throbs in protest as I drag myself off the couch to go shower and clean myself.

When I return, I grope for my phone on the couch. Notifications light up the screen.

Missed calls. Eight of them.

All from Mom.

A flash of déjà vu hits me, my heart hammering. The last time this happened, my father was admitted because of his dangerously high blood pressure. My thumb trembles as I hit the call button.

She answers immediately, her voice cracking. "Eden—honey...your dad's in the hospital."

Air whooshes out of my lungs.

“What?"

“He collapsed in the garden."

Those words drive me into action instantly. I barely remember getting dressed, getting the address of the hospital, or even driving there.

Daddy was fine three days ago. We literally had pancakes together. He even lectured me about getting married.

Now he's "in the hospital."

Dad is reclining in bed when I rush in. His complexion is ghostly pale, his face sweaty.

“Daddy?" My voice cracks. "What happened?“

He opens his eyes slowly. "Eden... my precious girl."

“Why do you sound like you’re dying?" I choke, rushing to his side and grabbing his hand. "You can’t leave me, you hear me?”

From the corner, my mother sniffles into a tissue. "He just wants to see you settled, sweetheart."

“Settled?" I blink at her.

Dad squeezes my hand weakly. "I want... to see you get married before I go."

Tears blur my vision. "Daddy, please don’t do this."

“Eden," he says solemnly, completely ignoring my plea. "Promise me you’ll get married."

What is going on? Why…why is he scaring me like this? I think, my hands shaking.

“Okay," I croak. "Fine. I'll get married. Just... please, don't talk like that."

He exhales dramatically, satisfied. It’s as if he just secured world peace.

Inside, my brain's screaming.

Married? Me? To whom? Certainly not to my douchebag ex.

But then Dad smiles faintly and says, "Good. Because you don't have to find a groom yourself."

I blink. "What?"

“You'll be marrying Hayden Wolfe."

And just like that, every cell in my body turns icy.

I did not hear that right, did I?

“Daddy," I manage, my voice trembling. "You must be joking. You're not dying, you're only delirious."

But he just smiles weakly. "He's already agreed."

I gape at him. "He what?!"