Page 71 of The Prey
He's going to be pissed, as usual, at my absence, but I don't give a shit. He needs to wake up and realize the world is still going on all around him. Away from the parties, and the fucking, and the drinking. Outside The Mill, Oakmount, and his little kingdom.
When I enter the house, the blast of music smacks me in the face, making me grit my teeth. I skirt through the crowd, moving around some and shoving others out of the way. I spot Lee perched on top of the counter, still shirtless and still drinking from an almost empty bottle of gin.
I shout over the loud music as I step closer. “I'm leaving.”
He blinks down at me, leaning to the side until he falls over to put his face near mine.
“What?”
“I'm fucking leaving,” I bite out.
“Why? The party’s barely started? I don’t need to remind you that you have certain obligations. People expect to see you and fucking Drew, who seems to have already left.”
I want to tell him the expectations can fuck off, but I get this strange feeling that there is something more important going on here. With a long sigh, I ease him into a sitting position by the shoulder until he's sitting again.
“Okay, spill. What's wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. It’s a fucking party, and you’re my friend. We’re supposed to be spending time together.”
I snatch the bottle out of his hand, causing him to shift sideways again, but this time he catches himself on the edge of the countertop.
“All I’m hearing is lies.”
“It’s not a lie,” Lee sneers.
“Sure it’s not. You might be able to fool yourself, but you can’t fool me, jackass. I know you drink, but not like this.” I raise the bottle, then take a long gulp and chug back the rest. The alcohol burns a path of anger and despair down my throat.
“The only jackass I see is you. And nothing is wrong. Everything is perfectly fine.”
“Really?” I blink at him, wondering if he really expects me to believe that.
He shrugs. “Oh, before I forget to tell you, you need to prepare yourself for an engagement party.”
Startled by his response, I nearly choke on air. “Engagement party? What the hell?” I sputter.
That playboy smile and give no shits attitude he always wears slips from his face, and his eyes take on a murderous glare.
“You heard right. Good ole Mom and Dad found someone who’s willing to marry my ass. So I guess congratulations are in order? I’m officially fucking engaged.” He leans back to lie flat on the counter and snags another bottle from the other end.
I'm still trying to make my brain process what he told me. “Wait, you mean your parents arranged a marriage for you? And not only threatened it but have followed through?”
He nods and twists the plastic off the top of the bottle with his teeth.
I snatch it from him before he fucking hurts himself and pull the cork out by the small wood disk on the top. Then, even though I shouldn't, I hand it back to him. He’s going through shit, and if he needs one night to drink his sorrows away I’m going to give him that.
He hmms as he takes a long pull, and most sloshes onto the counter since he's still mostly lying flat, only lifting his head enough to sip the dark liquor.
“Look, I don’t know what I can do to help, but I’m here. Whatever you need.”
Lee nods, but there’s a faraway look in his eyes that I don’t like, telling me he doesn’t really hear anything I’m saying.
“Don’t worry your little head about me. I’ve already come up with a resolution for my parents' perfectly-constructed plan. They’ll never see it coming either.” His smile sends shivers down my spine. It’s that of a cross between a psychopath and a child who just won a year's worth of candy. In other words, it’s downright terrifying.
“Don’t fuck up your entire life for a little revenge, Lee.”
God, I’m such a hypocrite.
“Oh, I’m not. Now enough about me. Where did that little maid of yours go?” Lee asks, through small sips.