Chapter 7
“Good.”
Millie ordered two crates of beer. “Drink. Now.“]
I was busy murdering a love song into the mic when the beer avalanche caught my eye.
Dropping the microphone, I squinted at Millie:[]
“Since when do I need to drown sorrows? Not like I got dumped.”
She answered by cracking open two bottles–shoved one into my hand.[]
Less yapping, more chugging. We ride till wheels fall off.“[]
My refusal died when she flashed a text: “Designated driver secured.”
That’s how tequila shots started tasting like freedom.
Through a crack in the door, I saw Josh kiss Isla. My chest twinged with a ghost of the pain I used to feel.
Millie just smirked and started texting furiously.
Blissfully clueless, I dove back into the mic, drowning in my own echo.[]
Then the door burst open–and there he stood.]
A face from some half–remembered dream, all sharp angles and heartbreak charm.
I spun around. The room tilted. Stumbled.[]
He closed the distance in three strides, grip steadying my arm:]
“Gonna blow? Think you can walk?”
My brain swam in syrup. I squinted through the haze:
“Do I know you?“]
“Yes. I’m Zachary Cooper. He smiled.]
Zachary Cooper.
Zachary Cooper?||
Tireworks exploded behind my eyelids.[]
Zachary Cooper. The campus Adonis who’d asked me out ten times. Ten rejections.[]
Isla’s favorite punchline: “Your supposed soulmate!”
Sobriety hit like ice water. I wrenched my arm free, stepping back like he carried the plague.
I shot Millie a death glare.
She bolted. [
“My dad’s on my ass! Gotta go! Bye!“}]
Some synth–pop dirge kept whining through the speakers.[]
Strobe lights assaulted my eyes.
Slumped on the couch, I pressed palms over my burning face.
Zachary crouched to eye–level. His voice cut through the bass thump:]
“Are you OK?”
I didn’t answer. My accusation came out slurred but sharp:]
“So Millie’s sudden return… this whole drinking ambush…“]
“My orders.“[]
There it was.
He left the rest hanging.
His eyes were clear and direct, with no hidden secrets.
But my head was all static–a broken radio tuning between stations.
How do you respond when the past crashes your pity party?]
I scrambled for words that wouldn’t come.
As he was driving me home, Josh charged at our car. “Get your hands off her, Zach!”
I shoved Zachary behind me.]
Josh jerked back like I’d burned him. His voice cracked with disbelief
“Vivian! You’re sluelding him?||
I’m your fucking boyfriend! Shielding some outsidert“]
I ignored him, locking onto Zachary’s wrist:]
“Take me home. Now.”
Dude T
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest:
“My pleasure.”
As we passed Josh, his murderous glare seared my skin.[]
I stared straight ahead–not a flicker of acknowledgment.
Our figures blurred at the corridor’s end when his roar shattered the music:
“Vivian! Give me one more chance to crawl back to you, and I’m a goddamn dog!”
