Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(38)

“I apologize, sir.” Trent is instantly chaste.

His big mouth and huge ego are going to get him in a world of trouble some day. Even the elite can’t tame his recklessness. And he clearly hasn’t gotten over my betrayal. Which is rich considering he was boning any female with a pulse.

I need to watch out for him.

He’s still baying for my blood.

“My joke was in bad taste.” Trent plasters a soft look on his face, as if he once held affection for me, which is fucking laughable. “Abby and I broke off our engagement because we realized we weren’t right for one another. I’m happy for her and Charles.” A wicked glint glistens in his eye as his gaze meets mine. “They wholeheartedly deserve one another.”

Man, he’s such an idiot. He almost recovered there. But everyone heard that insult.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Kai says, his lips pulling up at one corner. He lifts his glass. “I propose a toast.” I give him the stink-eye, and there’s zero acting involved. “To the happy couple. May they have a long and happy marriage.”

I know he’s talking about us, and it helps erase my little burst of anger.

“To the happy couple,” everyone choruses, but it’s as fake as the tits sitting awkwardly on my chest.

Charlie is like a poker beside me, and I guess he’s having murderous thoughts about Kai.

But, honestly, who the fuck knows what Charlie is thinking?

“Thank you, Kaiden. That means a lot to me.” Charlie clasps my face gently, forcing my gaze to his. “Because I’ve loved Abby my entire life, and I’ve wanted this for a long time.” He sends a surreptitious look at Kaiden. “Abby and I were always destined to be together.” Then he claims my lips in a passionate kiss that is a deliberate F-you to both Kaiden and Trent.

I want to wrench my lips away, but I can’t.

When we break apart, I force my gaze to Kaiden’s, offering him a smirk, because that’s how the game is played. I’m sick to the pit of my stomach, but I do what needs to be done. His glass is empty and he’s gripping the side of the table so hard it’s a wonder he has any nails left.

The rest of dinner continues along the same vein. Tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Kai and I trade barbs every now and then, but I do my best to avoid looking at him. I can’t stomach watching Giselle paw at my man and listening to her giggling at whatever he’s whispering in her ear. I’ve got nail marks in my thighs and a twisted knot in my stomach. I push food around my plate, barely forcing anything down. Every muscle in my body is strained, and I wish time would speed up instead of how it appears to be slowing down.

Alessandra has been remarkably quiet, but I’m watching her. And she’s taking it all in. Building a profile of everyone, like I would do in her shoes, and that makes me nervous. I don’t like her or trust her.

She’s up to something.

As if we needed any other curveballs, but my brother’s new fiancée is definitely someone we need to watch out for.

I make a mental note to add her and the other two girls to the list for Chad and the crew. I need to do some digging into their backgrounds.

When Kai starts feeding Giselle some of his dessert, I have officially reached my limit. My chair screeches as I abruptly stand. “Excuse me.” I smile at the table, purposely ignoring Kai and Giselle. “I need to use the bathroom.”

“Are you feeling ill again?” the bastard asks in a deliberate dig, and it takes colossal willpower not to launch myself over the table at him.

“No. I just need to freshen up.”

“If you say so.”

I want to ram my fist in his face and wipe that superior look off it.

“I’ll come with,” Shandra says, pushing her chair back and ignoring Trent’s look of displeasure.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” I say, leaning down and kissing Charlie firmly on the lips.

“There’s no rush.” He takes my hand, bringing it to his mouth and planting a soft kiss on the back of my hand.

Rick coughs to disguise a snort while Kai gags, and Giselle predictably giggles. She’s hanging off his every word, and I hate her with a passion unrivaled.

I ignore them, giving Shandra a tight grin as she joins me. We walk tall as we exit the room, but the instant I’m outside, my shoulders slump as all the stress I’ve been holding inside makes a bid for freedom.

“Oh my God, Abby,” Shandra whispers, grabbing hold of my arm. “What the fuck is going on?”

I cast my eyes up at the camera, and she nods, understanding it immediately. Shandra Farrell is one of the smartest girls in school for a reason.

When we reach the bathroom, I pull her in with me. “Fuck my life.” I shouldn’t let my guard down around her. She is Trent’s fiancée after all. But I honestly don’t think she’s into him. Anyway, even if she is on his side, I fucking need to vent. I plant my hands on the edge of the sink, looking at the strain on my face in the mirror.

“Abby.” She grips my elbow, and when I turn to her, naked fear is written all over her face. “Please tell me we’re on some crazy reality show and some dude is going to pop out and yell surprise at any minute, because if that is not the truth, if that”—she flings her hands in the direction of the dining room—“is actually our reality, then you might as well just kill me now.”