#Chapter 10: Boyfriend

Aria Darren’s arm tightened around my waist. His body felt like a warm rock up against me, soothing and sturdy. Without even really meaning to, I leaned into his side. I was glad he had come—glad that this hadn’t gone somewhere much, much darker. But the things he was saying now… Baby. Boyfriend. Surely, he was only doing it to get Jackson to leave me alone, and yet… A small part of me couldn’t help but hope that those words were coming from somewhere deeper within him. Jackson sputtered, swaying from the alcohol. His eyes, those soft brown eyes that I’d once thought I was in love with, seemed to turn black as coal as he looked at me. “You really are a little slut, aren’t you?” I felt my heart stop in my chest, hot tears instantly pricking at the corners of my eyes. “I…. I’m not…” I hated the way my voice sounded so small, so vulnerable. Jackson had hit a nerve, and he knew it. But Darren, cool as ever, simply tugged me tighter agai