Page 101 of Twisted Truth

Someone calls Jared’s name, and he says his goodbyes to Ella and Drew, ignoring me, and turns and walks away.

I tug Ella after me and start to move toward the theater. As soon as we’re inside, I pull her down a deserted hallway.

“What the hell was that?” I growl as soon as we’re far enough away to be out of earshot of the other guests.

“What was what?”

“You, flirting with Jared Aiken.”

“I didn’t flirt with him.”

“You smiled and simpered, and practically threw yourself at him.”

“I smiled because it’s polite. I didn’t simper. And I definitely didn’t throw myself at him!”

I let out a derisive laugh. “You did.” I take a step toward her, and she backs up until she’s pressed against the wall. I lift my arms and place them on either side of her shoulders, trapping her in. I lean down and speak low in her ear. “And let me beveryclear, Ella—I didn’t like it.”

I notice people at the entrance of the hallway stop to look at us. They won’t be regular people like the crowd outside, they’ll be people affiliated with the film or guests, but I still don’t like their presence. I don’t want them wondering what we’re doing alone, pressed against the wall of the empty hallway while everyone else files into the theater. I don’t need any more bad press about Ella and me.

So I take matters into my own hands.

I crash my lips against Ella’s. She lets out a small sound ofsurprise before placing her hands on my chest, and I move my hands from the wall to grip her waist. I feel her start to push me away, but I growl against her lips, then I move my mouth to just below her ear.

“There are people watching us, behave.”

Her hands stop pushing against my chest, and instead move up to my shoulders.

“Are they gone?” she asks a moment later.

“Not yet. But we’re also not done.”

“Yes, we are.”

“No, we’re not. You don’t get to flirt with other men, Ella.” I give her earlobe a nip. “And you certainly don’t get to do it in front of me.”

“What’s the big problem, anyway? The last time we went out, you wouldn’t even look at me. It’s not as if you suddenly care.”

She skirts away and moves to the center of the hallway. She notices the people who keep shooting glances our way, and she looks back at me, giving me a fake-for-the-sake-of-the-people-watching-us smile and holds out her hand.

“This isn’t over,” I say as I take her hand and walk with her back into the theater’s main lobby.

Sittingthrough the film is a test of all my fucking patience. For two reasons. One, the film is not great. I hope Drew finds a better screenwriter for the next one, if there is a next one, because the film is cheesy and predictable. And two, because of the woman beside me.

Ella’s legs are crossed, and that damn slit in her dress leaves her leg entirely exposed. And this stupid movie is not captivating enough to keep my attention off that bare fucking thigh right next to me. I’m inordinately pissed that I both want herand view her as mine, all while knowing I can’t have her and that she’s not really mine.

I hate the feeling.

And if this was real, would she have flirted with Jared? Or was that only an option for her because we’re not in a real relationship? Ella’s indifference toward me and her ability to interact and charm everyone else is pissing me off.

I run my hand over her knee, and since she’s mastered the art of being wholly unaffected by me tonight, she doesn’t even acknowledge the touch. I grind my teeth.

No one on the outside would recognize that she’s mostly ignoring me, but she is, and I’ve had enough. I don’t even know what I’m doing. It’s not like I can take her and fuck her right here in the theater. But I hate being ignored.

I run my hand up her thigh. Now she flinches slightly and looks at me.

Good.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, her eyes narrowed.