Page 56 of The Stalker Snafu

“Not now?” I echoed in disbelief, knuckles turning white from clutching the tray. “When I came over here, I wanted to knock you over the head with this snail tray. I don’t really think you’re in a place to decide when!”

“Emma—”

“Why aren’t you in New York? Why’d you lie to me?” I asked, my voice rising over the lilting piano music and chatter. “What else are you lying about?”

Noah shot forward, grabbing my free arm and spinning me around until he was ushering me away from the crowd. “Let’s go find somewhere more private⁠—”

“Don’t touch me,” I growled, jerking out of his grasp. The move sent a couple snails flying off the tray, and my composure snapped like a rubber band.

Balancing dead snails was my one job right now, and I couldn’t even do that right!

I lost it. Just absolutely lost it.

When Noah’s hand found my arm again, I flung the rest of the snails aside before swinging the tray at his head. “You’re a liar!”

He ducked, but the tray ricocheted off his shoulder. Vibrations traveled up my arms, and I pulled back for another swing⁠—

—but steel arms wrapped around my chest from behind, and a taller body dragged me further away from the growing crowd. The move knocked the tray out of my arms, and it spun toward the ground.

“All right, that’s enough of that,” Julian said tersely against my head, his chest like a brick wall against my back.

I struggled against his hold and glared daggers at Noah. He straightened, brushing off the sleeves of his tux and walking over to join us. His fingers flexed at his sides. “Let her go, Julian.”

Julian laughed humorlessly, then responded through clenched teeth. “I’m a little busy trying to save your ass, man. Go handle it.”

The more they spoke, the more confused I got, but Noah didn’t move. He cleared his throat and nodded toward me. “I need to talk to Emma first.”

“Screw that. You don’t have time,” Julian said, and I flinched at the bite in his words. I tried wedging my hands under his arms for leverage, but he didn’t budge. His voice lowered. “Now isn’t the time to go soft. Remember what’s on the line.”

“Excuse me?” I asked, wiggling against Julian’s hold. For a vet student, he was stronger than he looked. “Can somebody explain what the heck is going on? And get off me, Julian!”

He didn’t listen. If anything, his arms tightened. Noah stepped closer, and I stiffened against his friend, but he just dropped his voice to a whisper. “He knows her name.”

“So do what you do best and fix it,” Julian shot back.

“Emma?” Teresa’s voice called in concern from further off, and I twisted in Julian’s arms until he let me look over our shoulders to see her. She jogged closer, weaving through the party and passing Santiago walking toward us with his glass of scotch, before she stopped at my side. Her wide eyes took in Julian and his hold on me. “Should I get security?”

Julian followed her gaze, and his arms jerked away like he’d been shocked. I staggered away from him, rubbing at my arms and embracing my newfound freedom. But I froze when my gaze fell on the gathered crowd. By now, over a dozen partygoers were watching our lovers’ spat, and a couple had their phones out recording.

I couldn’t care less, but Julian scratched the back of his head, chuckling weakly before raising his voice. “They sure do take the ‘two appetizers at a time’ limit seriously here, don’t they?”

Nobody laughed, but Santiago’s brow rose.

Teresa reached for my arm and shot a glare at Julian. Her eyes were deadly serious when they met mine, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “I just spoke to the boss, and we’re okay to leave. You want to get out of here?”

I blinked back at her. Did I want to go? I thought about it, looking toward Noah, but he was focused on Julian.

“Let me take you back to the dorms, Emma. Okay? Let’s go home.” Teresa spoke softly, pulling me backward.

I couldn’t think of a reason to stay. Being here wasn’t helping. It only hurt.

“Fine. You want me to leave, Noah? I’m leaving,” I said, admitting defeat. There was no winning here. I spared him another glance, forcing a smile that felt hollow. “Congratulations.”

And when I turned to follow Teresa, I didn’t look back. Noah didn’t say anything, either, and the guests slowly dispersed back to their mingling now that the show was over.

I hoped I hadn’t ruined Oliver’s party.

It was a long walk as I forced my legs to keep moving toward Teresa’s car, down a private street filled with outlandish mansions and luxury cars. Moonlight highlighted the remnants of dead snails clinging to my shirt, but I really couldn’t find it in myself to care.