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Instead, I say, “Fine. But it has to be quick.”
He wraps a hand around my waist. “It’ll last as long as I want it to.”
His lips meet mine, parting them. I place a hand on his shoulder, hiding my cringe as he runs his tongue across my bottom lip.
It doesn’t matter. It’s just a kiss. And it’s not like you haven’t kissed him before.
Tristan presses me closer to him, deepening the kiss. Forcing out a moan that’s hopefully convincing, I follow his lead. Maybe if I act like I’m enjoying it, he’ll end it sooner.
Finally, he pulls away, still holding me. “You taste better than I ever could’ve remembered.”
I yank his arm away from me. “Now leave me alone.”
As I storm past him, blinking back tears, he grabs my arm. “Not so fast, my love. Smile.” He nods to a potted plant sitting on a table. Resting against it is a phone. “You’re on camera.”
Fuck. So this is his plan? Frame me for cheating, and then send Xander the evidence? Clever, I guess.
I widen my eyes, glancing between Tristan and the phone. I have to keep this believable.
“He’ll never know what hit him,” Tristan says, stalking toward the phone. Once it’s in his hands, he smirks. “However, there’s been a slight change to the plan.”
“Tristan, please. Don’t do this.”
“I’ve already set everything into motion, my dear. Your Alexander has been getting in my way too much lately. So I’ve given him something to keep his time and thoughts occupied. Since, you know, you won’t be anymore.”
My heart sinks. No. “What are you talking about?”
Tristan steps forward, caressing my face. “If I were you, I’d go spend every precious second you have with your love. Because in a few hours, he’ll be in jail. One down, three more to go.”
Jail. Xander. No. No, no, no. “What the hell? I did what you asked. You told me you wouldn’t do this.”
“Did I?” Tristan laughs. “Well, it’s quite simple. I lied.”
“Soph?” Xander’s voice floats through the house.
With a smirk, Tristan loops an arm around my waist. In my ear, he says, “You played your part well, Sophia. I wanted to draw this out longer, but your boyfriend had to fuck things up.”
Xander steps into the room and freezes. His eyes rest on Tristan’s hand on my waist, holding me close. And while his face is unreadable, it does nothing to soothe my nerves.
“Oops,” Tristan says, releasing me. “Looks like your real boyfriend is here. I’ll see you later, love.” He brushes past Xander with a smirk.
For a moment, Xander and I just stare at each other. Then he steps forward, brushing his fingers down my arm. “Are you okay?”
“You need to leave.” The words come out of my mouth before I’ve even fully processed them.
Xander frowns. “What?”
“Tristan, he has something on you. He said he’s getting you arrested. Today. Can you leave the country or something? Xander, what does he have on you? What’s going on?”
Grabbing his arms, I stare up into his eyes. Soft, brown, comforting—that’s what I was hoping to find. Instead, they’re hard and cold. Calculating.
Xander may have only come back into my life a couple weeks ago, but I’ll be damned if I lose him. And as I watch him, it’s like I’m transported back to senior year. To the last time he treated me with warmth before all he gave me was that cold, hard stare.
“Xander,” I whisper.
He runs a hand through my hair. “I meant what I said earlier. No matter what happens, we’ll be okay. Just trust me. Okay?”
I gulp, and my fingers tighten around his arms. But I nod, watching him, hoping for a spark of warmth or love or compassion.
