Jace sighed, claiming my attention once again. "Who are you going with?"
"That's really none of your business."
"Then, where are you going, Olivia?" He growled. I could almost picture his jaw tense and his perfect teeth clench. God, he was beautiful even in my minds eye.
"I have to go."
"Don't you dare hang up on me." He warned. "I will find you, Olivia."
"Don't threaten me." I spoke under my breath. I was afraid Trey would hear me and take my words out of context. I cringed thinking of the outcome that would undoubtedly be bad.
"Do not test me, Olivia." His words were quiet. "You do not know what I am capable of."
"You're right, I don't know." I whispered.
"I will see you tonight." Jace said, confidently, before he hung up. I held the phone to my ear for a long moment as I tried to process his cryptic words.
I might not understand Jace, but I fully understood the fact that he believed I would bend to his demands. I might have given over to him in his bedroom...but this was more than just a fantasy. This was real life. This was my life, and I was not about to let him dictate it.
I had worked hard to break away from egotistical men who believed they owned every woman who crossed their path, and I know, my life is my own, for the first time in twenty-two years. And, now that I was finally in control, I was forced to face Jace. If one of us was coming out on top...it would be me.
I looked across the room to Trey and smiled as flirtatiously as I could. I knew this was wrong on so many levels, but I was fueled by something foreign to me, and I hadn't yet learned how to control the reins. I took a step toward Trey, and then another, and another, until I was standing before him. He watched me with an almost cautious burn in the depths of his eyes.
"Is the invite for Italian still on?" I asked.
He nodded. "When do you want to go?"
"How about tonight?" I proposed hopefully.
"Sounds good." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. I knew he was aware of my reasoning for wanting to go out with him. I could only hope he didn't call me on it.
"Great. I'm going to go home to get ready." I flashed a smile. "Pick me up at seven?"
Trey nodded. "See you at seven."
***
"So, let me get this straight," Trisha paused to glare at me from the end of my bed where she sat with her legs crossed as I rummaged through my closet on the hunt for something appropriate and comfortable. "You spent last night in Jace's bed...but, you are going to go out with Trey tonight?"
"Yup." I pulled a cute little chiffon dress from the closet. "What do you think about this one?"
She shook her head. "I already told you, I like what you're wearing."
I put the dress back with a sigh. "Fine. I'll wear this." I glanced once more at my image in the mirror. I wore a white summer dress that ended just above my knees. I wanted to get as much as I could out of the summer season before it dwindled into fall. I really disliked fall. It was beautiful, but I liked the daylight, and fall was just the beginning of the end of long sunny days.
"I don't really understand why you are going out with Trey, when you aren't interested in him." Trisha said tensely.
I turned to face her. "I will make it clear to him, I'm only going as a friend."
"You will?" She raised a disbelieving brow and I nodded exuberantly. Trisha knew me well. I was not one to lead someone on...but, I still hated the idea of hurting someone. "Then you won't mind me crashing?"
I narrowed my eyes. "You want to come?"
She nodded. "Absolutely."
"Why?"
She stood and walked to my closet, pulling a black satin dress from a hanger. "Because, someone has to be there to kiss away poor Trey's wounds when you shatter his hopes."
I shook my head. "I am not going to wound him."
"Yes, you will." Trisha argued. "You are so caught up in the world of Jace Rush, you can't even see how affected Trey is by you."
"He is not affected by me." I frowned. "He's just tempted by the challenge I present."
"Keep telling yourself that, but Jace Rush has you wrapped around his finger." Trisha slipped out of her jeans and tank top before stepping into my dress. I rolled my eyes.
"I don't want to talk about Jace tonight." I said flatly.
"You want to do so much more than talk about Jace." She waggled her brows at me and I blushed.
"Oh. My. God." Her eyes widened. "You do want him again!"
"Trisha," I warned. "Let it go."
"Absolutely not. No can do, sister." She followed me into the hallway as Moo-moo weaved through my feet on his way to my bedroom. "Why don't you just call him back and tell him you'll meet him?"