Cursed Love

Unraveled Tensions

AURORA.

The audacity. Showing up like that after his little stunt, unannounced, after everything. Looking like sin in a button-down and jeans, his blue eyes gleaming. It should be illegal for the Scott men to look that good. You can hate their hearts but not that annoyingly gorgeous face. But society demands its arrogant rich asshole boys to act up or they just wouldn't fit in.

The coffee was being brewed in the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting around. My nerves were already frayed, and the sight of him set my pulse racing. "Get. Out. Ryan." I refused to meet those piercing eyes, I kept staring at the remote instead.

Just give me a chance to apologize. There's nothing with Sarah and me. I promise." An eye roll I heard more than saw.

He set down the remote, the clicking sound echoing in the tense silence. I felt a hand on my shoulder, its warmth seeping through my shirt. Large. Warm. Solid. Like him. I stilled, a shiver running through me.

"She's missing, Ryan. Where'd you take her? Last I checked, she was all over you." The words were out before I could stop them, an accusation that hung in the air between us. His thumb traced my jaw, tilting my chin up until I had no choice but to meet his gaze.

"We were just...talking. Then I left to find you." As if that explained anything. Not that I needed one. The jealous girlfriend act was getting fucking exhausting. I shrugged off his hand, putting some distance between us.

"What are you hiding?" Exhaustion and frustration crept into my voice.

He pulled me close again, pulse racing as he leaned in, his minty breath mingling with mine. His eyes bored into me, it felt so much like ocean fire and ice, as he brushed back a stray of my dirty blonde hair.

"I'd never lie to you, Rory. Stop snooping around." A warning in his tone, the one I chose to ignore.

"Yeah? Humor me. And I wasn't snooping. I just happened to be there. Now, Leave." My tone grew defiant. The trance broke as I came back to my senses. A moment of weakness. I wouldn't be so easily swayed. He walked out the door, the slam echoing in the now silent room, leaving me alone with my chaotic thoughts.

I grabbed my phone, fingers trembling as I dialed the one person who could keep me sane now. He answered right away...

"Where the hell have you been?" Rick's yelling voice pierced my eardrum. I pulled the phone away, wincing.

"Well, hello to you too. I've already had a shitty 18 hours, so suck it up, Rick." I said calmly, though my head was pounding.

"The local PD was loitering by your apartment. And your phone went straight to voicemail!" Panic laced Rick's tone.

My stomach clenched at his words. "They wanted to know if I was with my boyfriend last night when Sarah went missing."

"And you said?"

"That, I was with him." I murmured, I hate lying to Rick but it's not like I had a choice. I knew Ryan wasn't cheating but he and Sarah clearly had unfinished business. I had to figure things out myself before involving anyone else.

"Jesus, Rory, you just gave him a fake alibi!"

"I know what I'm doing, Rick. After putting him in this situation, it's only fair." My lips twitched but there was no humor in this situation. I twisted a lock of hair around my finger nervously.

"Does he know the PD asked you?"

"The local PD begged me not to tell the Scotts that they approached me about his whereabouts. You know how it rolls around, Rick. They just want their golden boy in the clear without even looking into it." Bitterness saturated each word.