Falling for the Fire

Chapter 15

On the night of the party, I stood in my room and slowly got ready. I did not want to go to this.

I knew that I was going to see Owen and Eliana together, and the thought of it made me sick. It hadn't been that long since he cheated on me with her, and I was not mentally prepared to be in the same room with them.

I stepped into my dress and pulled the zipper up the back, looking in the mirror before I left. At least I was going to look good while I was miserable.

Dealing with Owen and Eliana was one thing, but I knew that Brooklyn would be in the equation as well. I had no idea if she would be bringing anyone, or if she would be free to annoy me all night.

She hadn't been quite as pushy since our near yelling match that we'd had not long ago, but she still couldn't seem to accept many of my ideas. Since we would be discussing some of the vendors that were there tonight, I was sure that she'd keep things interesting.

When I got to the party, there was already a large crowd that had formed. I looked around and didn't see many people that I knew yet, and I was starting to wish that I would've brought Avery with me.

My eyes scanned the room as I walked further in, and it wasn't long before they met Owen's. Of course.

I watched as his gaze went slowly up my body, and it wasn't until Eliana grabbed his hand that he looked away. I wanted to tell him that he didn't have the right to look at me that way anymore, but this wasn't the place.

I went up to them, wanting to get the awkward greeting over with, when Brooklyn appeared at Eliana's side.

I stopped briefly, taking in the tight dress that she was wearing and her blonde hair swept over her shoulder.

Shit, what was I doing?

I quickly looked down at the floor and walked the rest of the way up to them.

"Hey guys," I said as I fidgeted awkwardly with my hands.

"Oh hello Ariana," Elle said as a smug smile came across her face.

God I couldn't fucking stand her. She wrapped her arm around Owen's waist and her grip on him tightened.

"Hey Ari," Owen said as he gave me a slight grin.

I could barely acknowledge him before I turned away.

Brooklyn had been turned around talking to someone else when she heard our uncomfortable greetings.

"Hi Ariana, are you -" she stopped abruptly when she faced us again.

The quick glance up and down my body wasn't lost on me before she cleared her throat and met my gaze.

"Hi," she said again, "are you ready to visit some of the vendors?"

I shifted my stance uncomfortably and felt my pulse start to quicken after the look that she had just given me. I hated that she was having this effect on me, but it was involuntary at this point.

Just because she was still the same bitchy coworker I had to deal with didn't mean that I couldn't admit that she was hot. And anyone looking at me like she just had would've been enough to send shivers up my spine.

It was obvious that we still needed to have a conversation.

I shook the thoughts out of my head and realized that I still hadn't responded to her.

"Yes," I finally said, "sorry."

I caught Owen looking at me again before we all started to walk around the large room.

We discussed a few things as we went, but I tried to keep my mouth shut for the most part. I was making a mental note of everything, but I wasn't in the mood to argue with Eliana or Brooklyn.

After a while, I had escaped the three of them for a bit and gone off on my own.

I was enjoying the peace and quiet when I felt a hand on the small of my back. I nearly jumped, and when I turned around to see who it was, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Alec," I muttered as I shook his hand away from me.

"Hey Ari," he grinned, "you look like you need some company."

"I don't," I quickly said.

Alec Connelly was fairly well known at most of these events, but it wasn't because he was good at his job. It was because he was a schmoozer, and he usually tried to take a different girl home at each place he was at.

Just looking at him was giving me the creeps.

"Oh come on babe," he said, "we wouldn't want this sexy little dress to go to waste, I know what you're after."

He put his hand on my back again, just as I looked up and saw Owen, Eliana, and Brooklyn watching us. It might have been the only time that I'd been glad to see them all night.

"Not a chance in hell," I laughed as I stepped away from his grip, "my group I'm here with is right over there anyway, I need to get back to them."

"Alright fine," he sighed, "but I'll be here when you change your mind."

"I won't," I told him as I walked off.

"Alec Connelly, huh?" Eliana asked as I came up to them, "the man whore of the event planning world."

"Uhh no," I quickly responded, "I wasn't -"

"Sure you weren't," Eliana cut in, "I bet your dad would've been so proud to see you hanging around with someone like that."

My whole body immediately froze when the words came out of her mouth.

"What did you just say to me?" I asked as my fists clenched at my sides.

The smug look on her face was the only confirmation that I needed. Owen and Brooklyn looked between the two of us as I took a step closer to her.

"Don't you ever, ever, bring up my dad again," I said through clenched teeth, "understand?"

Her expression remained unchanged as I felt my hands begin to shake. There was only one way that Eliana could've possibly known about this.

Owen.

My angry gaze shifted to him and I saw him rubbing his hand over his face.

"Fuck you Owen," I said in an intent whisper, "fuck, you."

"Ari wait," he started.

I shook my head at him and quickly turned around. I rushed towards the door and stormed out without another word to anyone.

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