“It was fine,” I reply simply.

“Fine?” Jace questions. “You know I broke two school records?”

“I vaguely remember something about that being announced.”

“If you weren’t going to pay attention, why did you even bother going?” Jace asks, his voice angry now.

“Maybe I wanted to make sure you hadn’t gotten hit by a car,” I retort, and immediately regret the words. Another thing I wasn’t going to mention.

“What are you talking about?” Jace looks confused. “Why—” Understanding dawns on his face.

There’s suddenly a new influx of people into the dining room, and the commotion they cause interrupts the progress of the third game entirely. Each new arrival looks over to Jace as they enter the room, and I quickly realize it’s his presence drawing everyone into here.

One of the guys who’s just entered comes over and asks Jace something. I quickly seize the opportunity to escape, standing and grabbing my empty cup. I’m relieved to find I can stand without the room spinning, although I can still feel the alcohol coursing through my veins, making my movements feel sluggish.

Anderson looks over to me as I stand.

“I’m going to find Katie and Philip,” I tell him.

He nods, and I walk toward the kitchen. I have no idea how much time has passed since I started playing poker, but it’s certainly been a lot longer than I expected Philip to have allowed me out of his sight.

As soon as I enter the kitchen, I realize why. Philip is leaning against the wall that runs along the edge of the doorway, providing him with a clear vantage point of the entire dining room. Katie stands beside him, talking to a smiling girl with light brown hair I’ve never seen before. Katie smiles when she spots me approaching and waves me over to where they’re standing.

I see her eyes widen in surprise, which is the only warning I receive before a calloused hand grabs my bare forearm.

I’m spun around, and almost collide with Jace’s tall frame. We’re only a few inches apart, standing close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body and spot a small freckle just beneath his bottom lip. I thought his proximity was potent before, but it was nothing compared to now.

“Are you leaving?” he asks me quietly.

“Isn’t that what you want?” I counter.

“No, I—shit.” Jace rakes a hand through his short, dark hair. “I didn’t think you cared, okay? We’ve had extra practices this week, and—”

Our conversation is suddenly interrupted.

“Let’s go, Vivienne,” Philip states, appearing next to me and standing there protectively. I don’t reply, continuing to hold Jace’s probing gaze. I start to feel light-headed from the intensity.

“Vivienne.” Philip says again, his voice more insistent. We’re standing within clear view of everyone in the dining room, and I tear my eyes away from Jace’s to see most of them are watching our silent stand-off.

I start to turn away from Jace, and as I do, my foot catches on the edge of the throw rug I’ve been standing on. I tip forward. My stomach experiences a sickening jolt as the wooden floor draws closer.