“Oh, why don’t you go fuck your girlfriend?” My steps hastened so I could stay away from him and continue my search.

Behind the next door was a couple of people who passed out naked. Again, gross. Where the fuck was I?

“Hey,” Brent growled, grabbing my wrist. “I’m here to help you.”

I snatched my wrist back from him and turned around without a response to keep looking on my own. Fuck his help. Fuck him.

“Fuck.” The rooms upstairs showed nothing, and I stomped down the hallway to look for her downstairs. She had to be somewhere.

“Fallon.”

I sidestepped him. “No.”

He moved to block me and evaded my attempt to shove him away easily. I didn’t want to be anywhere near him because I felt icky. Everything felt icky. I wanted to find Kelly and just get out of here, even for a few minutes to breathe before we had to trudge on with the rest of the night. I didn’t want to be at the stupid party or afterparty and I sure as hell didn’t want to be the Fallon Montgomery.

My wrists were trapped in his grip. He bent down to meet my eyes. “Let. Me. Help. You.”

“No.” I thrashed against his grip.

He didn’t budge.

Stupid man strength.

“Are you mad at me?” His tone was teasing, and his expression became dangerous.

“Brent. So help me God, let me go right now.” I used as much force as I could to yank my hands downward to get him to release me. No one would put their hands on me ever again.

He released and showed me his hands. “Fine. Now what?”

Anger grew inside me. He acted like he didn’t know me, sure. That made sense considering we were dealing with a lot more than just a simple hookup. Being seen with him moments after the tabloidal drama with Garrett was not something I wanted anyway. But to kiss her in front of me was such a brutal move. It showed he really didn’t care like he said he did.

“Find Kelly. Get to the next stupid fucking party. That’s it. You want to help? That’s all I want from you and nothing more.” I pushed past him to get downstairs and out to the backyard.

The sea of people awaited me and keeping my head down was going to be an impossible task. I didn’t want them to see me and act like a bunch of starved piranhas, but it was inevitable with my face embedded into their minds in the current climate. Phones were out and a few snapping pictures and calling things out to me. Those pictures would end up on social media, on some random headline, and worst of all, Evans’ desk.

Ignoring them and their chatter, I started texting Kelly.

Me: Kel we need to get to afterparty now