Chapter 5

Ethan’s throat bobbed. He quickly downed a massive gulp of his drink.

"Zach, you’re drunk. What kind of BS question is that?"

He tried to brush it off.

But the chanting around the table only grew louder.

Ethan’s expression grew more and more strained.

He didn't look at me. Not once.

"Alright, guys, stop it," he muttered.

Serena, however, wasn't letting it go. She giggled and wrapped her arm tightly around Ethan’s.

"Don't be mad, Ethan. Zach’s just curious."

She turned her gaze to me.

"Chloe, don't blame them, okay? We’ve known Ethan since we were kids. We joke around like this all the time."

"Unlike you. I bet you’ve never even stepped foot in a cool bar like this before, right?"

As soon as she said that, the entire booth burst into laughter.

Ethan said absolutely nothing. He just picked up his glass and took another drink.

Tyler stood up, swaying slightly with a full pint of beer in his hand.

"Hey, Chloe, let me buy you a drink. Don't be mad, alright?"

As he spoke, his foot "slipped."

The entire glass of ice-cold beer poured directly over my head.

My white dress was instantly soaked through, clinging to my skin.

"Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Chloe! It was a total accident!"

He apologized with his mouth, but his eyes were gleaming with cruel amusement.

Ethan frowned slightly. "Tyler, what the hell?"

His tone was completely flat, lacking any actual reprimand.

My stomach churned with disgust. I couldn't stand looking at them for another second.

"Have fun. I'm going back."

I spun around to leave.

As I passed Serena, a foot slyly shot out.

I tripped and pitched forward, my knees slamming hard against the wooden deck.

The pain was so sharp that my vision went black for a second.

"Oh my gosh, Chloe!"

Serena shrieked dramatically.

Ethan frowned.

"Why can't you watch where you’re going?"

He bent down, attempting to help me up.

"Don't touch me."

I slapped his hand away, pushing myself up off the ground.

Zach, the loyal lapdog, jumped in to smooth things over again.

"Since Chloe had a little fall, let's play a game to make it up to her!"

The empty bottle spun rapidly on the table.

Finally, it stopped, pointing directly at me.

Serena clapped her hands in delight.

"Chloe! How about you crawl around the table on all fours like a little dog and bark twice? We’ll call it even, okay?"

Everyone at the table stared at me like they were watching a circus act.

I looked at Ethan.

His eyes darted away. His face was filled with anxiety—not for me, but because he was terrified I would make a scene and embarrass him.

"Babe," he coaxed gently.

"It’s just a game. Don't take it so seriously."

"Just do it so we can move on."

They wanted me to crawl on the floor like an animal to entertain this trash?

I picked up a full glass of wine from the table and downed it.

"I don't crawl."

Serena’s smile faded. She pouted, tugging at Ethan’s arm.

"Ethan, look at her. She’s such a buzzkill."

Then, her eyes flicked toward the small stage in the center of the bar.

"Well, how about Chloe goes up on stage and dances for us instead? That counts too."

"With a body like yours, Chloe, I bet it’ll be a real show."

On stage, several scantily clad women were dancing provocatively.

I heard her whisper to Zach in a voice she clearly intended for me to hear.

"Look at her acting all high and mighty with that resting bitch face."

"Today, I'm going to make sure she knows exactly who belongs by Ethan's side."

Zach chuckled.

"Good one. Let’s see her act classy now."

So that was the plan.

I slowly turned my head and looked at Ethan.

He was whispering something back to Serena, a soft, indulgent smile on his face.

He didn't even notice me looking.

To him, I was probably just some uptight, annoying chore.

I reached down, picked up a glass overflowing with red wine, and started walking toward the stage.

Thinking I had surrendered, Serena let out a triumphant smirk.

"Glad you came to your senses, Chloe! Go ahead, we’re all waiting!"