CHAPTER 012
1197 Words
*LEAVE. NOW*
CHAPTER TWELVE: Leave! NOW!
Tyler's POV
I needed air. Or at least a moment away from that circus at the table. Allie’s nostalgia, Megan’s sharp little jabs, and Flora showing up looking like she’d robbed a Victorian funeral home—it was too much. I excused myself and headed down the long hallway toward the private dressing rooms.
That girl.
The thought kept circling in my head. When she’d first walked up to the table in that ridiculous black velvet dress with the high collar and dark lipstick, I’d nearly laughed out loud even though it creeped the s**t out of me. She looked like a goth doll that had escaped a haunted house.
The cross necklace, the silver rings, the way she kept chewing that gum like she was trying to seduce a vampire—it was absurd.
Completely over the top.
And yet…
My mind betrayed me. Beneath all that dark makeup and dramatic lace, Flora actually looked good. The corset pushed her chest up in a way that was impossible to ignore. The dress hugged her waist and hips, accentuating curves I hadn’t fully appreciated before. She was ridiculous, yes. But she was also bold as hell.
How far is this girl willing to go?
The question intrigued me more than I wanted to admit. Most women either threw themselves at me or ran the other way. Flora kept coming back, each time with a new level of chaos. It was… entertaining. Annoying. But entertaining.
I’d noticed her following me almost immediately. Her footsteps in those heels echoed down the hallway. I slipped into one of the larger dressing rooms, leaving the door slightly ajar, and started changing out of my gala jacket. I was down to just my dress pants, chest bare, when I heard her get closer.
The moment she passed the doorway, I reached out, grabbed her arm, and yanked her inside.
Our bodies collided hard. Her chest—pushed up dramatically by that ridiculous corset l—pressed firmly against my bare torso. Her hands instinctively landed on my chest to steady herself. For a second, we were frozen like that. Lips inches apart. Her breath warm against my skin. My eyes dropped involuntarily to the way her breasts rose and fell with each quick breath.
Fuck. She smelled good.
“You like what you see?” I asked, my deep voice low and rough, a hint of amusement slipping through.
Flora flinched like I’d shocked her. She stammered, cheeks flushing beneath the pale foundation. “I— uh—I mean—” She tried to cover it with an awkward, too-loud laugh that echoed in the room. “What? No! I mean, yes? Wait, no—”
I stepped back slightly but didn’t let go of her arm, watching her with raised eyebrows. “What exactly is your problem, Flora?” I asked, my eyes scanning hers. “Why did you follow me? Ever since you crashed into my life, it’s been nothing but chaos and drama. First you reject my offer, then you show up begging, and now this?” I gestured at her outfit. “What’s even with this creepy look? You trying to summon demons or seduce me? Because it’s doing neither.”
She laughed again—loud, nervous and dramatic. “It’s fashion, Ty! Very… mysterious. Empowering. You like it?”
I crossed my arms, muscles flexing.
Flora’s expression shifted. Suddenly, she stepped closer again, pushing her chest out and placing her hand back on my chest. Her voice dropped into what I assumed was supposed to be a seductive tone. “Tyler Sinclair…I want you to be my boyfriend.”
“Uhn…what!” I took a step back, stunned by her audacity.
“I’m asking you out.” She continued, biting one edge of her lips. “Right here, right now.” She trailed her fingers down my chest slowly. “We could be so good together. Imagine me on your arm, in the stands, in your bed… I’d make it worth your while. Very worth it.”
She was bold. I’d give her that.
I caught her chin between my fingers, lifting her face so she had to look directly into my eyes. For a moment, I let the silence stretch, staring at her dark lips and wide eyes. Then I spoke, cold and final.
“Leave. Now.”
I pointed at the door.
Flora’s shoulders dropped. The flirtatious mask cracked.
“Wha—”
“LEAVE.” I repeated, still pointing at the door.
Without another word, she turned and headed for the exit, head down in shame.
The second she opened the door, a loud scream ripped from her throat.
“Ahh! What the—!”
She jumped backward so fast she nearly knocked me over, crashing straight into my chest. Her arms flew around my neck, legs wrapping around my waist as she buried her face in my shoulder, eyes squeezed shut. My hands instinctively went to her thighs to hold her up.
I looked toward the doorway. My cat sat there calmly, licking its paw.
A grin broke across my face before I could stop it. “You’re scared of cats?”
Flora’s eyes snapped open. She realized the position we were in—her body pressed against mine and quickly slid down, adjusting her dress with as much dignity as she could muster. She lifted her chin high, faking confidence.
“Well, I’m not scared,” she said, brushing imaginary dust off her velvet dress. “It just came out of nowhere. I’ll be leaving now, Ty. See you around.”
She hurried out, leaving the door open behind her.
I stood there for a long moment, still grinning, staring at the empty doorway. This girl…
Flora's POV
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the hotel curtains as I slowly woke up. The first thing I saw was Lucille’s face inches from mine, grinning widely like a Cheshire cat.
I flinched hard, nearly falling off the bed. “Jesus, Lucille! You creeped me out!”
“Really, Flora?” she asked, sitting back on her heels. “What happened yesterday? Where did you disappear to after you followed Tyler? Spill. Every detail.”
She grabbed my hand, squeezing it in anticipation. “Did it work? Did the gothic goddess plan succeed?”
I shook my head dramatically, falling back onto the pillows with a groan. “No. It was a disaster.” I covered my face with my hands. “Everything I wore yesterday was apparently what he hates. The gothic look creeps him out. I’m so doomed. I’m completely out of ideas. He’s so impossible to please… but God, he’s so hot.”
I threw a mini tantrum, kicking my legs under the covers. Lucille watched me with amusement.
“What can I do?” I whined.
Then, suddenly, my eyes went wide. A new idea sparked.
“I think I’ve got an idea.”
“What?” Lucille asked, giving me a clear ‘not again’ expression.
“Well, if he doesn’t like black…that means he’d sure as hell like—”
- Writer
