[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322A01459-505":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},505,12,"Chapter 12: \"Don't Play Hard to Get\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Desmond slammed the car door shut, the metal groaning under his force.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I stood there, dazed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">What was he so annoyed about? Everything was going exactly his way. I remained frozen, completely forgetting to buckle my seatbelt.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He leaned over, his scent of sandalwood and something sharp hitting me. With a flick of his wrist, he clicked the buckle into place, then leaned back to scoff, \"Didn't think you’d be so eager.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I snapped, \"Isn't that what you wanted?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Desmond didn't reply. He just slammed his foot onto the gas.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You like this Kylian Gomez guy?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Do you want me to, or not?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He hammered the horn in frustration. \"What do you think?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My temper flared. \"He’s not even as good-looking as the guy Fletcher Reed recommended, anyway.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The tires shrieked as he slammed on the brakes, hauling the car into a jagged U-turn.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"We’re supposed to be going to my parents' place,\" I said, confused. \"Why are we heading back?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He didn't say a word. His face was a mask of cold, dark fury. He drove like a man possessed until we reached my apartment, shoved the car into park, and left without a single look back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">...\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The truth was, I didn't like any of them.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But before I moved to Southside, I needed to settle things with my parents. It was only right. After all, this entire mess had started because I was stupid enough to fall for Desmond in the first place.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My phone vibrated in my pocket. A message from Kylian.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Tomorrow at 7:00 PM. Let’s meet.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I sent a quick, polite refusal. The call came seconds later.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His voice was thick with booze, slurred and ugly. \"Serenity, don't play hard to get. I'm coming to pick you up tomorrow.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I hit the block button without a second thought.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I grabbed my jacket and headed out the door. I decided to head to my parents' place now, hoping to catch them before the night ended. But as I rounded the corner of the apartment complex, I skidded to a halt.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Kylian was slumped against the brick wall, the amber light of a streetlamp casting long, jagged shadows over him. The smell of cheap tobacco mixed with the sour, fermented stench of whiskey rolled off him in waves.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Going somewhere this late?\" he sneered.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272916398]