CATHERINE'S POV
I walked away in fury and Tessa followed behind me half-wheezing and half-laughing. "Oh my gosh, Cath, the tension between you and Julian feels just like the one from rom-coms," she crooned.
"Shut up, Tessa," I snapped, spinning halfway around.
She raised her brows, unbothered. "Rude. Don't yell at the one person who's Team Catherine."
I threw my hands up. "Team Catherine? Don't be ridiculous. You were literally fanning yourself when he showed up."
"That's because he's hot," she said without shame, flipping her hair. "And, earlier on during the fight, the way he clocked Collins was like a pro—bam!"
I turned to her, dead-eyed. "Really, Tessa?"
She bit her lip, realizing she was practically supporting Julian. "Okay, okay, that was bad timing. My bad."
I rolled my eyes so hard, then stormed into the party hall.
"Wait, Cath!" she yelped, jogging after me in those ridiculous block heels. "Don't get mad! I'm totally on your side, promise!"
Her usual dramatic self made me laugh despite the rage I was feeling. "You're impossible."
"Guilty," she said proudly, looping her arm through mine as we crossed the crowded hall toward the bar. "Let's drink away your anger. The first round's on me, well, technically on Ethan, since he's paying for everything."
The party had already picked up. We found two seats at the bar, facing each other across the small counter.
Tessa ordered something fruity with a splash of vodka, while I went with plain soda. I wasn't in the mood to get tipsy, not after the circus outside.
Suddenly, Tessa's eyes darted in the direction behind me. "Oh my god."
"What?" I asked, mid-sip.
She leaned in, whispering dramatically, "Collins just came out of the men's restroom."
"And?"
"Guess what?" She paused, eyes locked on the same spot.
"Spill the tea."
Her voice got lower as she bent over. "Sasha came out right after him."
I frowned. "So?"
"So!" She slapped my knee. "They were definitely in there making out!"
I choked on my drink. "Tessa, seriously? You don't know that."
"C'mon. Timing? Body language? What other explanation is needed?"
"There's a male section and a female section," I reminded her calmly. "Coincidence exists."
She pouted, clearly hating to lose a conspiracy. "Uhm, you are right. Coincidence. But I'm keeping an eye on them."
"Sure, detective," I smirked.
Before she could argue back, the emcee's voice boomed through the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the birthday dance! Grab your partners!"
Everyone started cheering, chairs scraping, people rushing to the floor and right then, Ethan appeared behind us, grinning, his white shirt unbuttoned just enough to look effortlessly rich.
"Mind if I steal your friend for a dance?" he asked, his voice playful as his eyes locked on Tessa.
Tessa froze for half a second, then flashed the widest smile I'd ever seen. "Steal away."
"You're unbelievable," I muttered under my breath.
She winked. "Sorry, babe. He's cute."
Before I could say anything else, she let Ethan pull her up and whisk her toward the dance floor, leaving me alone with my soda.
JULIAN'S POV
Ethan was glaring at me like I'd just burned his car.
"What the hell was that about?" he asked, swirling his drink lazily. "You made it a whole scene, bro. What's the big deal?"
I stared at him coldly. "Collins is the big deal. You remember what he did."
Ethan sighed, rubbing his jaw. "Yeah, yeah. He slept with your ex but that's old news, man."
My eyes narrowed. "Don't look at me like that."
He shrugged innocently, gulping his drink before setting it down with a soft clink. "Alright, fine. But, real talk, if you hate your stepsister so much, why care who Collins talks to? Shouldn't you be happy your enemy's targeting her next?"
The words lit a fuse in my chest. I clenched my jaw and forced myself not to swing.
"Shut up, Ethan."
"Just saying," he muttered.
"I hate her," I said evenly, "but that doesn't mean I'll let that animal screw with women connected to me. That would make him think he's got an edge. I don't play that."
He smirked, the kind of grin that made me want to throw up my glass. "Protective, huh? Kinda sounds like you care."
I shot him a glare that could've frozen fire. "I don't. Get that idea out of your head."
He lifted his hands in surrender. "If you say so." Then his grin returned, sly. "Still, Catherine's hot, though. You sure you're not planning to hit that?"
I scoffed. "Not even close. I've seen attractive women. She doesn't make the top two hundred."
Ethan laughed hard enough to nearly spill his drink. "Bro, you sound defensive."
"I'm stating facts."
"Facts, my ass," he said, shaking his head. "If you don't want her, I do."
My muscles tensed instantly.
He held up his hands again, backpedaling. "Kidding! Kidding. Chill, man. Of course, I have not forgotten the bro code. Family members are off limits but that friend of hers…" He nodded toward the bar.
My gaze followed. Catherine sat there, gorgeous without trying, her hair spilling over her shoulder, lips wrapped around a straw. Across from her sat the bubbly Tessa, I think.
"That one," Ethan said, nodding at Tessa. "I'm feeling that energy."
The emcee's voice boomed again. "Time to dance, everyone!"
Ethan straightened his shirt and grinned. "Wish me luck."
Before I could reply, he was gone, weaving through the crowd. I stayed behind, scanning the room, trying to shake the frustration coiling in my gut. I needed a distraction.
That's when I saw Collins. He was leaning against a wall, that arrogant smirk plastered on his face, his eyes fixed on Catherine. He adjusted his jacket, smoothed his hair, and started walking toward her.
I could already feel my blood pressure spike.
Of course, he would pick her.
He said something to her, probably asking for a dance. She hesitated, but then she nodded, polite as ever.
My fists clenched at my sides. I'd already thrown one punch tonight; another would make me look obsessed.
And I wasn't obsessed. Right?
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. No. I wasn't obsessed. I just didn't want Collins to think he could take what was mine.
Wait. Not mine.
I needed to get out of my own head.
So I grabbed the nearest girl, a brunette in a red dress who'd been eyeing me since I walked in.
"Dance?" I asked with a rough voice.
She smiled seductively and instantly. "Thought you'd never ask."
We walked toward the dance floor and I should've been focused on her, the way she moved, the way her perfume hit, but I wasn't.
My eyes kept darting to the other side of the room, where Collins had his hand on Catherine's waist.
She looked uneasy, like she wasn't sure what to do with her hands.
He leaned in to say something, too close, and I nearly lost it.
My dance partner laughed softly. "Jealous girlfriend watching us?"
I tore my gaze away, faking a smirk. "She's my stepsister."
"Lucky her," she said. "You seem to care for her."
If only she knew.
I spun her once, trying to shake it off, but every time I turned back, I saw Catherine laughing nervously.
She looked like trouble I didn't know how to stay away from.
I hated that, so I smiled wider, pulled the brunette closer, and pretended not to care.