Chapter 2

Chloe's POV

"Then die."

The words slammed into me.

Liam walked away without a second glance. Mia hooked her arm through his, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Come ON, they're waiting for you at Beer Pong!"

I stayed curled up on the couch, watching them disappear into the crowd.

My tongue had swollen so big it was choking me. Every breath wheezed out of my throat, high and thin.

I was dying.

The realization hit with absolute clarity.

But as everything started to fade, my mind went the opposite direction—sharp, clear, replaying everything like I was watching it happen all over again.

The first time I met Mia Hall. Three months into dating Liam. He'd been so excited to introduce us. "This is Mia—we've been best friends since we were like, five."

Best friends.

She'd nailed the part. Backwards cap, casual swearing, fist-bumping the guys and calling everyone "dude." Just one of the bros. Totally harmless.

Except "one of the bros" doesn't steal the passenger seat every time you're going somewhere.

"One of the bros" doesn't reach over you at the movies to grab food off your boyfriend's lap.

"One of the bros" doesn't somehow end up next to him in every group photo while you're stuck on the edge.

Every single time I brought it up, Liam said the same thing:

"Chloe, seriously? Don't pull the jealous girlfriend card. That's just Mia being Mia. She's laid-back, she doesn't think about that stuff. We've been friends forever. You can't be threatened just because she's a girl."

Best friends forever.

Like a get-out-of-jail-free card. She could cross any line she wanted and he'd defend her.

Tonight was no different.

An hour before the party, Mia had grabbed Liam's Coke—not poured herself one, picked up HIS—put her mouth right where his had been, and taken a long drink.

I must have looked pissed because Liam immediately rolled his eyes.

"Don't start. She was thirsty. It's not that deep."

I didn't argue. Just got up and went to the bathroom.

Ten seconds after the door closed, it opened again.

Mia was standing there, arms crossed. The "chill bro" act was completely gone.

"Chloe." She smiled, but her eyes were ice. "Let's be real for a second."

I stared back, waiting.

"Do you actually think you belong with Liam?" She looked me up and down slowly. "You know who my dad is, right? Senior VP at Sterling Group. Liam's whole startup exists because of ME. My connections. My family."

She stepped closer.

"And what are you? Some girl on financial aid who can barely afford to be here. What do you bring to the table? Can you get him funding? Introduce him to anyone who matters? No?"

My nails bit into my palms.

God, it was almost funny.

That Sterling investment? The one she kept taking credit for? I got it for him. I convinced my brother to fund Liam's startup. But I never told Liam because I didn't want our relationship to be about money. I wanted him to love me for me, not for what my family could give him.

So I'd hidden who I was. Played the struggling college student.

And this bitch just walked in and claimed MY work as hers.

"Do yourself a favor and break up with him," Mia said, making a crushing motion with her fingers. "Before I make your life hell. And trust me—crushing nobodies like you? Easy."

I'd wanted to laugh in her face.

She had no clue. That "nobody on financial aid"? My brother RAN Sterling Group. Her father—the big important "Senior VP"—worked FOR him.

She was a fraud parading around with stolen credit. And she thought she could threaten ME?

But I never thought she'd actually try to murder me. Peanuts in a cake. She really did it.

You're done, Mia Hall.

My brother would burn the world down for me. Anyone who hurt me paid. When he showed up, she was finished. Her and her VP daddy both.

If I could just stay alive long enough.

Everything was getting fuzzy. The lights blurred. Voices mixed together into white noise.

Then a fresh roar went up from the crowd.

"Truth or Dare! Truth or Dare!"

"YO Liam lost! DARE, bro, you gotta do it!"

"KISS! KISS! KISS!"

I forced myself to look.

Through the haze, I saw Mia sitting across from Liam, smiling like she'd already won.

Liam had lost whatever game they were playing. His dare: kiss Mia.

He hesitated. Glanced toward the couch.

Someone yelled, "Dude, it's a GAME! Your girl's not gonna freak out over a stupid dare, right?"