Dating Mr. Arrogant

chapter 33 - i officially hate you

ELLE

I can't think straight, not when Ace has me tight against him and not with his lips crushing mine, staking his claim. The brush of his mouth sends a shock through my system like he's trying to erase Justin's mess—burning away the filth he left behind with something stronger, something that sets my insides on fire.

I forget the whole place is staring at us. They're whispering and judging and digesting and piecing together what went down and what's happening now. I'm clueless about it all. But I trust Ace enough to follow his lead, even if my mind swirls like a blender at full speed.

People are missing the real reason for the soiree—a meteor shower that I'd been counting on for a wish because I've never done it before.

Ace's fingers tighten around the nape of my neck, threading through the delicate strands of my hair. He angles my head, deepening the kiss as if the whole world needs to know I belong to him. His other hand slides possessively down the small of my back, lingering at the curve of my waist before squeezing my ass. It's brazen, unapologetic, and right now, it's the only attention I want.

This is his retaliation.

Justin came up to us like he always does. I assumed he wanted a snap with us girls, but little did I know he'd grab me and slam his lips on mine. His rough lips felt suffocating and wrong. Everything in me was screaming to escape. I shoved him back, pure horror carved into my expression.

Please, let the cameras show the way my face twisted in disgust.

It wasn't just a kiss. It was a cheap, dirty shot. A mark of entitlement Justin had no right to take.

Is Justin trying to make Ace doubt me? To ruin us? To make everyone think... God, I don't even want to think about what everyone is thinking. I'm on the brink of spiraling into another wave of anxiety when Ace pulls back a little, his breath mingles on my lips, taking away the edges of my self-doubt. He presses his forehead against mine and the self-doubt dulls under his grounding touch.

"You okay?" He asks in that gravelly voice.

I blink at him. All I can see are the ocean blues of his eyes, framed by those rich, dark lashes. It's calming... drowning, like being pulled under a wave. He's not just grounding me—he's sharing the weight, reminding me I'm not alone in this. He's not alone in this.

"This is one way to handle a PR crisis," I manage to whisper, my voice trembling against his lips.

"Don't react or look at him," his voice edged with that unmistakable protectiveness. He pulls back enough to lace his fingers through mine, squeezing once before leading me away.

I don't turn because I don't need to. Ace looks past me and gives Justin a hard glare. A glare that says everything he wants to shout at Justin. Everything I want to scream. He's showing Justin that he won't let anyone, especially not a pathetic attempt at sabotage come between us. It's the perfect power move, palpable enough that everyone here can feel it as we walk away hand in hand.

Possible headlines form in the back of my mind: 'Ace Daniels's Best Friend Tries To Steal His Girlfriend'. Best-case scenario. Worst case? Elle Caldwell Plays Two Guys At The Same Time.

I realize that none of that matters. Not really. I should focus on what truly do—Ace, my friends, school, and the future I'm trying to build for myself. But it's becoming harder and harder. Being in the spotlight isn't for the weak and I guess that's another reason why Ace doesn't care much to be in it.

Is my situation different? If I ever get famous, I'd probably have to be more cautious of what I do and who I see. It's a pretty horrible thought—playing hide and seek with your life—but I want to do what I love.