My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 43

Aidan, back then...

The news hit me like a punch in the gut. Ivy was going to prom with Aaron. I never thought she would be even interested!

My hands curled into fists.

I wanted to tell her. Demand she cancel with that idiot. But I had no right. Ivy was free to go to prom with whoever she wanted.

Even if it killed me.

I groaned. My chest heaved as I struggled to breathe. The idea of Aaron’s hands on Ivy’s waist, dancing with her, made me see red. And what if he tried to make a pass at her? Would she let him kiss her?

But I couldn’t control her. She was my friend. My only real friend. What if I told her how I felt and she rejected me? It would crush me.

The thought hollowed me out and left me empty and aching.

Fuck...

No, I couldn’t just sit back. I needed to make sure Aaron didn’t touch Ivy. Maybe I would go to the prom and spy on them.

Yup, that’s what I would do. I wasn’t lying when I told Ivy I thought Proms were lame. But I’d do anything to keep an eye on her at this point.

The next day, I decided to ask the first girl I knew who hadn’t been asked yet.

"Really?" Jessica blinked at me, a shy smile spreading across her face. "You’re asking me to prom?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, forcing a casual grin. "Well, yeah. I thought it might be fun." I groaned internally as I thought how bored I would be at the prom.

Lies. This had nothing to do with fun and everything to do with Ivy. But Jessica didn’t need to know that.

"I’d love to go with you!" Jessica gushed, her cheeks turning pink. Guilt gnawed at my insides, but I pushed it aside. This was an important mission.

"Great," I said. "I’ll get our tickets and let you know about the plans."

Jessica nodded eagerly. "Cool. We are going to have so much fun!" she chirped.

If only she knew the truth. With a nod, I turned and walked away before the guilt could overwhelm me. What Jessica didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. Right?

Ivy would be devastated. The image of her face when she saw me with my arm around Jessica, gazing into each other’s eyes as we danced, filled me with dark satisfaction.

This would teach her for going with that loser Aaron. Did she really think I’d just be okay with it?

Okay, it was my fault for not asking her first, but why did she have to say yes to him either way!?

~-~

The anticipation built all week as prom night approached. I rented a slick black tux and bought Jessica a corsage of red roses. We were coordinating in shades of crimson and ebony, a dramatic contrast to the pastel colors most couples chose.

Everything had to be perfect. This night was about making a statement, showing Ivy and everyone else that I didn’t care that she went to the prom with another guy. That she was the furthest thing from my mind.

When I picked up Jessica, feigning casual charm, she looked stunning in a sleek red dress. "You look amazing," I said, and it was the truth. She did look good.

But my mind was full of Ivy and I wondered how she looked tonight.

I hid my nerves behind a mask as I escorted Jessica into the ballroom, pulses of music and laughter hitting us. The room was a sea of glitter and glitz, a kaleidoscope of moving bodies.

My gaze raked the room, searching for a flash of Ivy’s brown hair, the curve of her smile. I hadn’t spotted her yet, but I knew she was somewhere.

And then, I saw her.

She was wearing a sky-blue dress, her hair cascading down her back in loose waves. My breath caught in my throat. She was so...beautiful.

My eyes found Ivy across the room, just as I knew they would. She was dancing with Aaron, his hands resting on her waist, bodies swaying gently to the music.

She hadn’t expected to see me here. But here I was.

Ivy looked away first, color rising in her cheeks. I smirked in satisfaction, pulling Jessica closer to my side and joining the throng of dancers.

Jessica said something to me and I merely nodded. I didn’t really hear what she said or cared.

Ivy was laughing at something Aaron said.

What the fuck? Aaron was never that funny. Why did Ivy see in him? They had nothing in common.

I ground my teeth as Aaron pulled Ivy closer, his hands wandering down to her waist. Rage boiled in my veins, hot and venomous, clouding my vision with a hazy red mist. How dare he touch her? How dare she let him?

My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. I wanted to stride across the room and rip them apart, to pummel Aaron into a bloody pulp as a warning to any other man who might dare look at Ivy.

Mine. She belonged to me, she had always belonged to me, and I—

A delicate hand curled around my arm, jerking me back to the present. "Are you okay?" Jessica asked, peering up at me through a fringe of blonde lashes. "You look upset."

I forced myself to unclench my hands, smoothing my expression into something resembling calm. "I’m fine," I said tightly.

With an effort, I turned my gaze away from Ivy and Aaron, focusing on Jessica. She really was quite pretty, all soft curves and flirty smiles. Most guys would kill to take a girl like her to prom. I should consider myself lucky.

But she wasn’t Ivy.

"Do you want to dance?" I asked, injecting a note of charm into my voice. Jessica’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically.

As I led her onto the dance floor, I felt Ivy’s gaze on me like a physical caress. I didn’t look at her, but I made sure to pull Jessica close, laughing and twirling her around in an exaggerated display of joy.

Two could play at this game. Ivy wanted to drive me crazy? I could give as good as I got, and before the night was over, she would be the one torn to pieces with jealousy.

Let the games begin.

I spun Jessica around, dipping her dramatically as the music swelled. She squealed in delight, clutching at my shoulders, but the truth was I barely felt her touch.

My gaze kept straying to Ivy, as irresistible as a magnet. She was still dancing with Aaron, his hands resting possessively on her waist, but her eyes were on me. Watching, waiting.

A flush crept up my neck as I imagined pulling her close instead, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. The scent of her perfume, floral and sweet, teased my senses until I could almost believe she was in my arms.

Jessica said something, her lips curving into a flirty smile, but I didn’t hear her. I was lost in my fantasy, a thousand memories of Ivy crowding my mind. The softness of her skin, the taste of her lips. Those lips that had wrapped around my cock and...

"Aidan?" Jessica’s voice cut through my reverie, confused and a little hurt. I shook off the memories, forcing a smile. "Sorry, I was distracted. You were saying?"

"Nothing. You seem so far away," Jessica said and pouted.

I shook my head. I was being unfair to her.

"Jessica, can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked. She nodded and followed me to a quiet corner.

"I owe you an apology," I said. "I asked you to the prom for the wrong reasons, and that wasn’t fair to you. I hope you’ll forgive me."

"I had a feeling you weren’t really interested in me," she said with a small smile. "Does this have something to do with the girl you keep looking at?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling like an idiot. "Yeah. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dragged you into it." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Don’t worry about it," she said. "I’ve seen you hang out with her before. Is she your girlfriend?"

"Err...not really." I hesitated, then added, "Do you want me to take you home now?"

She laughed. "No, I think I’ll stay and enjoy the rest of the prom. You can go talk to her."

I gave her a grateful nod and walked toward the spot where Ivy was dancing with Aaron.

But when I got there, Ivy wasn’t there anymore.

I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling a bit flustered. Where could Ivy have gone? I scanned the room, looking for her long brown hair and sky-blue dress.

I looked around everywhere, feeling a little panicky as I scanned the room. The music changed, and couples started slowly dancing to a love song, which annoyed me even more.

I looked where the snack table was and my heart stopped.

There they were, Ivy and Aaron, by the punch bowl.

Kissing.

In an instant, my heart plummeted like a rock down a waterfall. I felt betrayed and angry all at once.

Why would she let him kiss her?