Chapter 1:
I remember knowing that I was doomed. There was loud music blaring, bright lights flashing, sweaty bodies dancing, and then there was me. Lonely me, standing with my back toward the wall of the club I clearly felt like I had no business being in. I felt so awkward and out of place. I was the only single one out of all of my friends and they had begged me to come out. I was there, but only physically. Mentally and emotionally, I was a shell of my former self.
I had been attempting to recover from having my heart ripped out of my chest by the man I thought was the love of my life. I felt like a ghost. I didn't feel like I belonged amongst the living anymore. Everyone tried so hard to bring me back, but I didn't want to be resuscitated. I quite enjoyed the misery of my disposition. It reminded me that it was real. That we were real. Though my ex was gone and I knew he was never coming back, I continued to cling on to the hope that one day he would change his mind. And if he didn't, I simply would remain this way forever. Broken.
I was easy prey. Anyone in my condition wouldn't stand a chance. Maybe that's why he chose me. Or maybe he was just bored.
I felt his breath on the back of my neck as he swiveled my long hair over my shoulder to whisper in my ear.
"Sadness becomes you," he said.
I turned, greeted by his chocolate eyes – abysmal pools that looked as empty as I felt inside.
"Louie," I greeted him.
It seemed like all of the music and voices faded away as he locked eyes with mine.
Louie Lamoureux was best friends with my best friend's husband. Louie was a shameless flirt and an unapologetic ladies' man with magnetic energy and a megawatt smile that could make any woman weak in the knees. But not me. I couldn't feel anything inside anymore.
He licked his lips before raising the bottle of beer to his mouth. "I'm surprised you came out tonight. Rumor is, you don't get out much, these days."
"Being social's overrated," I quipped. "But at risk of being rude for continually no-showing . . ."
"I get it," he grinned. "You're hurt. It's understandable that you would want to be alone."
I internally winced – the word "alone" still feeling like lemon being squeezed on a fresh paper cut. Louie appraised me. What did he know about pain?
"What are you thinking about, Tristine?"
I let out a breath as my eyes fell to the floor. "I don't think I'll ever feel anything again."
Louie laughed and the sound of it pulled my gaze back to his. What the fuck was so funny?
"I'm sorry?"
"No, I'm sorry," he grinned. "I wasn't laughing at you. I just think it's funny."
"You think what is funny?" I questioned him.
His face grew serious as he stepped in closer toward me. "I think it's funny that you want to feel anything right now." I felt my breath hitch in my throat as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Feelings are so overrated. But if you want a distraction . . ."
I swallowed hard as he pulled back and held me in his black gaze.
This would be a stupid idea. A very stupid idea.
"Come home with me and let's see if we can feel nothing together."
I exhaled, shaking my head at him. He couldn't be serious. "Sounds like a bad idea."
"Or a fun time, depending on how you look at it," he shrugged. "I know you, Tristine. I know you all too well."
"You don't know the first thing about me!" I laughed – taken aback at the ridiculousness of this conversation.
Louie and I had run in the same social circle for years, but we had barely ever spoken outside of simple pleasantries. This was probably the longest conversation we had ever had!
"I know you are a hopeless romantic who falls in love so easily," he said. The truth of his words slapped me in the face and I hated him for saying it. "But, where has that gotten you, Tris?" I frowned, trying to hold back the tears that were stinging my eyes. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, letting his fingers run through my hair as he pulled them away. "But I see how broken you are. I see the void in you right now. And I want to help you."
"Help me, how?" I whispered.
"Love is overrated," he replied. "Love only complicates people and gets people hurt. I'm done with love. And now, so are you."
"Brady and I are going to get back together," I said, looking away.
"You sure about that?" Louie asked. "I don't think that's true."
I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to cry.
"I'll make you forget all about him tonight," Louie said, taking my hand in his.
It felt like fire when our skin touched. I almost pulled it away for fear of getting burned.
"What do you say, Tris?" he asked me – taunting me with a smile.
"Absolutely not," I laughed incredulously, shaking my head at him.
"Yeah, probably a good idea," he nodded before taking a swig of his beer.
I was so annoyed. I glared at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know what I was thinking, inviting you back with me. I mean, you're Tristine Dallas! You can't even help yourself. One night with me and you'd probably be in love again."
"You're so full of yourself," I blurted, shaking my head in disbelief. "You couldn't get me to fall in love with you if you tried. No one could. My heart belongs to Brady. And he crushed it, so."
"Good," Louie replied. His face was serious again. "Because that would be a very stupid mistake." He looked at his phone and took a deep breath before putting it in his back pocket. "Well, it was nice to see you, Tris. I'm going to head out. I hope you feel better soon."
I felt my cheeks burn as he locked eyes with me. This narcissistic little asshole really thought I was powerless to his charms. He had another thing coming! I was dead inside. I was nothing without Brady. Nothing. Not even to a womanizer like Louie.
"Wait," I said, grabbing his forearm.
He froze as I took a step closer to him. "Do you really think you can help me?" I asked him.
The corners of his lips upturned as he ever so subtly nodded his head. "I promise you that I can."
"Then take me with you," I responded.
Once again, I found my fingers intertwined in his.
I should have stayed at the club with my friends that night. I shouldn't have let myself look into those empty eyes.
But part of me wanted to escape in them. I welcomed the darkness. It couldn't be any worse than what I was already living with on my own anyway.
YOU ARE READING
THE WRONG ONE
RomanceShe swore she'd never feel again-until the wrong man made her remember how to burn. After a brutal breakup, Tristine is a ghost in her own life-alive, but hollow. Enter Louie Lamoureux: a gorgeous, shameless flirt with eyes as empty as hers and a pr...
