The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (103)
How did you find me?
His reply came instantly.
MICKEY: I’m a resourceful man.
You asked my neighbors?
MICKEY: Yup.
I sighed. If Mickey was able to find me so easy, then it meant if they wanted to, the Exiled could have followed us right to Thomas’s doorstep. Rosalyn hadn’t exactly been discreet about our upgrade. I didn’t bother getting angry at being duped. I knew from the start that moving in with Thomas solely for my protection was a sham. If you leap off a cliff and fall on your ass, it’s better to claim being pushed rather than admit to jumping.
I must have taken too long to respond because my phone buzzed with another message from Mickey.
MICKEY: So you in?
My thumb hovered over the keypad. It was stupid to hesitate. I could already feel the rush of racing coursing through my veins. Mickey might have saved my life, but that didn’t mean I could trust him. Not when I almost ate a bullet because of him.
The desk next to me creaked, and assuming it was Amanda, Brynwood’s very own Gossip Girl, I welcomed the distraction and started to speak. That was until I noticed perfectly curled strawberry blonde hair and icy blue eyes staring back at me.
“I think that seat is taken.”
“This won’t take long.” Uninterested in anything Ever’s girlfriend-not girlfriend had to say, I refocused on my phone and texted Mickey that I’d think about it.
Stupid.
“You may think that whatever you’re doing with Ever means something, but it doesn’t.”
I let out a dry laugh, not at all surprised by Barbie’s chosen topic, and mumbled, “You didn’t seem to care the other night.”
“Ever can have his fun, but don’t get any ideas. He’s not going to be with you.”
I met her gaze and hated how truly beautiful she was. “You don’t even love him.”
“He’s my friend. I care about him, and he cares about me, which is why I’ll be the one to wear his ring, and you’ll never be anything more than a thrill.”
It was all I could do not to hurl my guts up. I never thought I’d be this girl: claws out and teeth bared over a boy. Especially for one who would always be out of my league. “Keep your satin panties on, Barbie. I have no desire to become the girl he marries and eventually ignores. Maybe I’m just a phase, but you’re in for a long life of phases. In a year, it will be some co-ed, and ten years after that, his secretary, until he eventually fucks the nanny. I’m not after your trophy life.” I leaned forward with a smile. “So back the fuck off.”
I was surprised when, after a few seconds passed, she simply nodded once as if satisfied—or what-the-fuck-ever—then rose from the seat, and moved down the aisle to her own. Amanda appeared moments later looking distressed as she plopped down in a huff. I wasn’t expecting her to shoot me an accusing look, which instantly put me on edge.
“Hey,” I greeted hesitantly.
She ignored my greeting and hissed, “I thought we were friends, Flower.”
“Sorry?” I felt my eyes narrow. We’d always been friendly but friends? She’d never had much to say to me other than to gossip about other people. Not to mention, she still didn’t know my name when we’ve been sitting next to each other for weeks.
Seeing my defenses up, she suddenly burst out laughing, which was obviously forced. She wasn’t the least bit amused and neither was I. “You didn’t tell me you and Ever were a thing. It’s all over school!”
So that was the reason Barbie bared her claws.
“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.” I was surprised at the lack of anger in my tone. I only heard exhaustion and wasn’t sure which reaction was worse.
“Everyone saw him at your locker this morning.” I started to roll my eyes when she added, “And, apparently, you skipped first period together to get cozy.”
“We weren’t cozy.”
“My sources say they saw him kiss you.” Like a coin, with a flip, Amanda’s amusement vanished and condemnation returned. “You do know he’s with Barbie, right?”
I shook my head—not in answer but in defeat.
Goddamn you, Ever.
Of course, Amanda misread my gesture and gasped even as her eyes brightened with an eagerness to enlighten me with the juicy truth. Fortunately, Mrs. Roberts saved my ass when she walked into class and ordered us to turn to chapter eleven.
Not so fortunately, I was on my own as the open stares and the whispers followed me around for the rest of the day.
“THE ELMER HOLMES BOBST LIBRARY opened its doors in 1973 and serves as the primary research facility for NYU.” I tuned out our guide as I openly watched Four gazing absently at the swaying purple banners. Unlike the rest of our group, she didn’t hang on the Ambassador’s every word and instead spent much of the hour-long tour daydreaming. Probably of her crossing a finish line at two hundred miles per hour instead of a stage after four grueling years. It wasn’t as if attending university was out of her reach. A diploma from Brynwood Academy and a check from my father would open almost any door. All she had to do was want it.
Except I witnessed her sheer determination to race and knew she would never consider anything less. Including a degree from an ivy league. I couldn’t help but respect her for being grounded in who she was. Four only changed on her terms and offered no apologies. It was part of what made her so goddamn irresistible. That and her heart shaped ass. One minute, I was pushing her away and swearing her off for good, and the next, I was ready to buy her flowers and serenade her ass.