The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (11)

“What did you say?”

“Your smell has a habit of lingering after you’re gone.”

Mortification had me hurrying up the stairs again. Sure, I’d worked up a sweat, but I didn’t think it had been offensive. Drake definitely didn’t seem to mind, although he had been high out of his mind. I could feel him on my heels as I rushed down the hall. He didn’t speak again until I reached my door.

“I thought maybe Mrs. Greene was trying out a new air freshener.”

I’d turned to face him when the epiphany came swift and hard. He knows I was in his room. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He crowded me until he trapped me against the door and only a finger of space remained between us. I could hardly draw my next breath as his own breezed over my skin.

“Yes, you do.”

I watched as he leaned forward just the tiniest bit and…inhaled. The sudden hum between my thighs and stirring in my stomach alarmed me. I looked away to hide my reaction and didn’t move until I heard the soft snick of his bedroom door closing. Not wasting time, I threw open my own door and rushed inside. It felt good to breathe again.

I stood frozen as I listened to him move around the bathroom. Moments later, the shower was running. I was still rummaging through the boxes Thomas must have had brought up when the shower shut off. I pretended I wasn’t listening to every sound coming from within that bathroom, but ten minutes later, when the hair dryer shut off, I realized I hadn’t moved the entire time. With a self-loathing curse, I toed off my sneakers and grabbed my toiletries before padding across the room.

When I turned the knob, however, I found the door locked.

He must have flipped the lock for privacy but forgot to unlock it. My fist slammed into the door when I realized I’d have to get him to unlock it, which completely ruined my plan of never speaking to him again.

Not that he’d care.

I wanted to scream and rage when I reached his door, but I’d catch more flies with honey, so I used my knuckles to knock lightly. Maybe I’d hate myself less after I washed away the sand and sweat sticking to my skin.

“Ever?” I called when a few seconds passed. I knocked again but was met with the same silence. “I know you’re awake. I need you to unlock my door.” I knocked harder this time and for a minute straight to no avail. Growling, I prowled back to my room and tried the door again, but it was still locked. “Asshole,” I muttered before grabbing my clothes and toiletries and heading to one of the guest rooms.

I bet he wanted me to run and cry to our parents about how he was being a big, bad bully.

Fuck him.

As long as he didn’t want me here, I’d pretend to play for keeps. After all, you don’t grow up in Cherry without learning how to milk a cow. Smiling to myself, I entered the first guest room I could find and locked the door for good measure. Locking me out of our bathroom was the last battle he’d win tonight.

After a steaming hot shower, I was much more levelheaded when I returned to my room, but just to settle my curiosity, I checked my bathroom door.

It was unlocked.





THE SOFT KNOCK ON MY door had me looking up from the text Vaughn sent in response to me quitting the team. It was a dick move considering the season was about to start, and Vaughn and I had just made varsity, but we’ve also been best friends since the day we ate a fistful of sand together on the playground. While he couldn’t know what I’d do with the vital information he shared, he knew me well enough to know I’d do something.

“Ever,” the southern voice called followed by another knock when I refused to say shit. It was amusing the way she attempted to conceal her anger. I was willing to bet there was not a damn thing sweet about Four Archer. “I know you’re awake. I need you to unlock my door.”

I smiled at her whining as I texted Vaughn my plan. My father had naively expected me to be hospitable and share a bathroom with some swamp girl who probably never even received all of her vaccinations. I had never cared much about being the bigger person. I only cared about getting my way, and Archer would learn that soon enough.

There was a chance she’d run and tell my father, but my gut told me she was the type to fight her own battles and even if she weren’t it wouldn’t stop a thing. I’d only make her life hell another day.

My father was still very much a married man when he moved his whore and her wild daughter into the home he once shared with my mother. The day he broke the news I had half a mind to walk out just as she did. I had still been considering it up until the moment I laid eyes on Four Archer. I couldn’t explain why but at that moment I knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

I couldn’t say the same for her.

My phone beeped just as I heard Archer mutter something that sounded like “asshole” before walking away.

#17: Are you out of your mind???

I rubbed my temple and considered the possibility that I might be before texting my reply.

What did you expect, V? He can’t keep her. No fucking way.

I threw my phone down not caring about what he had to say. My mind was made up, and nothing was going to change it. It’s been three years, and since then I’ve lost hope until my best friend unknowingly gave it back.

Except for this time I was no longer willing to sit back and pray.

Hope was for the weak and the foolish.