The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (122)

Tomorrow, I’ll be stronger.

When his breathing was almost even, I whispered, “We could have been friends, you know. You didn’t have to hate me.” And maybe then we wouldn’t be lying in bed together with nothing between us but our tattered hearts.

“It wouldn’t have mattered, princess. I would have fallen for you anyway.”





THE WHISTLE BLEW, AND THE sound of feet pounding the pavement was all that could be heard. Pretty soon, I drowned that out too and concentrated on my breathing. When the final bell rang, everyone headed for the locker rooms.

Just one more lap.

Running didn’t fill the void, but it gave me an outlet.

After my third lap, I popped Jamie’s earbuds out and held my knees. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Thinking I had been alone, I swung around with my eyes wide. Behind me stood a gorgeous male with blond hair, green eyes, and a friendly smile. He was only a couple inches taller than I was, but what he lacked in height, he made up for with muscle. His arms bulged when he propped his hands on his hips in that masculine way guys did. Maybe too much muscle.

“It’s harder to breathe down there.”

“I think that’s a myth.”

“Shit. Really?”

I burst out laughing and was floored when he actually blushed. Ever would never blush. “Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you.”

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t mind embarrassing myself again to see that smile.”

Oh. Heat crept up my neck and warmed my cheeks. “So, you’re in Coach Lloyd’s class?” He was covered in sweat, and the gym uniform was molded to him.

“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you, but you ran away,” he teased.

“I wasn’t running away!” This time, I didn’t laugh alone.

“I felt like a creep following you around the track.”

My cheeks stung from smiling so hard. “I think it would have been weirder if you watched me.”

His eyebrows rose. “Like those guys?”

My face fell when I followed the direction of his nod. What the hell?

Across the field, Ever had his arms braced on the bleacher railing. He was staring dead at me with Jamie wearing a shit-eating grin as he stood at his side. I didn’t know if it was just my body cooling down, but suddenly, the November air had a biting chill.

“They’re just my ride home. What did you want to talk about?”

“Right. Um…Would you like to grab a bite with me tonight?”

My eyes bulged. Was I actually being asked out on a date? I couldn’t keep from glancing across the field.

He’s engaged, you moron.

My handsome suitor, whose name I still didn’t know, rubbed his nape and said, “I’d understand if there was someone else.” I saw the truth in his eyes and couldn’t help feeling like a fool.

No more.

“What’s your name?” I was a little embarrassed to ask since we shared a class, and he probably knew mine.

“Michael.”

I stuck out my hand, which felt lame once I did it. “Michael, it’s a date.”

With a quiet chuckle, his hand enveloped mine.




“You can’t wear that dress without these earrings.”

“I’m not wearing those.”

“But they’ll go perfectly!”

“Put down the gold hoops, Tyra Bradley. It’s not going to happen.”

“Fine,” she grumbled and rummaged through her box full of costume jewelry. Rosalyn had my ears pierced when I was a kid, but I stopped wearing jewelry the day I started dressing myself. “How about a compromise?” She held up simple gold studs.

“No.”

“Honestly, Four!”

“Be grateful I put on the dress.” I didn’t even recognize the girl in the mirror. When I told Tyra about my date, she roped me into shopping and then bullied me into buying a light gray sweater dress and flat black boots that reached my calf. My hair fell in waves around my shoulders, and I’d let Tyra coat my lips in that sticky shit. When she came at me with a little brush covered in black gunk, I had to put my foot down.

“I guess we’re done here.” She looked me over and started squealing. “He’s going to eat his heart out!”

I smiled nervously while forcing myself not to undo all of her hard work. Knowing Tyra, she’d murder me and then cry over my dead body. “I don’t think he will since he’ll be on the date, too.”

That got me an eye roll. “I’m not talking about Michael.”

I didn’t have to ask who else she could mean. My stomach dipped at the thought of Ever seeing me like this. With my hair glossed and framing my face, and the short dress hugging my body, I looked like the kind of girl who belonged on his arm. “Ever isn’t the reason I agreed to this date.”

“Fine, but just tell me one thing.” I met her gaze and waited. “Does he know?”

By the time I jogged across the field after Michael and I exchanged numbers, Ever had disappeared, and the only explanation Jamie offered was that he caught a ride.

“It wouldn’t matter. He’s with Barbie, and I’m…exploring my options.”

“But are you sure it’s over between you two?”