The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (125)

As if reading my thoughts, she pushed me away. I wanted to grab her again, but her tears stopped me.

“Four—” I started, but she cut me off by ripping my heart out and pissing me off all at once.

“How can you touch me like that when you do nothing but hurt me?”

“Because I was so damn angry!” I didn’t mean to explode, but once I did, I couldn’t stop. “I had just gotten back hope of bringing my mother home when my father decided to start a new family instead. My mother was still his wife. He didn’t even fight for her.”

Rather than the understanding I’d come to expect from Four, she stared back at me in disbelief. “Your mother walked out on him and left him with a son to raise alone. What was there to fight for?”

A muscle inside my jaw ticked. “I guess it doesn’t matter now. He’s moved on.”

I could tell that was the wrong thing to say when she flinched. “We’re done here.”

Fuck! Every time I get an inch with her, I put my foot in my mouth.

I hooked my finger into her shorts and brought her to me. “I don’t blame you, baby. Never you.”

She coldly shoved me away again. “But you did, Ever. I spent a year in exile because you wanted your mommy back. Am I just supposed to forget that?”

“You don’t understand. You were a mirror that I couldn’t break. Seeing you so wild and brave and free reminded me who I used to be. It wasn’t just your body that tempted me. It was your soul, baby. For the first time, I wanted to be free no matter the consequences, and that scared me. I had to send you away.”

I saw the ice slowly melting away, and for a moment, I had hope.

“No.” She wiped her face, leaving wet streaks. “You didn’t.” The moment her hand fell away, her gaze hardened. “If you had stopped to know me beyond what you saw, you would have found someone who understood more than anyone what you sacrifice every day.”

“I know.”

She nodded, accepting my shame. “So what do you expect me to do?”

“Forgive me so we can move on.” I was lost, without answers, and left with only what was in my heart for survival. “I want to be with you, Four Archer.”

She paused. Shock had made her damn near comatose. Up until now, I had never made my intentions clear. I’d never told her exactly where she stood with me. Instead, I left her hanging from a fucking cliff.

“I did forgive you, Ever.” The tear that fell down her cheek and the way she cradled her body as if protecting herself from me, completely fucking wrecked me. “But then you hurt me for the last time when you got engaged.”





WE WERE STANDING OUTSIDE MY Women’s History class when Michael popped the question. “So, my parents asked me to invite you over for dinner tomorrow night.”

Shaking hands clutched the straps of my backpack. “You don’t think it’s a little soon?”

It had only been a couple of weeks since our first date, and I wouldn’t have dared introduce him to Rosalyn this soon.

After our date, I had considered breaking it off, but our second had gone so much better when Ever and his band of arrogant assholes didn’t try to sabotage it. Michael had even been bold enough to kiss me.

Sadly, the ache in my belly for the next one never came. And no matter how many times he’s kissed me since, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that I was only using him as a distraction.

“My parents are a little old-fashioned.”

When Michael had picked me up for our date in a blue BMW, I knew his parents had money. Meeting them would be a huge step toward becoming official. What if they didn’t approve of me?

Do I even want this?

“Dinner sounds good.” I felt like a coward.

“Cool.” Noticing that I didn’t share his excitement, he added, “Don’t look so worried! My parents are gonna love you.”

I wasn’t worried. I was drowning. And when you’re dying, it isn’t worry you feel. It’s pure panic.

He kissed me in front of our riveted audience, and among them was Barbie. I could tell by her disgusted look that she’d heard every word. I mentally shrugged off her puzzling reaction. She should have been happy that I was no longer poaching on her territory. It certainly shamed me to know that Barbie had been right after all. She was the one to wear Ever’s ring.

Michael took off for his own class oblivious to the attention. When we showed up together for the football game last Thursday, people took notice. The tweets and statuses Tyra showed me were all vague, but I was a smart girl.

She chose him over Ever?

Ever is way hotter!

I know he’s engaged, but I’d be his side bitch.

No more wondering if he hit that yet.

So much for being undesirable. Can I have next?

First, they slut-shamed me for wanting Ever, and then they mocked me for moving on. High school was a fickle place.

Class started, but I couldn’t focus on the lecture Mrs. Roberts was giving about reproductive rights. Feeling Barbie’s gaze, I peeked over my shoulder. I expected a mocking sneer, but she was pale and visibly trembling.

Her swift change of emotion was a real head-scratcher. I debated what to do. The angel on one shoulder urged me to comfort her while the devil on my other kicked up her feet and smiled as we both found solace in knowing that Ever would spend a lifetime dealing with Barbie’s erratic moods.