The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (49)

“A party ain’t a party unless Four Archer’s in the house!”

I couldn’t help admiring how tempting he looked in the red beanie that only covered the crown of his head, hoodless Red Sox sweatshirt, and blue jeans. “You don’t mean that one bit.”

“No, I don’t. You need to loosen up, girl. I get enough of my cousin’s stuffiness.”

“What? I’m loose,” I defended.

His expression turned stale as he looked me over. “You look constipated.”

Tyra tried to be a friend and hold her laugh in, but it burst out, and I found myself joining her. “Jamie, I can’t decide if you’re the best or worst kind of frenemy.”

“Frenemy?” He had the nerve to look genuinely confused. “We aren’t cool, Four?”

“Not when you use me to mess with your cousin.”

Tyra’s ears practically pricked at my comment. Despite us being close, I hadn’t told her what had occurred between Ever and me when no one was looking. Tyra loved to gossip like no other. Sure, I trusted her, but I trusted only me with my dirty secrets.

And Ever McNamara was most definitely my dirty little secret. And I was his.

“Aw.” Jamie clutched his chest. “I thought you forgave me.”

“I have, but I won’t ever forget, so maybe think twice before you put me in the middle of your feud again.”

“You were a necessary evil, Archer.” He tugged on the sleeve of Ever’s jacket as if my wearing it made his point. Maybe it did.

“I was not amused, Buchanan.”

“Fine.” He groaned and pulled me into a tight hug. Unable to resist, I hugged him back. Jamie could be quite charming when he kept his mouth closed. I had only just relaxed when Tyra’s phone pinged.

“Uh, I’m going to catch up with you later, Four.”

My head lifted quickly from Jamie’s chest. Was she seriously ditching me after begging me to come? “What?”

She was already backing away with a sheepish look. “You’re good with Jamie, right?”

“Tyra…”

“I’ll be right back. Promise!”

I was left gaping after her as she hurried down the beach.

“This will be the last time I let her drag me anywhere.”

“Aw, don’t be too hard on her,” Jamie advised. “It’s not her fault, after all.”

My nose wrinkled as I looked up at Jamie. “What do you mean?”

His eyebrows lifted. “You really don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Vaughn and your friend…they’re hooking up.”

“No, they’re not.”

“Yeah, Four. Have been since Ever’s birthday bash.”

“She would have said something to me.”

“Would she? Have you even told her about you and my cousin?”

“Why would I when there’s nothing to tell?”

“Tell that to someone who doesn’t see the way you two look at each other when you think no one is paying attention.”

“Have you ever considered telling stories for a living? You have quite the imagination.”

“You must be driving my cousin’s head wild,” he said as if I hadn’t spoken. “He’s never been rejected before.”

“I don’t know why. His personality sucks.”

“Yeah, but they don’t want him, they want our money.”

I sometimes forget that Jamie was just as privileged as Ever. Maybe because he was down to earth while Ever kept his nose in the air. “No amount of money could make me suffer through life with that spoiled prick.”

Jamie playfully brushed his thumb down my cheek while gazing at me lovingly. “And that’s why you’re his one, lass.”

I batted his hand away and grumbled, “You won’t be saying that when I knock him off his pedestal.”

“Ever’s need to protect and avenge gave him one hell of a mean streak. You shouldn’t push him.”

“Why should I listen to you? You push him all the time.”

He shrugged, but I could see the torment in his eyes. “I’ve got nothing Ever hasn’t already taken.”

“Why don’t you get even? No one can be that forgiving.”

His eyebrows rose as a lascivious smile brightened his features. “Is that an invitation?”

“I’m just curious why you hang out with him even though you claim he betrayed you. The two of you fight all the time, but you’re hardly ever apart.”

“We’re at each other’s throats, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have his back and he doesn’t have mine. No one’s allowed to fuck with him but me.”

“But why are you still loyal to him?”

“We’re family,” he answered with exasperation. “And no girl will ever change that.”

“Even if she’s your one?”

His nostrils flared. “She showed me years ago that she wasn’t.” He took a sip of his beer and looked off into the distance.

“If that were true, then seeing her with him wouldn’t torture you so much.” His gaze met mine. “Anyone can see that it does.”