The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (60)
“My uncle’s full of shit. That’s a lame way to spend your birthday,” Jamie said as soon as Thomas was out of earshot. Ever didn’t say anything, but I could tell he agreed.
“Well, I don’t exactly have popular friends to throw me birthday parties.”
They smirked at my snappy comment. They may have thought my plans were lame, but it was more than I ever expected.
“You have us,” Jamie corrected with waggling brows, “and we can give you better than a party.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah…skip school with us.”
“Not going to happen.” I wasn’t exactly giddy to spend the day at school, but I wasn’t giving Ever another chance to set me up. No way was I spending another year at Natasha Madison’s School of Ladies.
“Have you ever been to New York?”
I met Ever’s gaze, but his expression remained perfectly blank as if he weren’t the least bit worried I’d expose him. Maybe Jamie already knew. Despite their feud over Barbie, they were thick as thieves.
“No,” I lied. Well, it was more like a half-truth. I technically have been, but there had to be more to the Big Apple than crumbling buildings in seedy neighborhoods. “But I don’t think I need to risk suspension to visit. We’ve got that campus tour at NYU in a couple of weeks.”
“You really think those stuffed shirts at Brynwood care about showing you a good time?” Jamie clucked his tongue. “Wake up, pretty girl. Their only concern is offering up prestigious young souls to those ivy league sharks.”
I paused taking a bite of my cake. “So this is how you get girls to sleep with you? You convince them they’ll lose their soul if they don’t?
He grinned. “There’s nothing wrong with leading a few lost girls to salvation.”
Rolling my eyes, I shoved down more cake.
“Skip school,” Jamie begged some more. “We’ll take you.”
“Won’t they call our parents?”
Jamie snorted. “So?”
“You didn’t come home last night, and your mother didn’t bother to question where you were,” Ever absently pointed out as he watched me lick buttercream from my thumb. “I think you’ll survive skipping a day.”
I felt my cheeks flame. Was it so obvious that Rosalyn was oblivious to me? And why was Mr. Discipline even agreeing to this when he’s worked overtime to keep me in line? “I guess we’ll never know because I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He stared at me for a long, long moment.
“Did you get my note?”
“That crummy apology? Yeah, it’s currently at the bottom of my trash can where it belongs.”
Jamie’s head had been whipping back and forth between us. “Something happen with you two?”
“No,” we answered at the same time.
“Wait…Ever actually apologized for something he did?” Jamie stared at me as if I held the cure for cancer in the palm of my hand. “What are you doing to my cousin?”
“You’ve got it all wrong, Jamie. All the cards are in his hand. I’m just the one getting dealt.”
“So you’re a victim now?” Ever spat. “As I recall, you got off twice, and I was the one left with blue balls.”
“Whoa…what?”
Neither of us acknowledged Jamie.
“I didn’t ask you to do that!”
“But you loved it,” he countered calmly.
“I only loved it because you lost.” At his frown I got smug. “Yeah, you thought you’d bring me to heel, but it was you on your knees and me calling the shots.”
I wanted to punch him when he smiled so beautifully. “If that’s how you take charge, then I gladly offer you my surrender.”
Exasperated, I gave up before I could give in. “I’m done talking to you. Have fun in New York.” I flipped him off for good measure and moved to the sink to rinse my plate. I should have known he wasn’t done with me.
Spinning me around, he gripped my neck. “Another taste and I’m yours.”
Ever seized my lips before I could turn him down. Countless tender kisses later, his gaze clouded with regret.
“I’m sorry I was an asshole, okay?”
It was pathetic how badly I wanted to forgive him. “No. It’s not okay. You’re always an asshole, but what you did was despicable… even for you.”
“I know.” He exhaled and rested his forehead against mine. “Just come to New York with us. Give me a chance to make it up to you.”
“Why should I?”
“Because I can’t stay away from you. I’m trying, Four, believe me. I try so fucking hard, but you keep pulling me in.”
I prided myself on the firmness in my tone when I spoke. “Rest assured it’s not on purpose. I pull you in, you push me away. I never wanted this war, Ever. You did. Why should I be the only one with scars?”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “I push you away because you don’t know what you do to me and I’m not sure I want you to know.”
A peck on the lips led to another and more still until our kiss deepened, and we were making out. Ever wasn’t the only one confused by his emotions. One minute I wanted to spill his guts and the next I wanted to mount him. Forgetting where we were, my arms locked around his neck while his hands found their way under my skirt so he could cup my butt.