The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (65)

I sank into the chair with a guilty conscience. All I could do was remember what Ever and I did in Coach Bradley’s kitchen and how he belonged to someone else. To Barbie.

The boy in question sat on her other side, deep in conversation with none other than Daniel Kim—the kid whose head I cracked open. The chatter around the table slowly died as I sat. I pretended to be engrossed in my pizza.

After a couple of minutes passed, I figured I’d spend lunch being gawked at until Vaughn barked, “What the fuck is everyone staring at? Eat.”

I never thought I’d be grateful to him for anything. When I met his gaze, he winked and returned to his conversation with Tyra. The only one who still seemed to have an eye problem was Daniel Kim. Ever’s attention was now focused on Barbie, so his glaring went unnoticed by everyone except me. The animosity in his eyes had me ready to risk the rest of the day on an empty stomach.

“We should do something after school,” Tyra suggested and then firmly added, “Alone,” when Vaughn started to speak.

He didn’t bother hiding his displeasure, which Tyra ignored. I still had my doubts regarding his intentions, but I had to admit his clinginess was kind of adorable. Something told me these feelings he had for Tyra were a first for him. Tyra pretended to hate it, but she wasn’t fooling anyone but herself.

“Sure.” That earned me a glare from Vaughn.

“I’ll text you the details so we can remain undisturbed.” She cut her eyes to Vaughn and made a face.

He sucked his teeth and made a point to ignore Tyra by starting a conversation with the guy next to him.

I shook my head at Tyra though I didn’t feel too sorry for Vaughn. He wasn’t even close to being a victim. He was just used to being the one behind the mind games.

Jamie sauntered up to the table with his arm thrown around the neck of a girl I was pretty sure was in my English class. “Why didn’t anyone save me a seat?”

“You can have this seat,” a pretty brunette offered.

“Don’t mind if I do,” Jamie flirted.

The brunette started to lift her tray when Jamie smoothly detached himself from the blonde. He helped the brunette from her seat and took her place, but then we were all in for a shock when he seated the brunette firmly in his lap, leaving the blonde he came with standing there looking well…dumb.

“Um…excuse me?” the blonde hissed.

Jamie glanced over his shoulder with a bored expression. “You’re excused.” He turned his attention back to the table, and the blonde stomped off. I watched as he noticed Barbie and Ever sitting together. Bitterness washed over him until his gaze landed on me, and the twinkle I’d come to dread entered his eye. “What’s up, cousin-in-law?” He then winked at me, making it clear his greeting was for me instead of Barbie.

I bristled when everyone, once again, abandoned their private conversations to stare. Snickers moved like a wave around the table but then died abruptly when Ever spoke in a flat tone.

“Your juvenile attempts for attention are beginning to bore me. Maybe you should try another table.”

Everyone suddenly looked nervous as they waited to see who he’d kick from the coveted table next. I wanted to see Ever’s face, but that required leaning over, making it obvious that I cared.

“Nope,” Jamie sassed as he sat back defiantly. “Like you, I like to have my cake and eat it, too.” He then buried his face in the brunette’s neck, causing her to giggle. If I weren’t sitting next to Barbie, I wouldn’t have heard her inhale. I could feel her anger as she watched Jamie seduce the girl occupying his lap.

When I met Tyra’s wide gaze across the table, she mouthed, “Drama,” to me.

I snorted and counted the seconds until lunch was over.

“It must be so hard for you.”

I hadn’t realized Barbie’s words were meant for me until Tyra’s gaze shifted from me to her and back again. I met Barbie’s blue gaze. “I’m sorry?”

“To want what can’t and never will be yours.”

“I…I wouldn’t know,” I lied.

Barbie noticed my hesitation with pursed gloss-coated lips.

“Do you love Four?”

“Why the fuck would I?”

I could still see his perfect lips curling and his cold eyes mocking.

“I guess we have that in common then. I’ve never wanted what I can’t have, either. I guess I have Ever to thank for that.” Barbie flashed a fake smile and bumped her shoulder against mine as if we were the best of friends. I’d had enough.

“I’m not going to dignify what you’re implying with a response because that would be stooping.” I stood up with my lunch tray, drawing Ever’s hawk-like focus. “I don’t stoop, Barbie. I transcend.” I talked myself out of slapping her upside the head with the tray and walked away with more class than anyone at this godforsaken school thought me capable of.

Fuck this school.

Fuck Barbie.

And fuck Ever, too.




When school ended, I once again opted to ride with Jamie. The lesser of two evils. He talked my ear off the entire way home though he didn’t get much response from me. I was slumped in the passenger seat until Jamie’s whistle drew my attention. He parked behind an all too familiar 1975 Honda CB400F Cafe Racer. Gruff had a red one just like it. It wasn’t the fastest on the market, but I was in love with the vintage rugged appeal. The fresh yellow and black paint gleamed in the sunlight, and my fingers ached to stroke it.