The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (85)

A moment later, the warning bell rang, and Tyra and I were rushing off to class.




“Does this skirt make me look obvious?”

I eyed the white butterfly print on the black material, which was high around her waist and flowing around the middle of her thighs. Her cropped cream knit sweater showed a sliver of stomach while her burgundy scarf was wrapped around her neck. Out of the entire ensemble, I admired her brown-laced combat boots. “In what way?”

“That he could have his way with me in one of these bedrooms. This house is amazing, by the way.” She cast another awe-filled glance around my room. I would have thanked her, but none of this was actually mine.

“I don’t think it matters anymore. You’ve already decided to sleep with him. By the way, have you told him?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting for the right moment.”

“To say you want to get it on? It’s not like you’re proposing marriage. I think any moment is the right moment.”

“Maybe you’re right.” She then frowned at her image and finger-combed her straightened hair. Every few minutes, she’d manipulate it into a different position. She currently had hair falling over her right eye. Five minutes ago, she’d had it over her left. She was acting as if Vaughn hadn’t seen her countless times before.

Jamie’s guests had arrived an hour ago, but we were still holed up in my room. I was wary, and Tyra was nervous. At Brynwood Academy, being among the one percent wasn’t enough. Her father’s working-class status and her own as a scholarship student made her an outcast, and well, Vaughn…he was the crème de la crème.

“Are you ready yet?” I playfully huffed.

“Are you?” she countered with an arched brow.

“No,” we answered at the same time.

There was a knock, and then Vaughn’s smooth as silk voice drowned out our laughter.

“Come out and play with me, Ty-ty.”

“Someone’s getting impatient,” I teased.

Tyra’s shy smile was barely hidden as she glanced at herself in the mirror again and rearranged her hair to frame both sides of her face—the exact way she’d worn it when she arrived.

“It’s a bit hot in here, don’t you think?” She fanned herself before removing her scarf and tossing it on top of her jacket.

“Not really. I think you’re nervous.”

She eyed me. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

I looked down at my black jeans, gray hoodie, and white chucks.

“Yes.” I shoved my gray beanie on my head. I had thought to wear my hair down, but the moment Tyra started gushing, I chickened out and pulled out the hat. I didn’t want to attract attention, most especially Ever’s. His Highness was the reason I was even second guessing my appearance.

“You’re not even going to do anything with your hair?”

“I just did.”

“Aye yai yai!”

Another knock came, and just as I began to smile smugly at Tyra, Ever’s voice filtered through the door. “Hiding won’t do you any good, princess.”

Not wanting him to have the satisfaction of knowing I was hiding from him, I quickly snatched open my bedroom door. “I’m sure there are plenty of our classmates eager to entertain you.” And by ‘classmates’ I meant the lusty-eyed girls in their come-fuck-me outfits.

“None as fun as you.” He was back to looking expensive and untouchable in his gray V-necked sweater and jeans that probably cost more than a month’s wages at Gruff’s shop.

“You promised you wouldn’t be an asshole.”

He leaned in until there was barely a finger-length of space between us. “And I’m keeping that promise or else you’d be over my shoulder right now. No more lip,” he rushed to add when I started to speak. “Let’s go.”

He seized my hand and pulled me toward the stairs. I looked over my shoulder and met Tyra’s wide-eyed gaze as she followed closely behind.

Ever led us to the billiard room where I was surprised to find maybe twenty people and all of them guys. Some of them played pool or darts while the rest sat around drinking beer. Among them were Max, Daniel, and Adam: the Franco clone, the mohawk, and the bruiser. Daniel’s eyes lingered on me when I entered the room. I probably would have hauled ass if I didn’t think Ever would make a scene hauling me back.

“Where are the girls?”

“Jamie invited them, and I sent them home.”

A cloud of smoke suddenly engulfed us, and I choked on the heavy stench of weed. My head whipped toward the source and found Drake and Ben standing in an intimate circle of five as they passed a joint around. I dropped Ever’s hand and darted across the room.

“Drake!”

He was slow to recognize me, but when he did, he yanked me off my feet and enveloped me in gangly arms. “Goddamn,” he whooped as he swung me around before setting me on my feet again. “You know how to keep people in suspense. Did you just get back?”

I couldn’t help giggling. His happiness was infectious. “Drake, you saw me at the homecoming game four days ago. Leave the weed alone.”

“Can’t. She was my first love.” He was momentarily distracted when Ben offered the joint, but to my surprise, he shook his head and faced me again. “So—”