“Yep.” I drop my hand from his arm and continue drinking. “I tried.”
“Did you though?” He raises an eyebrow. “I know you’re working with your ex.”
“This has nothing to do with him.”
“If you say so.” He shrugs a shoulder. My phone buzzes in my purse again. I get it quickly in case it’s Soleil. It’s not.
Mitch: I don’t like him.
I roll my eyes, not even bothering to look around for him this time.
Me: I didn’t ask.
Mitch: He’s not your type.
Me: Let me guess, you are.
Mitch: Stop rolling your eyes.
Me: Stop texting me. Go have fun with that blonde who clearly wants to fuck you. Don’t forget, I know you. Once you get what you have, you disregard it without a second thought.
I turn off my phone and put it away again.
“You okay?” Archer asks. “You seem pissed.”
“I’m fine.” I smile wide even though I’m not feeling it. “Never better.”
And then I proceed to drink until I feel it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Past
We were standing on a rooftop, drinking water with lime, not because I was opposed to underage drinking, but because the Cruz brothers were sticklers about it. They didn’t drink, smoke, or have sugar. Their workouts were rigorous and their diets were immaculate, tailored to each one of their bodies and sports. I always knew that, of course, hearing my parents talk about it in passing, but it wasn’t until I got here that I realized just how true it was. Where I had cheat days, and a lot of them at that. They only allowed themselves one cheat meal a week. They weren’t even peer pressured by their friends, who were all drinking, smoking, and doing other things at this party. In fact, their friends hadn’t even offered me anything since they knew I was with them. It was a level of respect I hadn’t seen in kids our age, but I liked it.
“She’s cute.” I nodded my head in the direction of a cute Indian girl across the room.
“That’s Anushka. She’s beautiful, but it’ll never happen.”
“Why not?” I frowned, looking over at Jagger.
He was the oldest of the Cruz brothers and I used to think he was the cutest until Mitchell bloomed. Also until I started spending every waking moment with him this summer. And kissed him. And did more than kiss him.
“Her parents have an arranged marriage set up for her.”
“No way.” My eyes widened. “People still do that?”
“Her parents did.” He shrugged. “He’s a cool dude, too. He picks her up from school on Fridays in his Porsche. He’s probably somewhere . . . ” Jag stopped talking and looked around, finally stopping and pointing. “There.”
I looked at the guy in question and blinked. “He’s stupid handsome.”
“So I hear.” Jag chuckled.
“Damn, but really. I guess I wouldn’t be opposed if my parents set me up with him.”
“Thankfully Anu agrees.”
“Wouldn’t that be so weird?” I looked at him.
“Wouldn’t what be weird?” Mitch asked, stopping in front of us, green eyes on me. My heart flipped.
“If our parents set us up in arranged marriages.”
“You mean you and Jag?” Mitch frowned.
“I mean in general, but yeah, that would be a possibility.” I shrugged.
“Hey, I’d be one helluva catch.” Jag grinned.
“I’d probably have to kill you though,” Mitch said. “And that would suck since I love you so much.”
My pulse quickened. I felt myself redden. We hadn’t told anyone about us. Not a soul. This felt like he was coming out with it and admitting it though, and I couldn’t deny that it felt right. Jagger looked between the two of us and shook his head.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?” I laughed.
“I knew you two were up to something.”
“What? How’d you know?” I asked, genuinely curious. We’d been so careful.
“Mitch won’t let me go jogging with you in the morning. He doesn’t invite me to the movies or bowling when you go.”
“That’s mean.” I slapped Mitch on the arm and he caught my hand, pulling me into his chest.
“I can’t help it if I want you all to myself.”
“Okay. That’s my cue. I’m going to be right over there,” Jag said, walking away.
“I thought we weren’t going to tell anyone.” I looked up at him, head swimming with love and lust.
“Jag won’t tell anyone.”
“Your entire school is here. It’s going to be difficult for you to get a girlfriend once I leave.”
“So?” He shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve never been the boyfriend type anyway.”
“Please.” I sucked my teeth. “You’ve had girlfriends.”
“Nope. You’re my first one.” He leaned down and kissed me with a reverence that quieted my jealousy, hesitation, and any questions I thought I had.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Present
“Thank you so, so much for the ride, Ki. I owe you one.”
“It’s no problem. I’m staying at my dad’s tonight and he lives out here anyway.”
“Really?” I glance over. “Where?”
“Right by the school.”
“Don’t tell me your dad works at UNC and you go to Duke.” I laugh.
“Ummm . . . yeah.” He laughs along. “In my defense, my mom went to Duke.”
“Well, both my parents are UNC graduates.” I grin.
“No fucking way.”
“Yep.”
“Damn.” He laughs louder. “That’s pretty savage. Do they still invite you over for Christmas?”
“They wish they didn’t have to, but yeah.”
“What in the world made you go to Duke? Defiance?”
“Something like that. My sister went to UNC. She’s the good girl, the one who does everything right. I went to NYU when I first graduated, chasing . . . a stupid dream. My parents were so against it that I figured they wouldn’t care where I went as long as I came back home.”
“Do they care?”
“Yeah.” I laugh, and he follows.
“My dad has tenure. History, but he specializes in African Studies. Every time we get together for a family reunion he gets made fun of by everyone. Most of my family pulls for UNC, they were around when MJ was there, you know? So they’re die-hard.”
“Ah, I get it. My mom’s a dean.”
“Damn, you really messed up.” He chuckles as he parks in front of the building. “This you?”
“Yep.” I point.
“What floor are you?”
“Ten.”
“How many floors are there?” he leans forward and looks out the front window.
“Fourteen? I think fourteen.”
“You think?” he laughs. “You don’t pay attention in the elevator?”