Chapter 63
Shortly after Nathan returned to school after the injury that ended his football career, our Model UN Advisor discovered he ruuld speak five languages and convinced him to accompany is on our trip to a conference in New York.
Like fifty times during the trip, I tried to summon the courage to talk to Nathan, but I couldn’t even muster up a ‘ht All I could do wa watch him shine as he gave the closing speech during our debate and killed our presentation during the cultural night
He was the star of the entire conference, and he was surrounded by so many adoring fans–girls from our school and the other school- that I bet he barely even noticed anyone around him.
Now, though, he’s looking at me the way he did that first day on the terrace when the Valerie fiasco happened–like he’s trying to remember something.
My heart skips a beat. Now is absolutely not the time to remember me.
Bea follows his gaze and points to me, gasping. “You said you went to a model UN conference in New York, too.” She points between both of us. “Did you two go to the same school?”
My mouth opens–and closes. And opens again.
Nathan is frowning so hard, I can practically see the gears turning in his head. If he remembers me from Model UN, he’ll most likely remember me from the disastrous party. I’d rather the ground open up and swallow me.
Peter lets out a sharp burst of laughter. “You really think April could afford to attend the same high school as us?”
Bea snickers, covering her hand with her mouth, and Peter snorts. “Many schools go on trips to New York.” He glances at me then. “1 think I’d remember if I went to school with April.”
That last sentence seems to get through to Nathan. He and Peter went to the same school; if Peter doesn’t remember me, then I must likely didn’t go to their school.
I catch Peter’s gaze and hope he can see the gratefulness flooding through me. At this point, I might as well erect a statue in Peter Ashford’s favor for how many times he’s saved me so far. Which is ironic considering that I thought he was going to be my greatest problem in this competition.
The rest of the game progresses without incident, and afterward, the brothers declare lunch.
We move to the pavilion, where we watch Nathan and Peter grill up a feast–burgers (including vegan options for about half of the girls), barbequed chicken skewers, foil–wrapped potatoes, and grilled corn on the cob.
Nathan proves that he really can cook, and I watch, a little awestruck on my perch on the pavilion bench, trying not to let my jealousy choke me as the girls surround him, oohing and aahing over his cooking skills.
Since we got here, I haven’t seen him alone once, and it pisses me oll. It also reminds me of high school in a way I hate.
“Yeah, you definitely don’t like him.”
I blink, turning to Eliza, who’s smirking at me. “What?”
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Chapter 63
She nods towards Mr. Popular by the grill. “You literally can’t keep your eyes off him for five seconds.
I sigh, forcing my gaze not to revert to Nathan.
“Yeah, whatever,” I mumble.
She giggles and reaches out, tapping my ring finger on my left hand. “Sister–wives.” She winks at me.
Before I can answer, a presence joins us at our bench that momentarily silences me.
Lara blinks at us. “I can sit here, right?”
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Eliza nods mutely.
Lara relaxes slightly. She looks towards the grill. At this point, I can’t even see the brothers again as they’re surrounded by girls
She tilts her head to the side. “They have to be miserable, right? All that yapping and sycophancy.”
Eliza looks at me, and I share her sentiment. I can’t believe Lara Ellington is talking to us–willingly.
“What’s sycophancy?” June asks.
Lara smirks at her. “It’s when people tell you exactly what you want to hear and flatter you excessively.” She points at the girls and says in a mock falsetto, “Oh, Nathan, you’re such a good cook. Oh, Peter, how did you learn to flip a burger like that? Oh, Lucas, you look so good in an apron.” She rolls her eyes. “Gag.”
June giggles. “You’re funny. Why haven’t you come to hang out sooner?”
Lara’s gaze shifts to Eliza and me, and I’m suddenly aware of myself. Am I staring too intensely?
She shrugs. “I didn’t know if any of the girls were worth it.”
“And now?” Eliza asks hesitantly.
Lara shrugs again. “You’re not sycophants for one.” Her gaze shifts to me. “That’s good enough for me.”
The rest of the camping experience pretty much follows the same pattern–every group activity has girls surrounding the heirs, making it impossible for me to get Nathan alone, and every individual activity has me hiding in my cabin for fear of running into Lucas,
June, Eliza–surprisingly, Lara–and I spend most of the time in each other’s company, and although that’s fun, I’m extremely grateful the next evening when we load our luggage back in the luxury bus to return to the Ashford Estate.
There, at least, I know I have a proper buffer of rules and a whole wing separating me from Lucas.
“What’s wrong, hon?” Eliza asks, and when I turn to her, I see she’s looking at June. My sister is frantically searching through her duffle bag.
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Chapter 63
“I can’t find him,” she says, her voice thick.
I frown. “Can’t find who?”
a
She looks up at me with tears brimming in her eyes. “Bun Bun.”
I reach for her bag and ruffle through it. “Are you sure? When last did you have him?”
“I woke up with him this morning, but I haven’t seen him since then.”
After searching through her bag and acknowledging that the stuffed bunny is indeed not there, I search through mine and find nothing
I sigh. “Okay, get into the bus. I’ll run back to the cabin and check.”
June sniffs. “Thank you.”
Eliza helps her onto the bus and turns to me. “Need help?”
I shake my head. “I’m sure she just dropped him somewhere. I’ll be back soon.”
She nods and joins June on the bus while I turn and head back to our cabin.
Sure enough, I only have to look for about five minutes when I find Bun Bun wedged between the bed and the back wall.
“Got ya,” I whisper as I dislodge it.
As I straighten, I hear the tell–tale sound of tires crunching on gravel and frown. I rush out of the cabin in time to see the Mercedes bus drive out of camp.
“Hey!” I break into a run, waving my arms frantically. “I’m still here!”
The bus doesn’t slow down even a little bit, and I watch incredulously as it moves farther and farther away from the camp, leaving me behind.
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