Chapter 87
I freeze at the sudden intrusion, unable to quite comprehend it through the lust–induced fog my brain is in.
Nathan, on the other hand, flies into action. He grabs the edge of the blanket on the other side of the bed and throws it over me, wrapping me like a cocoon and covering my dignity. Then he swings his leg over the side of the bed and sits upright, facing the door.
“I was going to let it go,” a familiar voice says, clearly agitated, “But I couldn’t sleep. I can’t let this happen. You-
I can’t see him, but I imagine Peter freezing and then taking his brother in. Noting his state of undress, his kiss–swollen lips, his tousled hair–and the human–sized lump behind him.
“What the fuck?”
Nathan sighs. “Peter, get out.”
“No.” I hear a shuffle, and imagine Peter moving forward. “Better question. Who the fuck?”
“Peter…” There’s a warning in Nathan’s tone. “This is none of your business. Get the fuck out of my room.”
The heat within me is slowly dissipating, being replaced by the familiar cold hand of dread and anxiety. While I lie under the blanket, my heart thundering, Peter ignores Nathan and delves into a rant.
“Need I remind you that it’s illegal for contestants to be here in the west wing? Let alone, in your fucking room!”
Nathan scoffs. “Illegal? What, are you going to take me to jail?”
Peter snorts. “Who gives a shit about you? I’m worried about the poor girl you pulled into your bed. You’re going to be fine, but she’s going to get expelled, or worse. As if what you did to poor April wasn’t enough.”
A pregnant silence blankets the room. Then Nathan speaks again, his voice stern. “Seriously, get out, Peter.”
“Nope. You’re going to sit there and listen to what I have to say.”
A heavy sigh. “Peter-”
“I know your brain is the size of a pea, but how could you be so fucking dense?”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, you’re fucking excused, asshole. How could you not recognize her? She loved you throughout high school, and you humiliated her. But you didn’t even have the courtesy, the goddamn decency, to remember her. And now you’ve gone and hurt her even worse than you did back in high school.”
“Peter-”
“You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you? I’m talking about April. I’m talking about the girl who has loved your selfish, dumb ass since you were sixteen. The girl who loved you so much that she threw herself in this shark tank of a competition, had to deal with prejudice and sabotaging snakes, all in a brave attempt to win your heart, and—”
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15:12 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 87
“Okay, I think that’s enought” 1 spring up, pulling the blanket off my face but wrapping it tight around my bare chest.
I glare at a shell stocked Peter. “What the hell, Ashford? Since when do you do love confessions on my behalf?”
59
Peter blinks several times, his eyes comically darting between Nathan and me. Then he slaps his hand over his mouth to muffle his sharp burst of laughter.
Nathan sighs, turning to me, “I’m sorry about him,” he mumbles.
I smile reassuringly, leaning forward to kiss his shoulder. “It’s cool.”
“Uh, no it’s not fucking cool! What the hell, April?”
I frown at Peter. “What?”
“How could you not tell me you’re fucking Nathan?!”
My eyes widen as I choke on air,
“Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you?” Nathan hisses. “It’s nothing like that!”
Peter raises a brow, scrutinizing me. “So, she’s not naked under the blanket?”
Nathan stands, and when the muscles on his back tighten, I have to remind myself that now is not the time to be having wayward thoughts or tingling sensations, “Hey!” he snaps. “Eyes off her.”
Peter snorts, glancing down. “You would be much scarier if your little soldier wasn’t standing at attention waiting for his orders.”
I close my eyes, exhaling. Forget erecting a statue in Peter’s honor. He’ll be lucky if I don’t bludgeon him to death.
Nathan lets out a frustrated groan and repeats for the umpteenth time, “Peter, get out!”
“No!” Peter stamps his foot on the carpet. “I’m staying. And we’re talking about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Oh yeah? The fact that you eliminated April less than six hours ago, and now you’re playing naked hide and seek under your blanket, isn’t worth talking about?”
Nathan runs a hand through his hair, cursing softly. “I don’t owe you an explanation.”
Peter tilts to the side, giving me his attention. “What about you, Chaos Queen? I thought we bonded. How could you not tell me you were fooling around with my brother on the side?”
“We’re not-” I shake my head, my face flushing. “This is the first time.”
Peter snorts and looks back at his brother. “You have pretty shitty timing, bro.”
“Fuck off,” Nathan sighs, dropping back onto the bed.
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15:12 Mon, Oct 6
Chapter 87
Peter crosses his arms. “So, what? Is this goodbye sex? Wham bam, thank you ma’am? One for the road? Are you going to pack her a goody bag filled with your hoodies and underwear?”
Nathan charges. “I swear to God, Peter-”
“Hold your horses.” Peter raises his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just trying to get the big picture. Where exactly are you two going from
here?”
Nathan’s jaw clenches. “We’re figuring it out.”
Peter snorts. “I can assure you the answer is not in either of your mouths“-he smirks-“or your downstairs areas.”
I think I would knock his teeth out first. Then, bludgeon him to death.
“Dude, if you’re just going to continue spewing shit and not actually be helpful then-”
“Get out.” Peter waves nonchalantly. “Yeah, I got that.”
He strolls leisurely to the couch opposite Nathan’s bed and sinks into it. Then he smirks at both of us. “Lucky for your two horny asses, I have a plan–a genius one, might I add.”
I frown. “For what?”
Peter rolls his eyes. “To keep you in the competition, silly!”
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15:13 Mon, Oct 6
Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
