My Know-It-All Nemesis - Maggie Dallen Page 0,27

by this turn of events. I mean…sure, I knew we were competitors. Our rivalry was legendary at Sweet Mountain High. But that was part of the fun, right? Sure, she drove me nuts, but she also pushed me.

“You want me to drop out,” I said, needing to hear her say it.

Her eyes were filled with a million different emotions, but her expression remained impassive. Unreadable. Something like panic started a riot in my gut as I realized…she was serious.

9

Kate

Did I mean it? Did I really want him to drop out of the election?

Yes.

Maybe.

Honestly, I didn’t really know. All I knew was that being here at his house was giving me a whole new perspective. Seeing the way everyone eyed him with envy, taking in the daydream that was his life—the guy had a pool house, for Pete’s sake!

Yeah, maybe I did want him to back out.

I didn’t expect him to. I’d never once seen Miller Hardwell back down from a challenge, especially from me.

But that was the thing, wasn’t it? It wasn’t really a challenge because we weren’t even playing the same game. We were in totally different leagues, and today more than ever, it was so very clear that I didn’t stand a chance against him.

Sure, I could let my hair down and play the part of a normal high school girl, but that wasn’t me. It couldn’t be me because there was no room for failure in my life—not if I wanted to get out of this town and make something of my life.

So, when Miller continued to gawk at me, like he was waiting for me to change my mind, I tipped my chin up further.

“Why?” he asked.

The simple question had me blinking in surprise. Of all the times he and I had bickered or debated, I’d never once heard anger in his voice. Smugness, yes. Lazy confidence, all the time. Exasperation, that was a given.

But I’d never heard him angry, and I’d never seen this flash of emotion in his eyes. Emotions that were deeper and more serious than I’d ever imagined.

It wasn’t like I thought he was some shallow jerk—actually, that was a lie. I totally thought he was shallow. And entitled. And conceited.

But tonight, I was seeing this whole new side of him, and that…that was terrifying. I knew how to fight the smirky, laid-back prince of pool parties.

I had no idea how to go up against this.

“Why, Kate?” he continued when I didn’t respond. “Why now? Why do you want an easy win now?”

“An easy win?” I couldn’t help it. I laughed, and the sound was full of bitterness. The very thought that anything I worked for came easily…it was a joke, surely. But no, he just stared at me in confusion.

“You know what? Never mind,” I said, looking around for that stupid little clutch I’d borrowed from Daphne. The purse was a mistake, because unlike my giant pink tote bag, this black clutch wasn’t easy to spot. I ran a quick look over the table beside me before realizing I must have left it back in the pool house.

“Where are you going?” he asked when I turned away.

“I need to find my purse.”

I didn’t exactly expect him to let the conversation die—nothing with Miller was ever that easy—but I didn’t expect him to dog my heels the entire way to the pool house, either. And I definitely hadn’t expected him to whip around to face me the moment we stepped inside the doors.

I stopped short, but I still bumped into him, that was how quickly he’d moved. I frowned up at him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Not letting you run away,” he shot back. “You’ve never once run from a fight with me, Kate, and I’d hate to see you start now.”

Ugh, the condescension in his tone was beyond irritating. I stiffened and saw a glint of triumph cross his eyes. He was baiting me.

“You’ve never seen me back down because I hate how easily everything comes to you,” I said. “Every time, every challenge, every rivalry—I’ve always deserved the win, and I know it.”

“You think everything comes easily to me?” he asked. His gaze was alarmingly intense as he studied my face, searching for…something. I had no idea what.

I tilted my chin higher. “Of course, it does. Look at your life…” I threw my arms out wide to take in his house, his pool house, the grounds, the lifestyle. All of it. “You were born into a life of ease.