The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play #1) - B.B. Reid Page 0,123

our parents was another thing entirely. Thinking quickly, I grabbed Four’s hand and made a run for it. We pissed off a few people during our mad dash through the crowded library—namely the guy who spilled his coffee to get out of our way—and drew even more attention. Ignoring a chorus of “Hey!” and “Stop!” we burst through the nearest exit marked Emergency Only and set off a piercing alarm.

“Shit.”

After looking around for a place to hide and finding nothing, I started forward so we could cross the street, but the sound of Four’s laughter drew me to an abrupt stop. She was still smiling brightly after I turned to face her, and I swallowed hard when I realized that I’d gladly be caught red-handed if it meant I could live in this moment a little while longer.

Still giggling, she said, “That was fun.”

“Oh?”

She nodded before chewing on her bottom lip thoughtfully. “And it made me realize something.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m not the troublemaker,” she answered with bright eyes. “You are.”

I knew the exact moment she realized her mistake. Her fallen visage mirrored the turmoil raging within me, and I cursed myself for confiding in her at the beach. She hadn’t been wrong with her assessment, and even though she’d meant it as a compliment, she also knew why it was anything but.

I now wondered if finding Nathaniel Fox would even make a difference. I was still the same person I was four years ago. I only became good at hiding it.

“Oh, Ever, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine.” I cleared my throat to rid my voice of the emotion weighing it down and said, “We should get back.”

She didn’t argue as I led the way.

Twenty minutes later, we rejoined the group with Mr. Fletcher, Four’s pre-calculus teacher and group chaperone, none the wiser. The tour had come to an end, so we were promptly directed back to the buses.

Neither Four nor I had spoken a word in more than half an hour, but still, I stayed close as we waited to board the bus. After that unlikely encounter with Wren on Four’s birthday and knowing he could still be watching me, I wasn’t leaving her safety up to chance. Stealing a peek at her, my stomach turned at the dejection written on her face, so I decided to say something—anything—to bring back her smile.

“Four—”

Jamie, unfortunately, chose that moment to appear wearing a shit-eating grin. “Did you see Brittany Hall?” he asked me.

“Who is Brittany?” Four inquired with her arms crossed. “Some girl you two are running a game on?”

It was a good thing her back was turned or else she would have caught my smile. I bet she had no idea of the jealousy seeping from her pores.

“No, pretty girl.” Jamie tapped the tip of her nose and snickered when I scowled. “Brittany is the residence hall where our mothers met their freshman year. They were roommates.”

“Oh.” She then whirled around only to stumble back when she found me standing closer than I’d been a moment ago. “You didn’t tell me your mother went to school here.”

“I was a little distracted, princess.” I struggled to hold in my laugh when she glanced at Jamie to see if he’d heard.

Goddamn, she blushes beautifully.

Lucky for her, Jamie had already lost interest when a leggy co-ed with an inviting smile took a seat on a nearby bench.

Entrapping me with her big brown eyes once again, she said, “Did your father also meet your mother here?”

“My father went to school out in Pennsylvania, but he eventually met my mom.”

“Yeah, and my pops was a buddy of his pops,” Jamie added, seemingly forgetting all about the brunette.

I could tell Four had more to ask, but one of the chaperones herded us onto the bus. She quickly ascended the short steps and sat in the first seat available. The bench had been empty leaving an empty seat next to her, but since I didn’t care to talk about my mother anymore today, I kept going.

I could feel her gaze on me as I walked away and heard Jamie say, “Don’t take it personally. He’s just being a mama’s boy.”

It took every ounce of control I possessed to not toss Jamie’s meddling ass out the window.

Sitting at the back of the bus, I had a perfect view of Four whispering with Jamie. Letting my head fall back, I closed my eyes to mentally prep for the fight still to come.

Since the rumors started, Tyra had been driving Four to and