The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play #1) - B.B. Reid Page 0,149

a coward.

“Cool.” Noticing that I didn’t share his excitement, he added, “Don’t look so worried! My parents are gonna love you.”

I wasn’t worried. I was drowning. And when you’re dying, it isn’t worry you feel. It’s pure panic.

He kissed me in front of our riveted audience, and among them was Barbie. I could tell by her disgusted look that she’d heard every word. I mentally shrugged off her puzzling reaction. She should have been happy that I was no longer poaching on her territory. It certainly shamed me to know that Barbie had been right after all. She was the one to wear Ever’s ring.

Michael took off for his own class oblivious to the attention. When we showed up together for the football game last Thursday, people took notice. The tweets and statuses Tyra showed me were all vague, but I was a smart girl.

She chose him over Ever?

Ever is way hotter!

I know he’s engaged, but I’d be his side bitch.

No more wondering if he hit that yet.

So much for being undesirable. Can I have next?

First, they slut-shamed me for wanting Ever, and then they mocked me for moving on. High school was a fickle place.

Class started, but I couldn’t focus on the lecture Mrs. Roberts was giving about reproductive rights. Feeling Barbie’s gaze, I peeked over my shoulder. I expected a mocking sneer, but she was pale and visibly trembling.

Her swift change of emotion was a real head-scratcher. I debated what to do. The angel on one shoulder urged me to comfort her while the devil on my other kicked up her feet and smiled as we both found solace in knowing that Ever would spend a lifetime dealing with Barbie’s erratic moods.

The pressure on my bladder had become unbearable by the time class ended, so I texted Tyra that I’d be late for lunch and hurried to the nearest bathroom.

Two girls were primping in the mirror, but the stalls were empty, so I dived inside the nearest one. I was tugging my skirt back down after relieving myself when I heard, “Get out.”

I didn’t move, but the sound of rushing footsteps told me that the two girls at the sink did. Seconds later, I heard the lock on the bathroom door turn.

“I know you’re in here, Four.”

Okay, this isn’t creepy at all.

I stepped out of the stall.

Barbie was leaning against the sink with her arms crossed. Her casual stance wasn’t one I expected of Ever’s prim and proper princess.

His real princess.

The color had returned to her cheeks, and she appeared contemplative as she stared back at me.

“Any particular reason why you’re stalking me in public bathrooms?”

Barbie had about four inches on me, but if I needed to, I could take her.

She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“Doing what?”

“At first, I thought you were just someone he was screwing. There have been girls, but he was always discreet. After Olivia Portland, he had to be. Whatever he had to do to keep the rumors at bay. We couldn’t risk tipping my father off.” She drew in a ragged breath and started again before I could ask questions like “Why the hell are you telling me this?”

“My father’s company has been losing money for years. Soon, it will be completely bankrupt, and we’ll be out on our asses. My father has always insisted on living above his means, so even if he sold the company, it wouldn’t be enough.”

The frown I wore only deepened. “What does this have to do with Ever?” Or me.

She lifted her nose in the air. “It would embarrass my father if he had to downgrade our lifestyle. Once I turned thirteen, it was impossible for anyone, especially men, not to notice me. He’s been priming me since then.”

“Priming you?”

“To marry someone who could get him out of debt and fatten his pockets.”

The last piece to the puzzle finally slid into place. “So Ever is just your meal ticket? You don’t love him even a little?” I found it impossible for any girl to get this close to Ever and not fall.

Unless that girl had already fallen.

She stared at her engagement ring, a pear-shaped diamond that glittered in the light and mocked my broken heart. “He’s my best friend,” she said as if that explained everything. “The promise of marrying into a family worth billions was enough to keep my father patient.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Ever became a shell when his mother left. I promised myself that