The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play #1) - B.B. Reid Page 0,84
and said, “You’ve got a nice set up here. That big fancy house of yours is really impressive.”
“Why did you follow me?”
“I never trusted you, but after you saved my life, I figured I might have been wrong about you…but then I saw you in the city, looking like a million bucks, and I realized I’m never wrong.”
“Whatever you think you know—”
“You and I both know what I know, so let’s not insult each other’s intelligence. I thought you were hiding something, but I got to say, you’re damn good. I never expected to find some rich boy looking for a thrill.”
I didn’t bother to correct his assumption. My reasons for becoming Exiled were none of his fucking business. “What do you want?”
“Straight to the point. That’s the Danny I know. What I want is never to see your fucking face again, pretty boy. If I do, I’ll carve it up real nice before letting Fox kill you.”
“Does he know?”
When he shook his head, relief flooded me. “Consider us even for saving my life. As long as you stay the fuck away from Exiled, we’ll stay even.”
He stood to his full height, and I considered killing him, but we both knew I wasn’t a murderer. The only blood I would ever spill was Fox’s and only if he left me no choice.
“This is goodbye…Ever.” He patted my shoulder on his way past, and I felt helpless and enraged as I watched him disappear into the night.
I SLEPT PAST MY ALARM and did a mad dash from my bed to the shower and into my uniform. After the movies, I’d taken the scenic route home. Ever still hadn’t made it home when I arrived, so I snuck into his room and left the keys to the Racer on his nightstand. Somehow, while worrying if he’d make it home in time and chewing my fingernails to bits, I’d fallen asleep.
Dressed for school, I grabbed my backpack and rushed downstairs. I was too late for breakfast, but I stopped by the kitchen anyway for one of Mrs. Greene’s freshly baked muffins. Judging by the mouth-watering scent my nose was picking up, it was going to be a blueberry morning.
I jumped the last two stairs just as Jamie sauntered from the kitchen with a half-eaten muffin in one hand and two in the other. He grinned when he caught sight of me and stuffed the last of the muffin in his mouth.
“Morning, sleeping beauty,” he said with a mouth full of scrumptious blueberry delight.
“Did you save some for the rest of us?”
“I’m a growing boy,” he defended.
I started for the kitchen again when his free hand circled my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.
“Heads up. You’re riding with me today.”
“Is everything okay?” Jamie and Ever usually took turns driving, and on the rare days they drove separate cars, I always chose Jamie. It was better for everyone that way. Last year, riding alone with Ever had left him with a black eye and me with a threat from him that I should have heeded.
Jamie glanced over his shoulder at the kitchen, and when he regarded me once more, the worry in his eyes caught me off guard. “Here”—he offered up one of his muffins—“take one of mine, and let’s get out of here.”
“What?” I stared at him as if he’d grown a second head before my very eyes. “You never share food. Why are you being weird?”
He blew air from his lungs and released my wrist to shove his fingers through his hair. “I’m not.”
“Then why don’t you want me in the kitchen?”
“Ever’s not in the best of moods.”
“When is he ever?” I didn’t wait for a response and pushed past him. I wasn’t going to worry myself about which side of the bed Ever woke up on. When I stepped into the kitchen, Ever was rising from his seat at the farthest end of the island with a bowl in his hand. “Hey.”
He met my gaze across the room, but there wasn’t a flicker of emotion or even vague recognition in his brief glance.
“Hey.” The single syllable was frozen over, and I instantly regretted not leaving with Jamie when I had the chance.
“I left the keys in your room last night. Did you—”
“They’re back in the safe,” he curtly supplied.
“Are you okay?” I questioned while moving closer. I thought I was used to Ever’s mood swings, but this felt different.
“I’m fine.” He placed his bowl in the sink and met my gaze for