Page 95 of Bittersweet Revenge

Icrossed my arms over my chest. “Okay…” I was not committing to an answer even if I couldn’t agree more. Archibald and I were raised to be cold thinkers even if my impulses toward Esmeralda were much more directed by my heart than my brain. But she was all feelings and impulsive reactions. It was a blessing as much as a curse.

“I mean, her getting a tattoo was the stupidest thing ever and you, letting her do it…”

“Have you seen her tattoo?” I asked. Even if he was her brother, I couldn't stop the dark edge in my voice. It was no place for a brother to see.

“No, God, no!” The horror on his face was almost comical.“She was giggling about it with Taylor like an enamored schoolgirl.” He cocked his head to the side. “Which, in retrospect, is exactly what she is.”

I couldn’t deny that I was more than pleased at the idea of an enamored Esmeralda.

“I didn’t let her do anything. She's a grown woman, Archibald. If she wants a tattoo, she should be able to have a tattoo.” I didn’t need to admit that it appealed to my male ego, my inner caveman, to have my brand on her skin.

“Fine.” He threw his hands up in exasperation. “But it’s just that she was talking about coming to Brown with me.”

I tensed. “When?”

“Before New York.”

Was that why she’d asked where we were going? I hated the idea of her going to Providence, away from me. “Okay, and what happened?”

“I sent her the brochure and the application form. A formality, really. The Dean said he just needed it for a paper trail. She said she wanted to wait a bit, that she wanted to, and I quote, ‘weigh up her options’. I can't help but wonder if what she is weighing is about a hundred and sixty pounds of blond assholry.”

“One hundred and seventy-two please, and what if it is the case? We’re together.”

“For how long?”

As long as she wants me, I almost repliedbut sudden voices behind the door made Archibald grab my arm and pull me into the file storage room.

“What the fuck?!” I whispered, turning on the light on my phone.

“Us together in a room would be suspicious. I panicked,” he whispered back.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, yeah, and us together in a dark storage room would be a picture of innocence by comparison.”

He shrugged with a sheepish smile.

“You know I love you, Tay, the best way I can love a woman – the deepest way, but it’s not enough,” St. Vincent said as he walked into the room.

Of course it had to be St. Vincent and Oppenheimer. Now I knew Forbes would tackle me before I even tried to open the door. He was leaning closer to the door, eager to hear this conversation.

“Why not?”

You know why, you idiot. He likes penises, I thought with irritation.

“Because you deserve better, sweetheart, and you know that.”

“Is it because of Philip?” she asked with uncertainty.

She didn’t think she was really dating him, right? No, she couldn’t be that clueless.

“No, Philip and I were never serious. I can’t have a relationship here, in this town, in this country.”

Archibald turned sharply toward me, his eyes widening in realization.'Gay?!’ he mouthed to me.

I rolled my eyes again. Fuck, this guy could be so clueless.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Her voice was small.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave you behind, but I’ve been accepted to La Sorbonne.”

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