Page 44 of The Plan

The pros and cons listI make in my head for dating Sire has a lot more pros than I expected. I still have no regrets from the party, but ever since then, Sire’s new game is back to randomly bringing up that we’re dating instead of trying to seduce me into admitting that dating and messing around is the same. They’re not.

I’ve been ignoring him every time he says it, and I can see him get annoyed, but he doesn’t quit. There’s a very hard knock onmy door, pulling me out of my thoughts. When I open it, Sire is standing in front of me. He’s sweaty in his baseball uniform and does not look happy.

He walks in without invitation—well, more like storms in. “We lost today's game because of you.” What does his losing have anything to do with me?

I turn around after closing the door, and he’s leaning on the back of the couch with his arms crossed. “How is it my fault if I wasn’t even—”

“Because you weren’t there, Vid. We’ve won every game you’ve been at. You’re our lucky charm.” I feel a smile creep on my face because it’s cute that he thinks so, but it isn’t true. The team is amazing, maybe the best in the country, so I doubt they lost because I wasn’t there.

He’s looking at me like he’s waiting for an explanation, and when I don’t give him one, he says, “What was more important than being there?” I tell him I need to study, and he rolls his eyes in response.

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and when he looks up at me, he looks angry all over again. “You’re going on a date with Jayden?” That’snottrue but who the hell told him that? I try to look at his phone, but he pulls it away from my sight.

“He asked me out.” I shrug, and he looks like he could kill someone. “I told him I don’t date, though, but that was all after he asked if we were dating. Why does everyone think we are?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because we’re constantly together and are practically dating.”

“We’re not—” He doesn’t let me finish and scoffs while shaking his head. He makes his way past me to the door, but I stop him. “Sire, wait. Don’t be like that.”

He spins back around on his heels with a fire in his eyes. “Don’t be like what, Vidia? Like I’m your boyfriend or something?” I don’t miss that he’s quoting my exact words, andhe keeps going. “God, we’ve been going back and forth about this for weeks now. I’ve made it very clear that I want to be with you, and all you keep doing is pushing me away.”

I cross my arms across my chest. “I am not pushing you away. We’ve been hanging out just the same.” Wehave… Besides me completely ignoring him when he brings up being my boyfriend.

He looks up to the ceiling, shaking his head, then meets my eyes again. “I’m willing to fight for you, Vidia, but not if you’re going to be with other people in the meantime.” At that, I snap with an attitude of my own.

“Oh, please. Like you haven’t been with anyone.”

“I haven’t,” he counters.

“I’m not sure if you think I’m an idiot, but it’s hard to believe you haven’t been sleeping with anyone in the past few months we’ve been hanging out.” He’s amanfor fucks sake. I doubt he hasn’t been with anyone within the last few months, let alone weeks.

He smirks and tilts his head to the side a bit. “Ihaven’tbeen sleeping with anyone, but you sound jealous.” This asshole. I walk to the door and swing it open.

“I’m not jealous, but since you think it’s so damn funny, leave.”

He rolls his eyes and leans against the back of the couch again. “I’m not leaving. We’re talking.”

I shut the door and walk to my room because I frankly don’t want to talk to him anymore.

“Don’t walk away from me, Vidia.” He was ready to walk away a minute ago, but I can't?

“You’re such a hypocrite,” I mumble. “Leave me alone.” I make sure to say that part loud enough for him to hear. He follows behind me, and when I reach my room, I throw the door shut behind me, but the sound of it closing never comes because he stops it. I start reorganizing my desk, trying to distract myself.

He closes the door and then leans against it, most likely to keep me from walking away again. “Why is your bed undone?” I turn around to look at my bed, then over to Sire, and he’s giving me an accusing look.

“Because I didn’t make it this morning. What the hell are you implying, Sire?” I see his jaw clench as he rolls his eyes.

“Why was I informed that Jayden was here?” Who the fuck told him?!

“He bumped into me at the store and walked back with me to ask about us. Once I told him we weren’t dating, he asked me out, and I then politely rejected him.” He looks like he doesn't believe me, which only makes me more upset. “Believe what you want, Sire, and get out.”

He pushes off the door and walks over to me. “What exactly did he say to you?”

“It’s none of your business.” My tone is dismissing, and he lets out a sigh before raising his hand but freezes as concern covers his face.

“Why’d you just flinch?” He takes two steps back and studies me, and his features soften as he looks between my eyes.

“What?”

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