Page 67 of Ice Princess

My chest feels tight and I rub a hand there. It was a bad decision to let Rebel leave. How is she going to get home? What if she orders a ride and the driver takes one look at her and tries to kidnap her? The world is a dangerous place.

Victoria pouts. “Your mom brought up a good point, Gunner. Did Rebel ask you to be her boyfriend so she can get into the Society? Because that’s a form of manipulation and fraud. Your mom could even sue.”

My mind whirrs. Is Rebel going to cry alone in the taxi? Will she spend all night, torturing herself with mom’s harsh words?

“I’d be happy to represent the Kinseys. I heard Rebel’s friend, April Brooks, is trying to sue your Uncle Stewart. We can even use this to counter sue?—”

Abruptly, I take out my wallet and slap a hundred-dollar bill on the table. Then I turn to Victoria. “You have your license on you?”

“Yes, but Gunner, I was saying we could sue?—”

I slap my car keys on the table. “Take my car back to town. I’ll have one of my cousins pick it up from you later.”

“What? Gunner! Where are you going? We’re in the middle of a conversation!”

Her words slap my back as I sprint out of the restaurant. I don’t care that everyone’s watching me. I only hope that Rebel is outside when I get there.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

REBEL

I keep tellingmyself that Carol Kinsey was just reacting out of spite.

I can still join the Society.

I can still make it work.

But the more I self-talk, the more cold, hard reality slams into me.

It’s over.

After everything I did to make it happen…

… lowering my head….

…. accepting all her rude comments…

…agreeing to fake a relationship with my mortal enemy…

My chances have been obliterated.Poof.Gone.

Whatever power I thought I had, whatever delusion convinced me that I could go up against a Kinsey and win, that’s done with. The rose-colored glasses have been ripped from my eyes.

I see the world with startling clarity.

I’m a Hart, born with my feet in the dirt. There’s nothing I can do to change my world, nothing I can do to change my place in this town, to make a difference.

But that’s not the most disappointing part.

Ialready knewI was powerless.

And yet, the moment Gunner stood behind my chair at the luncheon and declared we were dating, I started hoping for more.

Expectingmore.

Why did I forget my place?

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