Page 61 of Unwritten Rules

He looked concerned. “You know absolutely nothing about being wealthy, do you? You are in the top one percent of everyone in this country, Blondie.”

“My mother raised me right if that’s what you’re asking.” I sat back, challenging his accusation.

He placed his palms flat on the table. “In this life that weallshare,” he looked between Kelly and me. “Status is everything. Who you associate with is everything. What benefit does Kelly’s family have for you that makes you friends with her?”

She looked shocked.

“That’s not why we’re friends,” I stated flatly. He was bringing our friendship into it by suggesting it had to have some benefit other than the fact that we loved each other and wanted to associate with each other. We lived together for God’s sake!

He looked between us, not believing there were no benefits outside of just friendship. “Great example: Your mother was a rare talent, and others will expect you to be just as good as her, if not twice as much. This includes not holding a relationship with a man that could threaten your throne.”

“I’ve not heard you speak about your father, and I suspect there is a valid reason for that. Garrett may know who you are, but you don’t know who he is. It’s a dangerous game you’ve been playing with him this semester and you will be caught in the crossfire. No one like us stays safe for long.”

Brent Vaughn, the playboy, telling me what life was like. The guy who plays baseball and gets into fist fights for fun?No way.

He had to be bonkers.

Or sent by his grandfather with a threat or something.

I held up a finger. “As the known player of the school, you are telling me that I need to be careful of my associations? That sounds like the exact opposite of what you do.”

He probably was thinking I was dense with the expression on his face. He had to close his eyes and breathe before responding to me. “Do you know my grandfather?”

I pursed my lips, unsure of what answer he was looking for. Augustus Vaughn was top dog of anything in this country. I’m sure he had politicians in his pocket like a mobster would. If Brent was in line to inherit such a large conglomerate, why was he such a...him?

“I had a meeting with him earlier this week and he was tellingmeto keep my head down. Something big must be in the works. Can’t be good if your name is circulating like this.”

Kelly broke up the intensity with the sound of her own stomach screaming for food. “Sorry. I’msuperhungry since my popcorn is all over the floor. Can we order some food?”

“Might be more productive with food.” He pulled his phone out. “What are we in the mood for, girls?”

“Pizza and garlic knots. Oh! A brownie thing. Maybe some regular breadsticks...” Kelly was quick to answer. She loved her pizza.

She might also be very,verystoned at this point.

“The pizza needs to have as much meat as possible on it or she likely won’t eat it in her, erm, current state.”

He typed away on his phone and laid it face down on the table, leveling his gaze with mine. “I’m game for a sleepover. I ditched the Dictator’s tail, so you two are stuck with me for the night.”

Oh joy.He also called his grandfather a Dictator, which led me to believe that they must have a strained relationship of sorts. But that was a question for another time.

“So, you ordered the food knowing we’d be relying on you to stick around to see it get delivered. Devious plan.”

I stood, planning on changing my clothes and he stood up with me. Kelly looked between the two of us as if we were her own personal reality tv show and she was enjoying our weird little game. When I made a move to step away, it was clear he wanted to follow me, and Kelly just watched on. I was happy at least one of us was having a good time, even if she was stoned out of her mind and anything would give her that level of entertainment.

“Anywildsecrets about her boyfriend?” I gestured to Kelly, hoping to distract him so I could leave and put on comfier pajamas. It didn’t work.

“Who’s her boyfriend?”

She perked up. “Shane Jones.”

“Nope. Don’t know him.” He said bluntly.

She missed the point because she was that far gone. “Babe, I don’t think you need to worry. I was being facetious.”

Brent ignored her. “Is Garrett your boyfriendofficially?”

He followed me after I turned away to walk toward my room. I wanted to cover myself up if he was going to stay here. He saw me in worse when he demanded I come with him, but we were in my house—at night. A small bout of anxiety started brewing in my stomach and I hoped it would go away with some food.

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