Page 103 of The Ruthless Rivalry

He shrugs, unfazed. “I know. That’s what makes it fun.”

I grit my teeth, frustration mixing with something I can’t quite place. It has nothing to do with the jacket, and everything to do with him. I give up on trying to remove it and let out a sigh. “You really have nothing better to do than spend your time annoying me, do you?” I mutter, not expecting an answer.

“I have plenty of other things I could be doing,” he says, his voice dipping lower. “But watching you struggle with something as simple as refusing my jacket? Definitely more entertaining.” He leans in just slightly, his presence too close for comfort. “But if you’re really done with it, I could always help you take it off properly.”

I scoff, though the effect of his words isn’t lost on me. I can feel the heat creeping up my neck, and it’s definitely not because of the jacket. “You really are a pain in the ass, you know that?”

He smirks, unbothered, like my words don’t faze him in the slightest. He steps closer, his breath brushing against my ear as he leans in, just close enough to make me feel it. “I know you can’t resist me, even if you won’t admit it. I saw that the other night.”

The boldness of his words hits me harder than I expected, and for a second, I forget to breathe. He doesn’t back away, his gaze locking onto mine with a confident, almost predatory look, like he knows exactly what effect he’s having on me.

Just then, Atlas walks up, his voice briefly cutting through the tension between us. “Alright, students, we need you all to pair up for our activity. Same as last time—one rowing member and one Oceanic Reflection student per team.”

Coach Barkley stands off to the side, arms crossed, his face clearly saying he couldn’t care less about the group exercises. Atlas, however, is full of energy as always.

I can still feel Bishop’s presence lingering too close behind me, and I can’t ignore the frustration building inside me. Trying to get a grip on my composure, I fire back at him, not missing a beat. “You really think I can’t resist you? You must be delusional. I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough of you in my life already.”

The smile lines around Bishop’s mouth only deepen, totally unfazed by my words. He leans in again, his tone dropping to a self-assured, almost arrogant drawl. “Nah. You’re just playing hard to get, but I’ve never shied away from a challenge. It’s fine, I know you’re curious.”

I raise an eyebrow, glaring at him. “About what? Your endless ego trip?”

“You know, I think it’s cute when you pretend you’re not into me.” He leans in just enough to make sure I feel every word.

I scoff, crossing my arms. “Your intimidation tactics might work on everyone else, but not on me.”

Bishop chuckles softly, as if it’s the best thing he’s heard all day. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He pauses for a moment, eyes locking with mine. “But don’t worry. I won’t bite…unless you ask nicely.”

I grit my teeth, trying to ignore the way his words make my chest tighten. “You’re unbelievable,” I mutter under my breath.

He just shrugs. “You say that now, but I’m still waiting on that apology—for my camera, you know.”

I freeze for a split second, caught off guard. An apology? Was he serious? After everything he’d done to me?

“I mean, not that I’m in any rush,” he adds, eyes narrowing slightly, his jaw tightening for a fraction of a second—just enough to make me realize it’s more than a camera to him. “It’s just weird. You’d think if someone had the guts to steal something from me, they’d at least have the nerve to bring it up.”

His arrogance rings through, and the way he says it—like it’s impossible anyone would dare do such a thing— only reassures me. It was a good choice. I don’t regret it for a second.

I smirk, crossing my arms. “Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t exactly feel the need to apologize for giving you a taste of your own medicine.”

As Atlas continues explaining the rules, I glance around at the students already pairing up. My gaze flicks back to Bishop—he hasn’t moved an inch, still standing far too close. I scan the shoreline again. Everyone’s already teamed up.

Except for us.

My stomach sinks, realizing what’s happened. Bishop distracted me long enough that I couldn’t make a choice in time.

I shoot him a sharp look. “You tricked me,” I hiss, barely able to keep my voice level.

He raises an eyebrow, the smirk still in place. “Tricked? No. I just took advantage of the situation. Looks like you’re stuck with me, troublemaker.”

Bishop’s smirk deepens, and I can’t help but feel like he’s enjoying the situation just a little too much. “Sucks, doesn’t it? When things don’t go our way, huh?”

I lift my chin, matching his smugness. “I don’t know, Bishop. You tell me. Things always seem to work out for you.”

His eyes flicker with something dark and confident as he tosses my words right back at me. “Yeah, they do. Funny how that works.”

As we approach the water, rows of boats are already lined up along the shoreline, each one ready for the activity. The other students are already climbing in, pairing off quickly and moving with a practiced ease. I can hear the faint sound of their chatter, the occasional splash of oars dipping into the water.

I glance around, noticing the eyes of my classmates on me. It’s nothing new. I’ve always been the outcast, the one who never quite fit into the neatly organized boxes they put people in. But it’s almost like the usual stares are a little more pointed today, a little more…curious.

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