Page 64 of The Ruthless Rivalry

I can’t help but grin, despite still trying to make sense of everything that happened this evening. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, a mix of emotions twisting in my chest. The heat from the dance floor is still on my skin, and yet, I feel unsettled. The memory of Sylvester’s touch lingers, but then Bishop’s face flashes in my mind, and I can almost feel the weight of his gaze on me again. I don’t want to be tangled up with someone like Sylvester…but is it so wrong to wonder what it would be like to justnotthink for once?

I look away from the mirror, my heart a little heavier than it should be.

Aubrey’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts as she emerges from the toilet room, her tone bright. “Okay, I’m officially empty and relieved. Let’s get back to that dance floor!”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Actually, how about we grab some more drinks instead? I think I could use something strong.”

Aubrey grins. “Yes! Let’s go! My brain’s already forgetting, but I want to make sure my liver doesn’t.”

I glance over at her, forcing a smile, but still feeling that strange mix of confusion and curiosity swirling inside me. “I like your thinking.”

But as we step out into the hall, my thoughts swirl again. I’m not sure if I’m chasing a distraction, or if it’s something deeper I’m avoiding. Either way, I push it all away for now and head back toward the bar.

I’m not sure how I got here, but at some point, I find myself back in the bathroom. I giggle, trying to make my way to the toilet, but as I approach, I trip over something. Toilet paper. It’s fallen off the roll, and unspooled across the floor like a crime scene.

“Oops,” I mumble to myself, bending down to gather up the mess. This is going to be fine. I can fix this. I’mdefinitelycapable of fixing this.

I try to roll the toilet paper back onto the holder, but instead, I just end up pushing it around in a tangled mess like I’m trying to untangle some kind of awful knot. I twist it, wind it, and end up with a ball of toilet paper that looks questionable, at best.

“There, good as new!” I say with an overly proud grin, standing up like I’ve just accomplished some monumental task. It’s probably not perfect, but who’s going to notice? The toilet paper’s back on the roll, and that’s what matters, right?

I stand up straight, blinking a little. Something’s missing. Oh, right—I didn’t come in here to fix toilet paper. I came in here because Aubrey needed something. I glance around, confused for a second.

The hand towel! I spot it, hanging by the sink, with cute kittens playing with yarn on it.Kittens.My brain immediately short circuits, and I stumble over to the towel, my hands reaching out to pet the adorable little creatures.

Kittens are just so…fluffy. So, so fluffy. I start absentmindedly stroking the embroidered kittens, feeling like I’m bonding with them on a spiritual level. They’re just so soft and white. Just likeVictoria’s hair, actually. Wait. Victoria! I saw her earlier! She was at the party. I was going to go say hi, but Aubrey stopped me. She said Victoria seemed busy.

The memory slowly sinks in like a lightbulb flickering on. Oh,right! She was making out with her girlfriend. Aubrey and I had both burst into giggles, and then I wandered off…to fix toilet paper.

Wait… Where is Aubrey? Why am I alone in the bathroom with a hand towel and a mess of toilet paper?

In the midst of my deep pondering, I accidentally bump into someone. Still stroking the towel like it’s a pet, I mumble without looking, “Bathroom’s free.”

College parties are so much fun. So, so muchfun.

Then I hear that voice. Smooth, with an arrogant tone that I know all too well. “Well, well, look at you, troublemaker. Only you could make fixing a mess and holding a hand towel look so…cute.”

I jerk my head up, startled. There, leaning in the doorway like he owns the place, is Bishop. His arms are casually crossed, and that smirk is plastered across his face.

I frown, irritation flaring up as I stop petting the towel. But as I look at him, it feels like there are more of him. Multiple Bishops, all standing there, their expressions identical, but somehow each just a little bit more…attractive.

Wait. How is that even possible? They all have that same coy grin. It’s not fair. They’re all too perfect. Seriously, how does one person look so good in every direction?

“You know, you’re awfully cocky for someone who’s not in focus right now,” I say, my words slurring slightly, my gaze flicking between the Bishops—Why are there so many of them?

He raises an eyebrow, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’re wearing glasses,” he points out, his voice smooth. “You don’t usually wear glasses.”

I quickly reach up to my face, trying to find them, but the world’s spinning too much, and I end up swatting at the air like an idiot. Finally, I yank them off, and just like that, the extra Bishops vanish, leaving only two of him standing in front of me.

I blink rapidly, focusing on the real Bishop, who’s still standing there with that cocky expression. It’s hard to ignore how ridiculously attractive he looks, even in this messed-up moment.

“Better?” he asks, his voice warm and teasing.

I scowl, trying to push away the all-too-familiar flutter in my chest, even if it’s starting to get on my nerves. “Stop it,” I mutter, my words unsteady. “You’re confusing me.”

Bishop’s smile fades just a little, and I notice the way his eyes soften—just for a second. Then he sighs, his usual confident mask slipping slightly. “If only you knew how true that statement is for me too, Prescott.”

The words hang there for a moment, too heavy, too real, and my brain’s too foggy to fully process what he’s said. But I feel something in his tone, something…vulnerable?

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