Page 49 of Twisting You

Chapter 12

Xavier

I stayed in the shadows of the trees watching Dan load Chloe’s bags into his sedan. My fists clenched at my side as I noticed Dan run his hand over her back.

He was my replacement. But as I watched her loose curls blow in the wind, as she walked to her side of the car, I realized, I didn’t want to be replaced.

Chloe’s POV

“That’s it. I give up.”

Ace threw the textbook down on to the kitchen table and ran a hand over his head, clearly stressed.

I dropped the pen down to the paper and glared across the table at him. “I never said I was smart.”

Ace scoffed. “Smart? HA!”

“What are you saying, Ace?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t call me that.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Don’t mimic me.”

“Don’t mimic me.”

“DAN!” Ace yelled. “DAN!”

“DAN!DAN!” I used a high girly pitch.

Dan walked into the room, his eyes flicking from me to Ace. This wasn’t the first time he’d been called to separate us.

“Chloe is showing signs of stupidity again,” Ace grunted and crossed his arms. “I give up.”

“Fine, give up!” I shot at him. “AGAIN!”

“See this.” Ace pointed at me. “This is what I have to put up with!”

I scoffed loudly. “Whatever!”

“Alec, Chloe. Stop.” Dan held his hands up. “Maybe you guys need a break.”

“Chloe needs a break from anything that involves education or using higher thinking power.” Ace glanced at me.

“Maybe you are just a bad teacher,” I sneered.

“Chloe, I have dumbed it down to the point that a four-year-old could understand it!” He pushed himself from the table. “I’m going for a smoke.”

I grunted. “It’s not my fault I don’t get it!” I threw my hands in the air. “Who the hell needs algebra anyway?”

“You do.” He shot over his shoulder as he slid the long glass door open and stepped out into the beautiful sunny day.

“Come on, Cho. Maybe you need a break,” Dan said softly to me.

My eyes scanned the beach view. We were on a tropical island and for the last three days the boys had taken it in turns to ‘teach’ me. I sighed slowly. “Yeah, maybe.”

I pushed myself away from the table and looked at Dan’s small smile. His hair was brushed across his face and his t-shirt clung to his defined upper arms.

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