Page 159 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
“Actually, I’ll renounce my claim on you for the greater good,” Rob said and turned to James. “Mom seems hellbent on you marrying a Pruitt. Maybe you should just marry Sanders. What do you think, James? Marry Sanders instead of the troll?”
“You’re right, that’s not a bad idea,” James said. “How ‘bout it, Brooklyn? Shall we make it official and get hitched?”
“What?” I laughed even though he seemed pretty serious. Why did the Caldwells and Hunters just keep throwing out marriage proposals like it was no big deal? “No.”
“Why? I’ve already seen you in your underwear, and I liked what I saw. You’ve already seen my dick and I know you liked that or you would have looked away.” He winked at me. “We’ve alreadyshowered together. My current relationship is doomed and so is yours. Let’s just make it official and make my mom happy.”
What the hell?“My relationship isn’t doomed. And neither is yours. You love Rachel.”
“And love can’t be one-sided.” He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, letting his knuckles graze my jaw. “Besides, I can’t get you out of my head. What was it that I said the other night? Let’s be miserable together?”
“James…” my voice died away when he moved to be on one knee.
His smile grew a little brighter, as if he was happy with the shocked expression on my face. “I’d like to alter what I said about being miserable together. Let’s just be together. I don’t think we’d be miserable. Not even a little bit. I think we’d actually be a lot happier together than we are apart. Like when we were together on Saturday night. I liked that. What do you say? Marry me?”
What the actual hell is happening?
Betrayal - Chapter 12
Monday
I didn’t know what to do. I was completely frozen. Matt was going to freaking kill me.
“What do you say?” James asked, his hand still on the side of my face.
I finally found my voice. “No.”
James just smiled. “No you don’t like when I touch you like this? Noted.” He turned his hand so that his knuckles caressed the side of my jaw instead. It was both soothing and inappropriate at the same time.
“No, not… No. I’m not going to marry you because it’ll make your mom happy. That’s ridiculous.”
“Do it for me then,” James said, like what he was proposing wasn’t insane. Which it was. Because he was proposing a proposal and apparently every boy at Empire High had lost their minds.
“You don’t even like me!” I pushed his hand away.
“That’s not true. I told you the other night that I did. And it’s the truth that I can’t get you out of my head. I’ve been dreaming about kissing you again.”
“Well, stop dreaming that. And try harder to get me out of your head.”
“No thanks,” he said. “Come on, Rob, help me out here. Don’t you think we’d make a great couple?”
“Actually, yeah I do,” Rob said. “Look how happy he is, Sanders. He doesn’t usually look like that.”
I stared at James. He did look happy. The real kind. Not the fake smile that he gave to strangers. Why was he looking at me like that?
I couldn’t be responsible for his happiness. I couldn’t even handle the weight of my pain. I couldn’t possibly bear his too. I shook my head at the same time James’ eyes landed on my left hand.
“I guess I’m too late,” he said and finally got off one knee. His eyes stayed trained on my left hand.
I clenched my hand in a fist. Of course he’d seen the ring. It was impossible not to see.
“What the hell is that thing?” Rob asked and grabbed my hand.
“It’s a…promise ring,” I said.
“It looks like a freaking engagement ring to me.” He whistled.
I pulled my hand back. “I really need to get going.” I couldn’t be here with them talking about stuff like this. I was in love with Matt. Period. And if that meant I couldn’t be friends with them, then that was how it had to be. Even though I hated when James’ smile turned to his usual frown.
