Page 85 of Rules, Roses, and Rivals
“I see,” I said slowly. “And what’s the verdict?”
“That he’s not as foolish as he looks,” Archie said, standing now, reaching for his drink again. “I’m sure you knew that already, didn’t you?”
The way he saidyouas though I was the wildcard in the deck made something sharp twist in my stomach.
“I didn’t know anyone needed a vetting process,” I said tightly. “I didn’t realize I needed your approval.”
“You don’t,” he said, almost kindly. “But you should’ve expected the scrutiny.”
“I did,” I snapped. “But you guys? Really, Archie?” I laughed once, bitter and low. “You’ve hadfivegirlfriends in the last year andtwowere sisters.”
Rachel winced beside me. “Oof.”
Archie smirked. “That was a misunderstanding.”
“You mistook one for the other?” I shot back. “Sure.”
He didn’t rise to it. Just sipped his drink again, slow and thoughtful. “I’m not judging your taste, Frankie. I’m trying to figure out if your new attachment’s going to get himself torn apart out there.”
Mathieu’s jaw twitched, but he stayed quiet.
“I can fight my own battles,” I said.
Archie gave me a look that was far too close to sympathy. “You shouldn’thaveto.”
I blinked.
That… landed.
Soft. Quiet. Awful.
Before I could decide whether I wanted to be angry or grateful, Rachel spoke up, voice drier than the gin she liked to fake-drink when boys got on her nerves.
“Well, this has beenadorable, but in case anyone forgot, the other three Stooges are still just outside this room, probably deciding whether to knock or punch something.”
I turned to the door, pulse picking up again.
Right.
Jake.
Now that I was inside, now that I’d seen Mathieu standing here, calm and intact andnotfurious, another weight dropped into my stomach like a stone.
“What happened out there?” I asked them both. “Because the whole party’s looking at me like I lit a match in a firework factory.”
Mathieu shifted. “You didn’t. He did.”
Archie raised his eyebrows. “Loudly.”
Rachel crossed her arms. “Define ‘loudly.’”
Mathieu gave me a look I couldn’t quite read. “He told them.”
For a second, I didn’t understand. Told them what?
Then the bottom fell out.
He told them.
