Page 63 of Personal Foul
“Okay,” I say, a little relief at hearing that. My brother could be decent when he wanted to be, but he also loves getting under my skin when he can. That’s the problem with a family full of competitive over-achievers.
“I’m sorry I’m so jealous. It’s just, you’re you and it’s hard, you know? I know I need to get over it. Especially if we’re going to go back to Highland and be normal again. I promise I’ll get my shit in order if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I glance over at her, knocking back the rest of my scotch, and staring at the empty glass for a second before I speak. Not that it helps the words I use.
“What if we don’t go back to normal?”
“What?” Her brow furrows and her eyes flick up to meet mine.
“What if we keep this up when we go back?”
“How?”
I shrug, “Would you want to?”
She looks down at her glass and then across the deck and beyond, her eyes drifting over the view for a second before they come back to me.
“No,” she answers quietly.
My heart tightens and slams against my chest before it falls flat. I’d expected her to reject me, but not so bluntly. Not without explanation or hedging or something. The simple “no” stings like hell.
“No?” I ask because echoing her is all I can manage out loud.
“I couldn’t handle the other girls, East. Your lifestyle. Here where you’re kinda forced to pick me because we’re all alone at a couple’s resort is one thing. But out there in the real world? We both know that doesn’t go well. Not really. And I… I really like you. I shouldn’t tell you that. It ruins the hateship a little right?” She smiles at me. “But I feel like we could be friends. For real. Get through this project—I think together we could do it. Get the first-place nod, get the interview. We’re pretty good together when we’re not trying to kill each other.”
“I feel like the sex is a pretty integral part of us not killing each other.” I lean back on the one thing I know she likes.
“I guess that’s probably true.” Her lips press together in amusement.
“And if there are no other girls? If it was us exclusively fucking?” I hedge another route in with her.
“Exclusively?” Her eyes light up and there’s a hint of hope in her voice.
“It’d have to go both ways.”
She laughs and shakes her head at me.
“Does that amuse you, Princess?”
“Yes. With your ego, I would think you would understand. It’s kind of cute that you have a little blind spot. Maybe that’s what makes you so good.”
“I’m going to assume that means you’d be exclusive too?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Then we’re doing this,” I say, my heart fucking beating again with hope at the idea of having her to myself beyond this trip.
“You have to tell me when it’s over though. Okay? Give me some warning ahead of time to adjust.” She looks at me warily.
“Not a problem, but for the record, I don’t anticipate it being any time soon.” Because I honestly can’t imagine getting enough of her, as frightening as that is.
“It’ll be harder to keep it a secret though.” She sets her glass on the deck and turns to face me, the lights reflecting in the water and dancing off her face.
“We could just tell them.”
“Is it bad that I kind of like it? I mean… I hate lying to Kenz and Liv, but I like that we have a secret—just us. Our own little bubble away from them.” She kisses me tentatively and slides a leg on either side of me.
“I mean I can definitely do without their opinions. And I like anything that’s just between you and me, Princess.”
