She replies with a thumbs-up emoji.
“What do we do?” Jack runs his fingers through his hair. “I mean, this is all an act, right?”
Caden lounges in the corner of the couch. “Of course it’s an act. Below that is the spitfire she always is. She’s just punishing us.”
And there’s the rub. She’s punishing us, and it’s working.
“How long do you think she can keep this up?” I knead the back of my neck. She’s already got us spinning, and it’s only been a day.
“No idea. She hid from us for years before this.” Eli shrugs. “It’s possible she can bury herself under layers again.”
“I don’t think she’s hiding.” Caden grabs the remote and turns on the TV. “But we’ll know for sure by what she wears tomorrow to school.”
“I think she’s trying to make us not interested in her.” Jack picks up a football, tosses it in the air, and catches it. “It’s actually pretty effective. I still want Harper, but I don’t want her like this.”
I lean forward with my hands clasped between my knees. “Give her tonight. No punishment. No interaction. Let her think she’s winning. Maybe she’ll drop her guard.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” Jack says.
I smile. “Then maybe she needs to remember what it’s like when we aren’t in her life.”
Harper
At nine o’clock, I turn on my webcam and then go in and take a shower. They didn’t say I had to stay on the webcam, and I didn’t give them a chance to tell me anything. I take my time inthe bathroom and then head out into my room, already dressed for bed.
I chose a shapeless nightgown withI heart coffeeon it that falls to my knees. Sitting at my desk, I work on my homework without even glancing at the guys’ webcams.
No one says anything. I almost forget they’re even there. I stretch up after a little while and finally glance at the screen.
Huh?
They’re working on homework or off-screen. I’m surprised because usually they interact with me a little. Oh, well, less work for me.
There’s still that small part of me that revels in the horsemen’s attention. What if they start ignoring me again? Fuck, but that’s what I want. I want them to leave me alone. Right?
Shaking my head, I go downstairs to refill my bottle of water.
“Hey, how are things going?” Mom looks up from the book she’s reading at the island.
“Same old, same old.” I stop and lean against the counter. “What’re you reading?”
She holds up the book, flashing the cover of a man’s chest draped in plaid. “The good stuff. How’s the boy trouble going?”
I take a breath. “Well, I’m trying a new tactic. Ignoring them.”
“How’s that working for you?” Mom raises her eyebrows.
“So far, so good. I think if I continue to ignore them, they might decide I’m not worth the effort.” I give her a smile. At least I hope it looks like a convincing smile. My stomach feels funny—not sick, just off.
She nods thoughtfully. “And that’s what you want?”
“Of course,” I say automatically. “You saw them. They’re good-looking guys, but those kinds of guys are only after onething, and while they may be genetically attractive, I need more than a pretty face to tempt me.”
“I could see that.” Mom turns her book back over. “But don’t just judge them by their pretty faces. They’re still people, and they have to be somewhat smart if they’re interested in you.”
“They just want me because I’m…unavailable.” I gesture as I stumble over the last word.
“Maybe, but guys rarely stick around if they don’t receive some sort of encouragement.” Mom arches her eyebrows at me over her cover.
