Page 63 of Legacy Elite

"I said I was."

"You said that last year too."

"I came."

"An hour late."

"I was busy."

"You were hiding."

Soren makes a sound beside him that might actually be agreement.

Ander looks at him. "Don't."

Linnea laughs and reaches up to straighten Ander's collar again. "There. At least try to look like you want to see your family."

"I don't."

"I know."

And that's the part that gets me. Not the hand on his collar. Not even the fact that he lets her do it. Again.

It's the I know.

She says it without asking why, and Ander doesn't explain.

Of course he doesn't. She's known him since he was a kid. She probably knows every person he hates and why, which family dinners he avoids, and which ones he shows up late to.

And apparently that bothers me. Which is ridiculous. You cannot get butterflies over every hot guy who looks at you, Jessica.

Especially this one.

Ander has shown exactly zero interest in me. He's not my mate, he's never acted like he wants to be, and there's a beautiful blonde standing beside him who's known him since he was six.

So get over it.

My stomach gives another stupid little flip.

Great. Glad we settled that.

"Jessica?"

"What?"

"We're going to be late."

"Right."

Someone from the administration building comes looking for Ander and Soren, and the two of them leave with him. Ander looks back once before they go inside.

I pretend not to notice.

"I need to grab something," Sophia says.

I look at her.

She smiles.