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The front door opens, breaking the tension. Is that the boyfriend? Doesn’t he know how to knock?

Kota’s body twists in that direction, so I quickly add, “Just like your relationship.”

“Breathe a word about what happened and I’ll tell my mom she has an escort living under her roof.”

I scoff. “I’m not a fucking escort.” I didn’t even take her out.

“Then you’re a scam artist, which is even worse. At least escorts work for their money.”

My heart jumps into my throat, making it hard to growl out, “I’m not a—”

Kota leaves before I can defend myself.

I thought evil stepsisters were the stuff of fairytales.

Until I came face-to-face with my own.

“Finally,” Guy says as I jump into his arms.

Wrapping my legs around his waist and hooking my ankles behind his back, I cling to my boyfriend like a lifeline. In the crook of his neck, I take a large inhale, breathing in his cashmere-and-sandalwood cologne with the hope it’ll wash out Khaos’s spicy, citrus aphrodisiac.

At least I assume that’s what he’s wearing. I have no other explanation for what I just did, how I behaved. I don’t disobey. I don’t mouth off. I certainly don’t cheat. Yet that’s exactly what I did. I cheated on Guy…with my stepbrother. I feel disgusting. I am disgusting. I never should’ve let someone touch me so intimately without verifying who it was first.

But Guy’s been letting himself in the house for years. Why would I assume it was anybody else? My mom didn’t say anything about Khaos coming here. The room she made up for him was for if he ever visited his dad. If. And his dad isn’t here right now.

So why is Khaos?

Guy pulls back to look at me. “How was Daytona?”

“Hot,” I say while studying his eyebrows. It’s as close to his eyes as I can get. I’m too scared he’ll see the shame if I meet his gaze directly.

“Probably a lot less hot now that you’re not in it.”

Not according to Khaos, I think with a huff of irritation.

Wait, why am I irritated? I don’t care what Khaos thinks of me. He’s nobody to me. Nothing.

Just a mistake.

“I missed you,” I tell Guy to redirect my thoughts where they belong—on my boyfriend.

“Think about how much I’ve missed you.”

He’s only saying that because he loves me, I remind myself. He’s not guilting me. No, the guilt is all my doing. I betrayed him. Unintentionally, but still, it happened. And now I have to keep betraying him. He can never find out what I did. He would leave and that’s…not an option.

“I know. I’m sorry.” I’m not actually, but I am sorry he feels neglected. While cheer season is long and grueling, it’s always been that way. He’s known this and has had plenty of time to adjust.

“You’re going to have to show me how sorry.”

My smile is halfhearted at best.

A throat clears behind me, then I hear, “What’s wrong, Silver? Your legs suddenly stop working?”

I crank my head over my shoulder, inconspicuously checking to see if Khaos changed his pants.

Thank God, he did.

Changed or not, why is he here, talking to us?