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All the air comes rushing out of my lungs, and I stagger back a little. There might have been a part of me that wanted her to say yes but fuck, I was not ready to hear it.
My feet take me away from the scene, and, before I realize it, I’m at my bike. I glance back over my shoulder to see kids laughing and joking with their friends, enjoying their stress free bullshit privileged lives, and I cave. Throwing my lunch into the nearest bin, I throw my leg over my bike and get the fuck out of here.
The house is in silence when I enter. I’m really fucking grateful, because I really don’t need to go for a second round with James right now.
“James, is that you back?” Ellen calls from the kitchen before her head pokes around the kitchen doorway. “Oh, Ace. Finished school already?” she asks with a knowing wink.
“Something like that.”
“Have you eaten, or would you like me to make you some lunch?” I want to say no, but my stomach rumbles loudly, making her chuckle. “Come on, what’s your favorite?”
“I… um… whatever you’ve got. I’m not fussy.” I drop down onto one of the chairs around the table in the center of the huge kitchen.
“I really don’t mind, Ace. James pays me to ensure the four of you are well looked after.”
I scoff. “That’s really not necessary. I’m more than cap—”
“I know, Ace.” She rests her hand on my shoulder and squeezes slightly. “I know. But you don’t have to now. So just enjoy the rest, eh?”
“I’m just not used to it.”
“Just give it a few weeks. This place will feel like home in no time.”
“We’ll see.”
“So tell me about school,” she starts. “Made any friends yet?”
I can’t help but laugh at her positivity. “Do I look like the kind of guy who’s going to make friends with anyone in this town?”
She shakes her head but doesn’t comment. “James said you’d been hanging out with Remi.”
“Yeah, he’s real happy about it too.”
“Things haven’t been easy for her and Sarah since Remi’s dad left. He’s just looking out for them. I know they’ve not been together long, but he cares about her as if she’s his own. He only wants the best for her.”
“Yeah, and that isn’t me apparently.”
Ellen glances over her shoulder at me, an amused smile playing on her lips and a twinkle in her eye.
“What?” I ask, not knowing what she’s getting at.
“Oh, nothing, Ace. Nothing at all.”
She falls silent as she continues with whatever she’s making me, and my mind wanders back to Remi.
I knew the moment I saw her, saw how James looked at her with pride and love in his eyes, that she was going to be the perfect target. But it’s only been a few days and she’s already admitting to her friend that she likes me.
Even though the plan is to make her fall for me and force James to watch as I break her, proving that he doesn't have the control he thinks he does... I need to stay away from her. For a while at least.
I can’t lose my head.
Not now.
Not when I’m so close to the answers I need.
So what if she's a hot girl who’s clearly interested? I need to focus on my end game here. And it’s not for her to fall for me.
Or worse.
