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“A younger brother, who is now in line to take control of the Monroe Clan. It would have been me.”
“And you wanted that life?”
He looks thoughtful as he considers the question. “I did at the time, but I wouldn’t change what I’ve found here for anything. Oak gave me a safe place to escape, and I’ll forever be in his debt.” Archer reaches for me and places his hand on my leg, squeezing softly. “As a veteran, I have some ideas about how you can pull off escaping from your dad at graduation.”
I stiffen at the mention of the plan I’ve tried so hard to keep a secret, even from my best friends. “I don’t need ideas. I told you no one is going to know but me.”
He tilts his head. “But I can help you, Adrianna.”
“I don’t need any help,” I say. All my life I’ve had barriers from everyone and anyone and they aren’t about to come down for this man.
There’s a flash of hurt in his eyes, but he shrugs it off. “Suit yourself. So you have it all sorted out then?”
I don’t have it sorted it out, but no one can know my plan. If anyone does, it leaves me vulnerable to being caught by my family. “I am not sharing my plans with anyone,” I say simply.
His jaw tenses. “How can you act like this?”
“Like what?” I ask.
“As if what we’ve had together means nothing.”
I might be lying to myself if I say it means nothing, but there’s no way I’d admit it to him. “It means nothing. It’s just sex.”
The hurt in his eyes takes me aback, as it’s intense. “You don’t mean that.” This is what I wanted. To get my revenge on him for forcing me into the sack. And yet now that moment is here, it doesn’t feel very good.
“I mean it,” I say, sticking to my guns as I won’t back down, not after all that he has done.
His jaw clenches. “If that’s true, then walk out of that door and tell me it’s over.”
I stand, glaring at him. “Are you saying I’m free to go, or is this a trick?” Rage builds as he’s acting like a self-centered asshole for expecting me to tell him I care about him. “Up until now, I’ve assumed I’ve had to spend time with you to ensure the truth doesn’t leak. Is that no longer the case?”
I can see the hurt building in his dark eyes. He’s trying to mask it, but he’s not very good at masking his emotions. It’s something I’ve noticed about him for a while now. “Yes. If you don’t want to be here, leave.”
“Perfect,” I say, grabbing my rucksack. “I’ve been hoping you’d say that for fucking months.” I turn to leave.
He growls and stands. “You are a liar, Adrianna!”
I turn toward him with narrowed eyes. “You are an idiot!”
His face is practically as red as a tomato right now with rage. “I know what I felt. I know you feel something for me.”
“No, what you felt was me doing what I had to do to keep the truth from spilling about my plans.” I look him dead in the eye. “And that’s what I’ve done. Now my duty is fulfilled. Good fucking riddance.”
I walk toward his door, but he grabs my wrist and yanks me back toward him. His eye full of pain. This is what I wanted and right now it feels good to see him hurt, because I’m angry that he expected anything other than contempt from me. He deserves even less.
“Don’t do this, baby,” he pleads.
“I’m not your baby or baby girl.” I tear my wrist from his. “Now leave me the fuck alone and go find another student to fuck like you always do.” I storm out of there, my heart pounding from the adrenaline racing through my veins. It’s insane how angry he can make me. As I march through the courtyard and back toward my dorm room, the anger wears away with each step I take.
It’s over.
I just broke up with Archer Daniels, and a part of me wishes I hadn’t. A part of me wants to go back and admit that I do indeed have feelings for him. But that’s too dangerous to admit, because he isn’t a part of my plan, and the plan is it all that matters. At least, that’s what I thought.
28
ARCHER
Islam the fridge door and Gav arches a brow. “What is up with you?” he asks, shaking his head. “Normally, it’s me stomping around and slamming doors.”
