My head grows fuzzy. How could I have been so blind? Tristan’s never even talked to Cody, and even he thinks he has feelings for me. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He shrugs. “I don’t think you want Seth either. You’re doing all of this to piss me off. The makeover. Showing up at my party. Why?”
I roll my eyes “Yes, the party where you announced that none of them are allowed to touch me. That I belong to you.”
“That’s right,” he says immediately. “Looks like Seth didn’t take me seriously. Maybe I should show him how serious I was.”
I force out a laugh, and it sounds like a cackle to my own ears. What an utterly ridiculous thing to say. “Is this how you handle conflict, Tristan? If it is, I don’t think it’s worth winning that ten-grand scholarship. Not if it means getting someone else’s ass beaten.”
I walk away to take several deep breaths. What a fucking Neanderthal. How is it possible that I’ve been softening toward him all these weeks?
I’m startled by Tristan’s big hands on my shoulders. “I won’t beat his ass. I was just…frustrated. It’s not fair for you to date other people when I’m essentially giving you ten grand.”
Liar.
I wish I could call him out. I need that fucking scholarship.
What if he really is going to give it to me, and I’m jeopardizing everything for revenge?
No, I can’t think that way. That scholarship is out of my control, and my dignity is worth more than ten K.
“Maybe Seth really likes me,” I say, my voice soft but defiant. “Did you ever consider that?”
Tristan’s grip on my shoulders tightens for a moment before he releases me. I can’t help the spark of satisfaction seeing him so ruffled.
Tristan
“It doesn’t matter,” I say, because I know she’s just trying to goad me.
She’s not into this Seth. This is some kind of game she’s playing.
I’ll figure out what it is.
“It doesn’t matter if he likes me?” Her voice is adorably indignant, but I refuse to smile.
She needs to know what’s up.
“No.” I lock my eyes on hers. “You belong to me for the rest of the game. If you want that ten K, you play by my rules.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “So if I go on this date, you won’t let me win?”
My lips quirk at how cute she looks with her chin raised and those big eyes flashing. “You can go. I’ll allow it.”Because I’ll be there to chaperone.
She smiles tightly. “Thank you, Master.”
My dick twitches. Oh, little Amelia. You’ll be screaming that in ecstasy soon.
I reach my hand out and brush my fingers over her cheek. “You’re welcome. How do my clothes look on you? Maybe when we get back to your dorm, you can show me.”
As predicted, an adorable scowl forms on her face. “You mean the clothes your parents bought me.”
My grin grows. “How do you know they didn’t take the money out of my trust fund?”
She snorts. “Trust fund. Of course you have one. How gross. Anyway, I know they wouldn’t take it out of their golden boy’s trust fund.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “They don’t give a shit about their golden boy’s trust fund. Or anything about me. They don’t care about anything as long as I do well in school and football.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I want to bite them back in. I sound like a whiney little bitch. She clearly senses it too, because the change in her is immediate. Her defiance melts away like butter on a hot roll and concern enters those big hazel eyes.
