“Is it true?” I blurt, clinging to Chad’s arm as I slant emotional eyes at Jase. “Are you moving in with her, and are you two engaged now?” I didn’t see any ring on her finger, so maybe Julia just threw that out there to hurt me.
“I’m not discussing this here,” Jase insists, reaching for my hand.
Ducking out from under Chad’s arms, I purposely avoid Jase’s touch as I stand back from both my guys. “Fine. Let’s talk inside,” I supply before turning on my heel and stalking up the steps.
Ares stands in the doorway, chuckling and grinning as he stares at me stomping up the steps with a face like thunder. Beyond enraged, I punch him in the nuts, catching him completely off guard for once.
“Fucking bitch,” he snarls, hunching over as he cups his crotch.
“Insult my girl again, and I’ll cut your tongue out,” Chad retorts, shoving his broad shoulder into Ares’s chest as he comes up behind me.
“Try it, pussy. I dare you,” Ares snaps back, straightening up and squaring off with my boyfriend.
“Ignore him,” Jase says, nudging us both forward. “He’s inconsequential.”
I toss a grin at Ares over my shoulder.
“That’s whatheis to you now, dollface.” Ares smirks right back at me. “How does it feel to lose again?”
“Why don’t you tell me? You’ve spent a lifetime as a loser. You’re so much more experienced than me.”
Jase grips me by the waist and lifts me up, carrying me into the house before Ares and I get into it.
“Put me down,” I demand the instant we’re inside the house.
“Temptress,” Jase says in a pleading tone. “Don’t shut me out. At least let me explain.”
I head for the door to the left of the main stairs, wanting to have this conversation away from prying ears.
I took a quick tour of the house while Chad was outside pacing the sidewalk, and I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s warm and homey with all the comforts and luxuries we need. Though not everything is to my taste, I like that it has color and character. I don’t know how Hera managed to convince Mom, but I owe her one.
Flicking the switch on the wall, I trudge down the stairs into the basement level. The two moms did good with this space. There’s a small gym to the left and a game room with pool table, large wall-mounted TV, and a fully stocked bar on the right. An L-shaped blue velvet couch takes center stage, surrounded by several high-backed black leather gaming chairs. A couple of gaming consoles will ensure this becomes Chad’s favorite room in the whole house.
The guys come up behind me as I slide onto one of the barstools and spin around, fixing them with a dark glare. Chad’s on my shit list too because he knew some of it and didn’t tell me. “Start talking, Jase.”
“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just lay it on you.” He pins me with earnest eyes. “It’s true. I’m moving in with her, and we are getting engaged. The official announcement will be made in two months.”
“What the actual fuck, man?” Chad’s brow furrows. “Why the hell are you agreeing to marry someone you cannot stand?”
“The same reason I’ve been dating her for the past two years. It’s what’s expected of me.”
I snort out a laugh. “You need to grow a pair and tell your dad to fuck off.”
“I have tried that. Where do you think I was this morning?”
“I don’t know, Jase, because you seem to be keeping secrets.” I slide off the stool and walk right up to him. “This doesn’t make any sense. It never has.” I have questioned him in the past about it, and he’s always given me bullshit answers. I have seen how the Manfords are about him and Julia. Unfortunately, my parents are great friends with the Manford Media billionaire CEO-slash-owner, and I’ve spent an intolerable amount of time with Julia and her family.
Our dads formed a friendship when they attended LU, and it’s lasted to this day. When Julia’s mom died in a skiing accident, a few days after her eleventh birthday, my mom stepped up to support James. I have had Julia’s friendship forced on me. I was guilted into hanging out with her in high school, so I can kind of understand a certain level of parental pressure.
But forcing a guy to marry a woman he doesn’t even like is cranking the implausibility factor to the max.
Why does it feel like I’m missing a puzzle piece?
“I know it’s hard to understand,” Jase says, fisting handfuls of his dark hair. “It’s all tied up with business deals our fathers have made.” Averting his eyes, he lowers them to the ground, and I know he’s lying to us.
“He can’t make you marry her,” I say. “It’s the twenty-first century. We’re not living in the Middle Ages.”
“He will cut me off, Ash. I’m not on a scholarship like Chad. If I don’t do this, he’ll withdraw my trust fund and stop paying for college.”
