“You’re waiting for me to crack.” I sit back and cross an ankle over my opposite knee. “We lost, and that’s on me?—”
“Bullshit. You didn’tcarewe lost. I want to know why.” He’s looking at his monitors like he can hack the information out of them.
“I care. I’m distraught that I couldn’t lead us to victory. I feel like I’m a failure at this...at everything.”
Valen drops his head and chuckles low. The sound irritates me. Like he’s got my number. And he does. He knows I’m lying.
“Try again. Maybe in years past and earlier you had a vested interest in winning. Way too much, in my opinion. So when did you suddenly turn into me? Scratch that…Whyis what I want to know. Why areyou, Mr. Rule Follower, not upset about the loss?”
“Was it that obvious?”
His fingers dance over the keys as a wide grin spreads across his lips. Sweat forms along my brow.
“No. I just know you.”
“Yeah, too fucking good, Valen.”
“So are you going to tell me, or do I need to blackmail you or get one of your brothers to hold you down becauseVengracurusknows that I’m not strong enough to take you.”
I scratch the tip of my nose with my thumb and lean forward, staring at the worn dorm room carpet. Taupe and depressing. No wonder he’s been spending most of his time at his mansion far from campus.
Who have I become? This flooring is better than anything I grew up with. Am I one ofthem? Expectingservants to hand me chilled champagne when I wake and turning my nose up at the slightest mildew?
“I got my appointed.”
His eyebrows shoot up, but he doesn’t look at me, which makes it easier to continue.
“And President Damon wants me to become an icon for the school. Make a big spectacle of it. In fact, I’m scheduled to marry her in the cathedral on Wednesday.”
“Holy shit.” His shocked green eyes finally address my face.
“Yeah… So my head’s not in the Games right now. I’m about to be someone’shusbandand very soon.”
He laughs. Fuckerlaughs. Head back, chest shaking. “Gods…your parents are going tolovethis.”
“I know.”
“Too much.”
“Way too much.”
“Think they’ll ask about babies as soon as they meet the girl?”
“The second she crosses the threshold, I’m sure.”
“I’m shocked that my parents didn’t ask Olivia first thing. But I assumedtheyassumed I’d already knocked her up.”
“Didn’t you?”
His smile is uncontrollable.
I punch him in the arm. “I knew it. Well, congrats.”
“It’s not done yet. Not that I know of. But it’ll happen soon. Olivia let me take out her birth control… She’s into it.”
“Sounds like you found the right one.” I roll my eyes. He was stalking that woman for years, pretending to be sneaky. All the while, she was the focus of everything he did.
“Who is she? I’ll look her up.” He points to the computer screen.
