“I don’t think you understand that whatever my parents want, they get. If they want us to stand on a plinth and wave the Vultures flag together, then that’s what we will do. Whether I need to blackmail you to get there is irrelevant. This is happening.”
My nostrils flare the way they do when I’m irritated, and I clench my jaw so hard it aches. There is no way I’m rolling over just because Everest wants to keep up his perfect son act. That is his problem, not mine.
“You think threatening me is going to make me play nice?”
Everest exhales a laugh under his breath without a trace of actual amusement present. “No. I know threatening you will make you dig your heels in, but I also know you hate being underestimated. You hate losing. And you hate the idea of the Vultures winning without you. Isn’t that what yesterday’s display was about?”
I can’t deny it, so I say nothing. In fact, why am I even standing here and entertaining this? As if my legs have been reactivated, I peel myself off the wall and start walking down the walkway. Unfortunately, I’m not alone.
“Fine,” Everest says coolly, adjusting the collar of his jacket. He rakes a hand through his hair, a clear sign that he’s quickly becoming exasperated. “I won’t bringthatup again, but we are going to be co-captains, and I fully intend on winning this season. That means showing up and working together.”
Everest reaches for my wrist and tugs me a step back before we round the final corner to the main reception. Twenty more paces and we’ll be out in the public eye where he does not want his peers seeing him beg. Actually, I like the sound of that. His gaze lowers again, this time to the neckline of my sweater, but it’s controlled now.
“And keeping our hands to ourselves.”
“Glad we’re on the same page,” I mutter, making a show of ripping my wrist out of his somewhat gentle hold. It’s a good distraction from the pulse that is still hammering in my throat. Taking a measured step back, Everest dips his head in a way that causes me to frown. I find I miss the threats and aggression if this is what I’m left with. A show of submission from someone who is scared of his parents. And I thoughtIwas pathetic.
Suddenly, Ilaugh. It bursts out of me sharp and unhinged, echoing off the narrow walls. Everest lifts his gaze, returning from wherever his mind just took him.
“I can’t believe this is happening right now.” I shake my head, laughing through the edge of disbelief in my voice. “Who did I piss off in a previous life to keep finding myself in hellish situations?” Everest’s lips part slightly. Did I just compare sharing a team with him to being kidnapped by an abusive ex-con? Why yes, yes I did.
He swallows, tricking me to watch his Adam’s apple bob as he finds what little composure he has left. Both flirting and threatening have failed this far, maybe a little honesty might work.
“We need to lead by example,” Everest replies evenly, his shoulders beginning to curl in on themselves. “We’re both equally skilled. And despite our history, we have no choice.”
“No.Youdon’t have a choice, which suits me just fine because as soon as you humiliate me, I get to walk.” I raise a brow, dragging the shift in the power balance back into my favor. This time, it’s me who steps into Everest’s space. “If you try to trick me, embarrass me, or call me Faker one more time, I’m out, and you’ll have to tell your parents that you failed. The athletic department will lose its funding, and you’re going to be stuck in an office for the rest of your life. Am I making myself clear?”
“This situation isn’t only beneficial for me,” Everest narrows his green eyes. “This is your chance to rewrite the narrative that’s been building since you came back. You want people to take you seriously again? Stop running. Step up and prove them wrong.”
My lips part, but no sound comes out. He’s silenced me, somewhat dumbfounded me. Everest is urging me to take control of my story, practically handing me the pen, even if it is dipped in poison.
I step back slowly, my pulse pounding in my ears. I suppose he’s right. This will be a two-way street, and at least by Everest’s side, he won’t be able to mock me at the sidelines. Taking a deep breath, I straighten my hand and lift it between us. Everest doesn’t respond right away. His gaze stays on me for a beat too long, like he’s trying to read beneath my surface without having earned the right to.
He finally clasps my hand, the press of his skin sparking a flicker of heat beneath my own. The contact is brief, as it’s meant to be symbolic, not intimate, but it lingers longer than necessary. He doesn’t shake. Just holds. Like it’s not a deal he’s sealing, but a line he’s daring me to cross.
“I knew you still had that fire in you, Megan,” he winks, skipping straight over one of my hard limits. “Let’s see if you can aim it somewhere useful this time.”
I retract my hand, curling my fingers into a fist at my side. I shouldn’t let him get under my skin so easily. But that’s Everest. He doesn’t dig with claws. He slides in like smoke, filling the cracks before you realize you’ve made space for him.
“It’s Meg. Just Meg,” I seethe beneath my breath. I’ve always hated my full name, but ever since Fredrick used it, my skin crawls with the memories of what happened.
Shrugging without giving a single care, Everest turns, the leather of his jacket creaking as he prepares to leave. Just before he rounds the corner, he throws a glance back over his shoulder to give me that iconic look. We’re back to all smirk and no sense once more. Back to hiding behind an easy-going smile, a cheeky wink and a light chuckle, and that’s just fine. Everest can bury his secrets, just as I’m doing with mine.
In the next instant, he’s gone. I stand there for a long time, chest heaving, heart clenching like a livewire, heat crawling down the back of my neck. Trying to bring myself back into the realm of calm and collected takes longer than usual until I’m ready to face the walk back to my room.
The afternoon is preparing to turn into evening, students winding down after a full-on day getting back into the rhythm of academy life. All except for me. I walk rigidly, keeping my eyes trained ahead and ears closed. My palms sting from how tightly I hold them clenched at my sides, refusing to let my guard down after this morning’s incident.
With every step, I start to feel more and more confident that this co-captain pairing might not be a complete disaster after all. Everest’s say is law around here, and his support is worth its weight in gold. I just have to hope he doesn’t change his mind about the agreement when he realizes I’m not going to be thequiet, submissive type, and I’m not going to let him get away with shit.
Chapter Ten
Someone’s fucking with me. The question is, who?
Twice over the weekend, I’ve responded to an invite in my calendar, only to discover the meeting is a fake. Both myself and the Subject Leads I woke up at eight in the morning were less than happy with wasting our time. In fact, when the Dean summoned me this afternoon, I was in half a mind to ignore it. In a way, I wish I had.
Everything was set up for a smooth-sailing semester. My parents were pleased with my choice of extra curricular that would ‘keep me out of trouble’. My frat house is working like a fine-tuned machine, with those I permit residence knowing their ranks and the tasks expected of them. My social standing iscemented thanks to a personalized cheer the cheerleading squad performed as I entered campus last week. Due to my professors knowing how I like to be prepared, I received the reading syllabus last semester. I was perfectly ready.
But there’s something no one can anticipate, and that’s Meg. Of course, I had accounted for her return in my academy risk assessment, which yes, I did type, print, procrastinate over, tear to shreds and rewrite. I’ve been writing risk assessments since I was a boy, sorting my toys in order of those who are most worthy to be played with to the least.
