Page 60 of Royally Rivalled

“I love you,” I said. “But I have to go.”

“Love you, too.”

“Give Linny a kiss for me.”

“I will.”

I ended the call and packed off to the study room we reserved at the library, feet feeling leaden. Seeing Parker would prove difficult, and I worried about him making me feel like shit. Perhaps Alexandra was right. Maybe I was unconsciously trying to start something with Parker?

I arrived, finding Parker in a mood, typing on his computer.

“Where is everyone?”

“Devon ditched us,” Parker answered. “Elizabeth’s grandmother died.”

“Well, shit, that sucks. Devon has a better offer?”

“A French girl,” Parker answered. The man never minced words, at least.

I slumped across the table from him, not wanting a conversation.

“Let’s just get started,” he said, voice even but cheerless.

I felt the need to unleash my anger. It flowed through me like lightning. It was now or never. It was time to confront this once and for all.

“Parker, the dick may be back, but I don’t deserve it!”

“What?” Parker asked.

“You… you’re back to being a dick. Last night?—”

“Last night was nothing. We both got an award. I had to entertain my mother, so I went home?—”

“Parker, you’re a lying sack of shit if you believe that! You blew me off after we got the award. Why? What did I do? I thought we were cool all week.”

“Well, you’ve made your bed. Go climb into it with Jeremy.”

I scoffed. Alexandra was right.Parkerwasjealous!

Incredulous, I said, “Parker, who I do or don’t fuck isn’t your business. Jeremy isn’t off-limits, last I checked!”

“I gave you advice. You weren’t bright enough to take it!”

I stood, leaning forward on the table. “Excuse me, Parker, but that’s bullshit!”

Parker crossed his arms. “I didn’t have anything nice to say to you after I saw Jeremy hanging all over you. Your interest is in him. Sadly, he’s selfish. Then again, it’s on brand for a pretty girl to chase some posh prat like Jeremy.”

I couldn’t help it. Parker was again reducing me to my looks. His implication was I was nothing but an easily distracted, pretty face. Refusing to listen anymore, I grabbed my things and ran out. Parker’s voice called after, but I ignored him. I pounded on the lift button to call it, but it took forever.C’mon! C’mon!The door finally opened. I climbed aboard, only to have him push through the doors at the last minute and hold his laptop.

Mortified, I pleaded, “I don’t want to talk. Please, God, do not let me get trapped here!”

“I’m sorry, Astrid. Look, you’re right that you owe me nothing, but it felt like you did it to torture me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself! It’s clear, Your Grace, that you aren’t interested in me beyond a hook-up or maybe even a pity fuck?”

“It wasn’t a pity fuck,” Parker said as the doors opened.

I strode out, beelining past students who congregated outside the ground floor cafe.

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