Page 38 of Take My Crown

“Don’t lie to me. I felt you, I see you. There is something between us.”

“You took advantage of me! You- you-”

“I took advantage of an opportunity,” Archer corrects. “If you remember, I asked your permission before I kissed you. I would never do anything against your will, not after…”

“Not after you kidnapped me,” I finish. “It’s a bit late to develop a conscience, don’t you think?”

“Andthisis why I kissed you.” Archer runs a hand over his cropped hair, his frustration palpable. “I knew you’d never let me get close if you knew who I was. Can you blame me for making the most of the situation? I like you, Ivy. Really like you. If I had known what you’re like, I would have never taken you like that.”

“You’d have stood up to my father? Really? Sorry, Archer. Idon’tbelieve you.”

“Maybe not exactly, but I would have found another way to get you here. I would have talked to you. You’re right. I should have just asked you to come for a ride on my bike, given you the chance to choose to leave and not just make the choice for you. I know I did the wrong thing, but I really want the chance to make it up to you. Can’t you give me that chance?”

“So let me get this straight,” I say. “You kidnap me because my Dad tells you to because of some kind of debt. Then, when you realize you’ve made a big mistake, instead of talking to me like a normal human being, you hide your identity and whisk me off to the middle of a maze after dark so I haven’t got a hope of finding my way out again, kiss me and claim that this is your way of making things up to me?” I shake my head, laughing in disbelief. “Jeez. And I thought Romy was bad with women. You house guys have got a lot to learn about how to talk to us.”

“It seemed to me like Romy knew exactly what he was doing,” Archer reminds me with glaring jealousy burning in his eyes. “From what I can see, he is exceptionally good at persuading you to do what he wants.”

“It was whatIwanted,” I protest. “And it sounds to me like you’re just jealous. What’s the matter, Archer? Jealous Romy can get the girls and you can’t?”

“Romy’s no threat to me,” Archer snarls. “And once you’ve taken off those rose-tinted glasses you wear when you look at him, you’ll see why. Ivy, unlike him, I don’t just want you for one thing. I want to get to know you, take you out on a date, even. I’ve spoken to your father and-”

The minute he says it, he realises his mistake.

“So it’s up to my father who I get to date? Is that it? You really are something else, you know that, Archer?”

“I don’t mean it like that! Ivy, if you can just calm down for a second-”

“Oh, I am calm,” I say. “Deadly calm. The really sad thing is that you’re just my type. Romy? He’s the kind of guy you hang out with for a bit of fun, but he’s not someone I could ever be serious about. But you? You’ve got everything I look for in a guy. You’re tall, sexy, and you have a cool motorbike.”

I can see Archer positively preening himself with every compliment.

“There’s only one problem, though. You’re a dick. Worse, you’re a dick who does what my father tells him. Dad says jump and you ask 'off a cliff?’ How can I ever think about dating someone when for all I know, he’s spying on me for my father? This can be your way of getting some fringe benefits while you do your job. My father makes you hang around me to ‘keep me safe.’” I make ironic air quotes with my fingers. “You might as well have some fun while you’re at it, right?”

“That’s not how it is, Ivy,” says Archer. “If you can get over yourself for a minute and listen-”

“Me? Get overmyself?” I laugh. “That’s funny. Because last I checked I am Ivy Archaic and that apparently means something in this crazy town. Which means I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do. And that includes spending any more time with you. Now you got me here. You can get me the hell out.”

“Ivy…” Archer moved towards me as if he wants to take me in his arms again.

“I mean it, Archer. I want to go back to my party.”

“Fine.”

Archer puts his mask back on and stands up. He holds his hand out to me, but I ignore it, folding my arms.

“Have it your way,” he mutters, striding off so fast I practically have to run to keep up. Dammit, boys at parties are bad news for me.

Chapter Nineteen

Ivy Archaic

Whether he meant it to or not, my party certainly increased my standing at school. The next Monday everyone wanted to talk to me to say thanks for the invite or show off their Lost in Oblivion autograph.

I wished I had as much fun as they did. After Archer took me back to the party, he disappeared off into the crowd, leaving me alone again. I tried to get back into the music, but what had happened had ruined things for me a little. I can’t stop thinking about what Archer had said. I can’t help but think he meant what he said, but that is crazy. There is no way Archer wanted to date me–is there? It had to be some kind of sick game my father had put him up to.

Because the alternative doesn’t bear thinking about. I don’t want to think about Archer wanting me. I don’t want to think about him kissing me.

Because the more I think about it, the more I want it.

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