Page 102 of My Irresistible Enemy

“What you meant to do or not is irrelevant.” Tanner gave me a stern look. “It’s your actions that matter, not your intentions. And I think you owe everyone an apology. Your fellow contestants, the crew, and, of course, all the viewers at home who were rooting for you.”

“I am sorry,” I said, my voice going up an octave. “I really am. But you have to understand—”

“No, Aiden.Youhave to understand. Not only have you hurt other people, you’ve hurt yourself. There’s simply no way we can allow you to move on to the finale, regardless of the voting totals. We can’t promote this kind of behavior.”

“You’re cutting me?”

“I’m simply grateful that this matter was brought to our attention before more damage could be done.”

I stared at him, the words sinking in.

Brought to our attention.

“By who?”

“What?” Tanner asked.

“I think you meanby whom,” Vivian said.

I ignored her. “By who? Who brought it to your attention?”

“Aiden, that’s hardly the important issue here.”

“Um, it’s fucking very important, if you ask me.”

Tannertsked. “Language, Aiden. I know we’ve been sloppy at times, not enforcing that rule strictly. Perhaps that emboldened you to feel as though you were above the rules entirely. That the norms of respectful behavior simply didn’t apply to you. But the fact that you’re being sent home is no reason to flout—”

“I’ll flout whatever I goddamn want to,” I said, popping off my stool. “And I think it’s really fucking hypocritical of you to be lecturing me about norms of respectful behavior when you only found out about my account because someone else broke a confidence and told you something that was supposed to remain a secret.”

I glared at Nolan, and for the first time, he met my eyes.

“Wait a second.” His brows drew down. “Do you think that I did this?”

“How we found out about your account simply isn’t relevant, Aiden. But I think it’s a little rich for you to call something a secret that you put on the internet for anyone to see.”

“Not anyone,” I said. “Only people who were already looking for that kind of thing. And I didn’t use my real name. Didn’t use any identifying information.” I turned to Nolan. “You couldn’t fucking wait, could you? I bet you’ve been dying to tell someone this whole time. Well, I hope you’re proud of yourself. I hope feeling self-righteous was worth it, asshole.”

“But I didn’t tell them,” he protested.

“Spare me.” I couldn’t stand there anymore. I had to move before I exploded. I rounded on Tanner. “You’re not cutting me, because I’m quitting. I’m done. With all of this. I’m just...done.”

I turned on heel and stalked away, ignoring the commotion behind me. If they wanted to say they’d cut me, fine. I wasn’t going to fight them about it. I was out of there.

It was long past time for me to move on.

16

Nolan

“Ican’t believe Aiden thinks I would do that,” I said, staring out at the ocean behind Em and Tate’s house. The waves crashed onto the beach below the bluff, as wild and ragged as I felt.

I’d left the Wisteria as soon as Tanner and Vivian let us out of that meeting.Ambushwould have been a better word for it. I’d been too pissed to stay there. Angry at the show, but angry at Aiden and his accusations too. I wasn’t sure what I would say if I saw him. Better to make myself scarce until he was gone.

Which would be…when, exactly? Was he leaving right now?

Would he really go without letting me see him one last time?

I pushed the thought away. I wanted him to leave without me seeing him. Idid.

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