Page 182 of My Ruthless Opponent

I whirl around and stalk toward the closet. I wrench it open and take out my nightwear.

Fighting my tears, I shut the doors of the closet.

It’s so strange how life can change in a few days.

I remembered thinking of myself as an open-minded person. I had thought his friendship with Summer wouldn’t bother me this much.

It’s not like I don’t trust him. But I am only human. He is such an amazing human being. So caring and loving. Anyone can fall for him. I fear that someone might steal him from me.

It is embarrassing to admit that I spent my entire bachelorette party thinking about him, missing him and he was hanging out with Summer.

I am left disoriented with a never-ending hurricane of emotions.

Raleigh catches my elbow when I was about to enter the bathroom to change. He turns me around.

“Hurt me all you want, Hannah. But I want you to know something before you shut me off again.” Raleigh frames my face in his hands and studies me with his baby blue eyes. “That nickname I gave you…,” He shakes his head. “yes I used to call you princess to taunt you because I thought you were a spoiled uptight girl. But believe me, Hannah it stopped being about that a long time ago. Now I call you princess because I want to. Because youaremy princess. You own that title, Hannah. In every sense.”

He cracks a smile and wipes a tear that falls down my cheek.

Why does it hurt to love you? Why do you always take my bitterness and give me your sweetness?

When I drop my eyes down, he grips my chin and lifts my eyes to meet his. “Will you tell me what’s bothering you? You must’ve learned by now that I don’t believe in giving space. I know you and that pretty little head of yours. Leaving you alone with your thoughts will only lead to more misunderstandings. So open that beautiful lips and speak up, princess or…”

I raise an eyebrow. “Or what?”

“Or I will tickle you.”

He pokes me around the ribs and I stay absolutely still.

After a solid minute, I mutter with a straight face. “I am not ticklish.”

“Damn.” Raleigh chuckles incredulously.

“Then what do I have to do to make you talk.”

I avert my eyes. “It’s nothing really—”

He turns my face back to him and kisses my lips. “It’s not nothing. Tell me, please.”

“It’s about Summer.” I groan in dismay and dart to the bed and plop on the edge.

The bed dips as Raleigh sits beside me. We both stare at the colorful painting on the opposite wall.

“What about her?” He asks calmly.

“You are close to her,” I say weakly.

“Yes.”

I don’t say anything for a second.

“Does that bother you?” We both still have our eyes trained on the painting.

“It shouldn’t.” But it does, my silence speak.

“You are close to Archer.”

“Your bond runs deeper it seems,” I murmur, my voice is so small that my lips barely move.

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