Page 207 of My Ruthless Opponent

Mine was because I needed money for Dad and the PI. His was the need to excel and reach on top.

Raleigh didn’t share his painful past with the others, though. That was between him and me. But he did say he had a rough start in life and that drove him to be ruthless.

Our friends accepted our sincere apologies and now we are discussing how to make Archer forgive Raleigh and me.

We are sitting on the couch. Or more like Raleigh is on the couch and I am perched on Raleigh’s lap. Nina and Brielle squeezed in beside us on the huge couch.

Jason has claimed the midnight gray rectangle tufted pouf across us.

Mia and Chris dragged two bean bags so that we are sitting in a circle.

Summer made Raleigh carry the swing chair from his balcony to the living room for her.

She is in rainbow-striped flare pants and a solid orange ribbed crop top, her long tresses peeking out from the chair’s sides and almost touching the floor.

Open packet of Cheetos is resting on her stomach, her eyes are closed as she swings in her chair.

I suppress a giggle. It has nothing to do with his nuzzling my throat and everything to do with Summer.

When she snores, my giggle turns into laughter.

I tap Raleigh’s shoulder to get his attention.

“What?” His voice is muffled.

I poke at his shoulder. When he doesn’t respond, I fist his hair and pull his head back. Raleigh glares at me.

“We are supposed to think of an idea for Archer.” I arch my eyebrow.

He frowns. “Iwasthinking.”

I give him a look that sayscontrol yourself.

He shoots me a scowl.

“Now that I have your attention, you might as well take a look over there.”

I motion toward Summer where she is dozing off.

He chuckles before shaking his head.

He grabs a kernel of popcorn from the bowl Brielle’s holding and throws it at her.

It lands on her chest. Summer stirs, grabs the kernel, and pops it in her mouth before going back to sleep.

Everyone bursts out laughing, having caught the scene.

The sudden roar of laughter startles Summer and she gasps awake.

“Had a good nap?” I smirk.

She scowls. “I wasn’t sleeping.”

“Yeah, right.” Raleigh chuckles.

She glares at him. “I wasn’t. I was thinking.”

I cover my mouth to hide my laugh. She is just like Raleigh.

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