Page 104 of Brutal Kingdom

“You could be pretending with anyone from an elite family, Logan. So why her?”

“My dad thinks it’s an easier sell since Bella and I have been friends for so long.”

“Friends.” She pushes against my chest, putting space between us. “Friends? What kind of damn fool do you take me for? I’m supposed to believe this is out of the blue because of some right to succession rules, rather than what the truth is? Which is that you’re just now admitting there was something between the two of you all along.”

Gripping her shoulders, I insists, “It’s an act, Jordy.”

“Bella wasn’t pretending, Logan. I’ve seen her fake it with you. This was different.”

“Don’t start reading into shit and jumping to conclusions. I have to play along. If I had a choice, she’s the last person I’d have on my arm.”

“That’s funny, because it seems likeI’mthe last person you’d have on your arm. That’s been the thing this whole time, right? That I’m not good enough for you. I’ll never be good enough for you.”

How are we back to this argument again? “Jordanna, you are the best person I’ve ever met. You’re perfect. Bella, her family…”

She crosses her arms, emotionally distancing herself from me. “I get it. Her family is more compatible with yours and I’m the trash you slum with when you need to get your dick wet.”

“You know that’s not how it is with us.”

Her posture is rigid. Her eye’s hard, her words sharp and precise. “It doesn’t matter how itwaswith us. I hope you and Bella are very miserable together.” She says, turning to open the door.

I hold my hand against it, pressing against her. I lean in close, whispering against her ear, “You’re the only person I’ll be making miserable.”

Looking at me over her shoulder, she asks, “So you admit we’re still at war?”

“What I’m admitting is that we’ll both be miserable if we’re not together, and we can’t bring Bella down if we don’t trust each other.”

She turns to face me, looking me in the eyes. “After what happened at my lawyer’s office, I’m willing to take my chances.”

I give her space to leave because we’ve been in here long enough to make people suspicious. That won’t go over well for dad with all these cameras around. I replay the last few minutes of our conversation. Something happened at her lawyer’s office?

My eyes find Bella as soon as I return to the banquet hall. What the hell did she do now?

FORTY

JORDANNA

He did it again. He chose Bella over me, but this time I’m not the least bit upset about it. I knew it was only a matter of time before it happened, but at least this time he’s admitted she’s end game for him. Whether it’s because of business or personal reasons, the two of them were always gonna wind up together. I swipe some white onto the blue background of my canvas, filling in the outline of my cloud. I’m painting a beach landscape to hang as a focal point. Things are so dark and chaotic here, I thought it might be good for my mental health to have something to brighten my mood. I’ll hang it in my bedroom so it’s the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing at night to help center me before I start my day and calm me before I fall asleep.

Kassidy texts me that she’s on the way. I put my brush down and hop in the shower to wash the paint off. I’m pulling on a shirt by the time she knocks on the door.

“I got the pizza and the root beer. You pop some popcorn and I’ll load the DVD.” She says, walking into my room.

“What’s all this? I thought we were going to the dining hall.”

“Not anymore. I saw Tabitha, by the way, and she’s claims to be just as shocked as we are that Bella and Logan are dating.”

“Only, I’m not shocked. I’ve been saying it all along.”

“You have, but that was out of anger and trying to make yourself believe he never cared about you. This time it’s for real.”

“You mean, this time he admits it’s real.”

“What are you planning to do about it?”

“Nothing.” She’s staring at me like she doesn’t believe me. “Kass, really. I’m fine. I won’t be going after the BPs again.”

“Maybe not Hal, Frankie and Tabitha, but what’s the plan for Logan and Bella?”

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