Page 28 of Claiming Pretty

Ty stepped in on my other side, his arms crossed and his expression dark.

“Who areyou?” he asked, his voice sharp and suspicious.

I smacked his arm lightly, shooting him a glare. “Down, boy. She’s my bestie. We can trust her.”

Ty didn’t look convinced, his icy eyes flicking over Lisa like she was a potential threat.

Meanwhile, Lisa stood frozen, her gaze darting between the twins with wide eyes, her mouth agape. She seemed too awestruck to be insulted.

Pointing a tentative finger at Ciaran, she said, “So, if you’re Ty, then—”

“He’snotTy,” Ty snapped, his voice cutting through the moment like a whip.

Compared to Ciaran’s warm, playful tone, Ty’s words hit like a splash of cold water to the face.

Lisa’s eyes darted between me and Ciaran, her expression morphing from awe to bewilderment.

“So you must be… Ciaran?” she said hesitantly, almost like she wasn’t sure if naming him aloud would make him more real.

Ciaran wiggled his fingers at her playfully. “Present.”

“Wait.” I frowned, turning to Lisa. “How do you know Ciaran’s name?”

Lisa’s confidence wavered, and she bent down to gather the folders she’d dropped earlier, avoiding my gaze.

“Lisa,” I said sternly, my voice low as I folded my arms.

Clearing her throat and blushing faintly, Lisa gave me a sheepish look. “Well, um, apart from coming here to see you… I also came to do new student orientation.”

I tilted my head, still not understanding. “And?”

Lisa fidgeted with the packets, her fingers clumsy with nervous energy.

She hesitated, as if afraid to deliver the blow. “Meet your new roommates.”

My brain stalled. “What?”

I turned sharply, my fists clenching at my sides, as my gaze snapped from the twins to the two spare bedrooms flanking mine.

Ciaran looked smug, grinning like a kid who’d just pulled off the prank of the century.

Ty, on the other hand, stood firm, his intense stare daring me to challenge him.

“What?!” I shouted louder this time, the word echoing through the penthouse.

Lisa glanced between the three of us and nodded. “Yup. They both are.”

“What?” Ciaran barked at Ty, his tone sharp with annoyance. “You’reliving here too?”

Ty raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he said coolly, his voice edged with challenge.

“How?” I demanded Ciaran, my voice rising with frustration.

Ciaran slung an arm casually over my shoulders, his smile widening.

“You’re lucky to have an incredibly talentedboyfriend,” he said with exaggerated pride. “I hacked the Darkmoor system, enrolled in their very selective journalism program, and assigned myself to the room next to yours.”

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