Page 27 of One Twisted Lie

“Why didn’t I realize this sooner?” he asks, lips pressed against mine as he speaks.

I swallow, only able to look at his beautifully puffy lips. “What?”

“That you’re a good friend. Fuck…” He closes his eyes, almost like he’s in pain. “We’ve spent so much time hating each other.”

“Our parents,” I supply, knowing where he’s going with this. “They trained us to. I’m honestly…”

His eyes snap open. Both his hands are on my neck now, tender and affectionate. “What?”

“I’m not too sure what’s not to like,” I admit, smiling sheepishly, that same grin widening when he kisses the tip of my nose.

“Get that sappy shit out of here,” he jokes, shoving my chest and dropping his hands to wrap around my waist. “Want to watch someAttack on Titanin your dorm?”

I laugh, nodding as I kiss him. “And then you’ll fuck me?”

“Sure, princess.” He smiles. “I’ll even give you a spanking if you’re a good boy for me.”

And, just like that, in the most mysterious of ways, for the most unusual reasons, my worries fade away.

All because of Carter fucking Everett.

Chapter 14

Ozymandias

I fidget with my tie, straightening it for what feels like the millionth time. My palms are sweaty even though it’s actually pretty nice outside, a bright sunny day with clear skies and a cool breeze blowing through the courtyard. Fuck, I’d say it’s a perfect day, but there’s this weird jittery panic in my chest that just heightens with every step I take.

This is going to be the absolute worst. This isn’t going to be good. This—

“Oz.”

I snap out of my thoughts and look at Carter. Like me, he’s dressed nicely in dark blue slacks, a fitted white button-up, and a tie. We’re standing in front of the hall, preparing ourselves for what’s about to happen. We’re about to enter the arena, coated in bloodshed, fueled by tears of the lesser. The war is about to start, Armageddon and the Four Horsemen’s hooves can be heard in the distance.

It’s family weekend and that means the Clarks and the Everetts will be in the same room.

“You’re nervous,” Carter says, frowning when I nod.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I snark, once again making sure my tie is straight. “You’re telling me you aren’t?”

Cool and aloof as ever, he simply shrugs. “Eh, we do this every year. I don’t know why this one is any different.”

But it is different. This is the first year where I have something to be nervous about. My father asked me to get close to Carter and, at first, it was nothing but an assignment to me, but it’s slowly grown to something more. I’m not quite sure what to make of my feelings for him beyond the fact that he’s a decent guy, a good friend, and an incredible lay. That’s what’s making me anxious. My thoughts surrounding Carter are uncertain, and that’s nerve-wracking. If my dad asks me about it, I’m not sure what to say, how much to tell him—definitely not about the fucking—and I’ve never doubted myself like this.

I feel the soft and subtle brush of fingers against mine and look up to see Carter furrowing his brow in concern. “Are you ready for this?”

I take in a deep breath and nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He gives my hand a little squeeze, but I can see the way he leans into me as if he wants to kiss me right now but knows better. We both know better. Nothing in public, nothing too sentimental, and nothing permanent.

Christ, I’m a fucking mess.

We walk into the hall and are immediately accosted by the crashing wave of parents embracing their children for the first time since the school year started. We make our way through the throng of people, waving at Daniel and Magnus who are also just entering, but we both stop in our tracks at the sight in front of us.

In the center of the room, isolated like lepers and filled with an air of dread are the Clarks and the Everetts.

Together.

“What the fuck are they doing?” Carter asks, finally dropping the calm persona and showing that he’s just as alarmed as I am.

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