Page 95 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5

“So no drink,” he said as Kennedy joined me by my side. “How about a dance then?”

I forced myself not to look over my shoulder, even though I couldn’t believe James was asking me for a dance. Wait…why was he asking me? “Actually, Kennedy and I…”

“Kennedy is just going to drink this real quick and join you two on the dance floor in a bit,” Kennedy said. She raised her eyebrows and stared at me like I was insane.

Which was weird because she was the one that was acting insane. James and I weren’t friends. He was nice sometimes. Other times he was just plain cruel. And I didn’t feel like playing whatever game he was currently making up in his head. “Um…”

“Come on, Brooklyn,” he said and put his arm out for me. “I promise I won’t bite.”

I glanced at Kennedy who was shooing me away. This felt like some kind of weird trap. But I wasn’t exactly sure how to get out of it without looking like an ass. And after what Matt had done to James? The least I could do was cheer him up with a dance. I looped my arm through his and the smile came back to his face.

A slow song cut in as soon as we walked onto the dance floor. He pulled me in a little closer. Too close. I could smell his cologne and the mint on his breath. Why was he so close?

“Is Rachel here?” I asked.

James’ hands settled on my waist. “What do you think?”

“Well…if you’re anything like me…you haven’t spoken to her all week.”

He laughed. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

I looked up at him. There was nothing I could say. If Matt was telling the truth, Rachel had come on to him. Not the other wayaround. And I didn’t want to ask James about what he thought actually happened. It would just make everything worse. “So you aren’t speaking to her. Or Matt?”

“Or Mason.”

I nodded. “Or Mason. Aren’t they your best friends?”

“Best friends don’t fuck their said best friends’ girlfriends.”

Fair enough.“Congrats on being homecoming king.” It was a terrible segue, and we both knew it.

He laughed again.

It was so strange hearing him laugh. I liked the sound. I wished he’d do it more.

“It was rigged,” he said. “The homecoming king. I’m sure Mason won. Everyone actually likes him. Well, except for all those girls he screwed and dumped.”

“I think they make up enough of the student body that he wouldn’t have won.” But now that I thought about it, Mason was the one always high-fiving people in the hallway. He was usually smiling. He wasn’t nearly as silent and brooding as James.

James shrugged. His expensive tux felt like silk against my forearm. “It was still rigged, trust me. Isabella found out she was going to win queen, by threatening someone I’m sure. And then she manipulated it for me to be king.”

“I’m sure she didn’t.” Although, I wasn’t so sure. That sounded a lot like something Isabella would do. Threats and manipulation were her first language.

“No, she told me as much.”

Oh.“I’m sorry.”

“Why? I’m the freaking king.” He didn’t look so happy anymore.

“Well, it looks good on you.” I reached up and straightened his crown for him.

“It looks better on you. The tiara I mean.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. But I could feel my cheeks blushing. And I realized my hand was still on his crown. I moved it back to his shoulder.

His eyes traveled to my flushing cheeks and he smiled.

For some reason it just made me blush more.