Page 57 of Rivals

Daphne frowned. “Why not? I just told you aboutmyparents.”

“I’m not obligated to return the favor.” Nina’s voice had risen; she fought to lower it. “This isn’t one of your negotiations, Daphne. Just because you shared something personal doesn’t mean I have to.”

“Who said anything about a negotiation? I was trying to have aconversationwith you, Nina,” Daphne said reasonably. “Isn’t that what most people do when they hang out and eat tacos?”

“We’re not hanging out; we’re sobering you up, then I’m taking you home.”

Nina was surprised by the hurt that flashed in Daphne’s eyes, and even more surprised by her sudden remorse.

“It’s all a mess, honestly. My mom might have to sell her company.” Nina drew in a breath and explained it all in more detail. When she’d finished, Daphne shook her head sympathetically.

“That’s terrible.” Daphne looked down as she added, “But…your mom must really love you, to sacrifice her dreams for your sake.”

Nina felt a strange pang at Daphne’s words. She resolved never to take her parents’ unconditional support for granted.

“Can I ask you something?” Daphne went on.

“You can ask, but I can’t promise I’ll answer.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell Jefferson about me?”

“You mean, about your bullying and threats?”

Daphne looked like she wanted to say something, but she just gave a silent nod. Nina sighed.

“Ididtell Jeff, the night we broke up, but he refused to listen. He kept insisting that I had misunderstood you, because there’s no way you would do anything like that.”

Jeff taking Daphne’s side had been thereasonthey had broken up that night. Well, one of the reasons.

“He trusts you, you know. And there aren’t many people he trusts,” Daphne said quietly.

“That’s why you hate me, isn’t it?” Nina was a little shocked she’d blurted out the question, but it felt good to say it aloud. “Because I’m still friends with Jeff, even though you tried so hard to get rid of me?”

“I don’t hate you anymore, Nina.”

Nina stared at Daphne, who seemed just as shocked by her own words. Daphne hurried to recover. “It’s really not worth the effort, hating you. I’d rather focus that energy on taking down Gabriella.”

I don’t hate you anymore either,Nina could have said. But she didn’t say it, because she wasn’t sure whether it was true. Instead she matched Daphne’s lighthearted tone.

“I’m sure you’ll go back to hating me with a vengeance once we get rid of Gabriella.”

“Almost certainly,” Daphne agreed.

They both looked down at the remains of their taco platter, which was rapidly getting cold. Nina felt disoriented. She had no idea what to do with this new version of Daphne, whose sharp edges had been softened by something—vulnerability, and maybe loneliness.

“Nina—I know you think I’m wrong for Jefferson, but I really care about him. We have a lot of history,” Daphne saidsoftly.

“You really care about him,” Nina repeated. “You don’t love him?”

She doubted anyone had asked Daphne that before. But Daphne didn’t seem offended; she just looked pensive.

“There are a lot of ways to love someone, you know? I do love Jefferson. Maybe not the same way you did, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t love.”

The same way you did.Daphne had used the past tense, as if Nina’s feelings for Jeff were long since over—and theywere,Nina reminded herself. She and Jeff were just friends now. Totally platonic.

Her mind cut to that charged moment the other day, when they’d been fencing, and the shiver Nina had felt at his nearness.

Nope. That was nothing. She had definitely imagined the whole thing.