Page 54 of Tempting the President

KC only lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. “But you didn’t tell me I wasn’t supposed to tell her.”

I scribbled on my board.THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M MAD ABOUT.Erasing the message after KC had read it, I scribbled another message and showed it to Lace.I WAS NOT DUMPED.

Her gaze was doubtful. “Well, I guess you could use another word, but really...if a guy goes from walking you to school every day the entire week and then suddenly not showing up...”

I shook my board to emphasize my point.I WAS NOT DUMPED.

Lace threw her hands up. “Okay, okay, I get it, don’t get mad.”

“Have you found out from Bobby or MJ though?” KC asked.

I gave her an affronted look.Like I’d ask.

KC rolled her eyes. “Pride, thy middle name is Aria.”

My eyes narrowed.Look who’s talking.

KC reddened.

Ever protective of her best friend, Lace said loyally, “What happened between her and Himura’s different.” Both of us noticed the way KC winced at her ex’s name, and I felt instantly guilty for even bringing up the topic of her past. KC was such a nice person it wasphysicallypainful to see her smile fade. It was like watching the sun set, forever.

“Going back to your biker,” Lace began, an obvious ploy to distract our friend.

I nodded encouragingly. For KC, I was willing to talk about anything.

“Do you think maybe it’s like in the movies? He took a bet, tried to see if he could get you in his bed in a week?”

Slowly, I shook my head. Right now, I really did think Kellion Argyros was the biggest jerk on the planet but I just couldn’t see him being that...shallow.He was a very confident guy, enough to know that he didn’t need to take bets to prove he was a man.

“Mm...then I just don’t get it. Are you sure you didn’t do anything to turn him off?”

I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. I really didn’t know.

Lace hesitated.

I cocked my head to the side.Go on. Say it.

“Maybe he suddenly thought dating you was...a complication he wasn’t ready for?”

Oh.

I fell back against the booth.

Stupidly, I hadn’t thought of that.Weird.That should have been the first thing to come to my mind, right? But it hadn’t. Because...because the way he had been with me all those days, he never made me feel...different.

I pressed my hand to my chest. It had started tightening up again.So, so tight.

ON MY WAY HOME, I RECEIVEDa text message from Bobby.

Bobby: Want to earn an easy fifty?

Me: I’m not going to talk for fifty.

Bobby: How about a thousand? Just kidding. MJ has a package for Needs Heard at the club’s headquarters. I don’t have time to pick it up. Could you...?

Me: No.

Bobby: Is it because of Kellion?