Page 83 of My Dark Prince
Fae edged me behind her, rolled her shoulders back, and crossed her arms. “Say that again.”
On instinct, I scooted around Fae. A feral smile hiked up my face. “If you think I’m a bitch, then I’m certain you deserved it.”
Whoa. DidIsay that?
“Deserved it?!” He tossed both hands up. “My fiancée dumped me because of you. I’m on the ninth year of my Ph.D. because I needed to take a few gap years to earn money for tuition after she took all her savings with her.”
Hersavings? Now I was certain he deserved it.
Fae advanced toward him, ready to give him a piece of her mind, and I loved her for it.
I rested an arm on her forearm, leading her behind me. I could handle him. For some reason, I knew I could. That I often stood up for myself.
I checked my non-existent watch, tapping my foot on the pavement. “Do we know each other?”
“Yeah. We matched on Raya last year. In West Hollywood.”
That threw me off.
“I was on Raya last year?” I slanted toward the girls, arching a brow as if to say,what the fuck?“Why was I on Raya last year?”
Dallas frowned, covering her baby’s ears. “You matched with this dickwad?”
“That’s not the point.” His shoulders shook, the rage barely contained. “Don’t play dumb.”
I yawned. “Must not be memorable.”
“You’re not hot shit. I only swiped right because you listed Baylor as your alma mater. And you know how you repaid me?”
“I’d love to know.”
And while you’re at it, do you happen to know why I was on an overpriced dating app, why we matched in West Hollywood, and where the hell my fiancé fits in this?
“I DM’d you my Insta handle, and you created a group chat with my fiancée, where you photo-dumped pics of your coworkers, told her they’d come up with better pick-up lines than me, and helped her set up a blind date with one of them.”
Fae whistled. “Epic.”
“You are the coolest.” Dallas sighed, slinging an arm around my shoulders. “If I weren’t so traumatized by the third-degree tear in my vagina from Luca, I’d be pregnant just from hearing that.”
Hettie clapped. “You have major balls.”
In fact, I did.
Something I suddenly remembered developing after dumping my parents.
For my entire childhood, I’d played it safe, doing my best not to embarrass Jason and Philomena Auer. But in college, I’d grown a spine. I vowed to never let anyone step on me again.
Hazel and I would storm down these steps like we owned every inch of campus. Boys fawned over us everywhere we went, passing us their numbers at football games, lectures, and tailgates. We hopped from party to party, where Hazel taught me to let loose and enjoy life.
And all the while, I never spoke to Oliver von Bismarck.
Fae tossed her hair over her shoulder, managing to stare down her nose at him despite their three-inch height difference. “Why are you still here?”
With that, she locked her arm around my elbow and led the four of us away from my gaping Raya date.
Hettie pulled up the map on her phone. “Do you remember which dorm you stayed in?”
“Penland Hall.” I pointed down the path, just past a fleet of tennis courts. “It’s this way.”
