Page 61 of Mistaken Prejudice

“It’s silly.” I tried to pass it.

“It isn’t. Now tell me,” he demanded, locking those crystal eyes with mine, and I was powerless against them. Even now, when he was mad at me and wanted answers for my behavior, he didn’t make me scared to tell the truth. I’d learned over time that many kids with the same past as me were afraid of the truth, whether good or bad, because they were used to being punished for telling it.

“I was humiliated,” I admitted and watched as confusion crossed his face. The way Mrs. Morrison talked to us while Miles was in the room made me feel low, small, and in the wrong.

“Oh, Andrei.” He moved forward and grabbed my hands. “The only one who should be humiliated is her for the way she talked to you guys. Not you.” Funny how Chief said the same thing when I told him what happened.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then make me.”

I turned away from him and looked around. We were surrounded by trees and well-maintained lawns. Groups of students sat at nearby tables, looking at ease while studying and talking with each other. Was I really fitted to be here? Everything looked so far away from the way I grew up that it almost made me believe I was worth the way Mrs. Morrison treated us. Refusing to believe this, I turned to look back at Miles. My beautiful, pure, perfect Miles.

“People like me don’t normally achieve things, and people like her often remind me of that,” I explained with a heavy breath.

“Andrei—”

“No, let me finish,” I insisted with a gentle smile as I rubbed my thumb over the back of his hand. “I know I can change my future. That’s what I’m doing by coming here every day.” Images of the places I grew up in flooded my mind. Poverty and pity. People who gave up to circumstances. My mom. I couldn’t blame them, and the part of me that did made me feel bad, but I couldn’t deny it either. “I don’t have an inferiority complex, but I do have my moments of insecurities. How she talked to us was fucked up, but it’s nothing new. You heard the guys. We’re used to getting trashed by people who think they’re better just because. And when needed, we fight back. Trust me.” I made sure that part was clear. Fighting tooth and nail over every little word someone threw at us would bring us nowhere. “But I don’t want you to fight my wars for me.”

My chest felt heavy with the words I’d just poured out, and I was worried he wouldn’t get it.

“Ouch!” I rubbed the place on my forehead Miles had just hit. “What was that for?” I checked to see if I was bleeding. For God’s sake, he could hit really hard.

“For being an idiot,” he snapped. “We’re in a relationship, Andrei.” Holy shit, he looked furious. Even more than before, and furious Miles was seriously hot.

“So don’t tell me not to fight your wars, or I’ll kick your ass.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“But—”

“Don’t but me. I thought you were smarter than to let your pride blind you.” His expression hardened and fuck me, seriously, fuck me.

“Okay, okay. I don’t want to mess with you.” I raised my hand in surrender, and he seized the opportunity to climb into my lap and wrapped himself around me.

“Good. So don’t shut me out. Ever.”

“Okay, I won’t.” I closed my eyes and leaned my head over his, taking in the warmth of his words and body.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

I’m clueless about how a jackass like me was lucky enough to have someone like Miles for a boyfriend. Whether it was luck or not, I didn’t care. I wrapped my arms tighter around his body and breathed his sweet citrus fruit scent in.

“By the way, have you thought about what Dad offered you?” On our flight back from France, Daniel asked me if I’d want to intern in his office before I started college. I was overwhelmed by his offer, but I didn’t want to answer right on the spot.

“Yeah, I have.”

He pulled back so he could face me, and I melted away at how sweet my Zaychik was.

“And?”

“I would love to take the internship he offered me.”

Miles’s whole face lit up before he buried it again in the curve of my neck.

“God, I love the way you smell,” he mumbled, and I laughed because I had the same thought only a moment ago.

“You think they’re done yet?” Even when he tried to whisper, Jess’s hoarse voice could be heard in the distance. I already felt the smile on Miles’s face when a chuckle left my throat.