Page 95 of Mistaken Prejudice

“It’s Andrei. Not André.”

“Doesn’t matter. Anyway—”

“But it does.” I stopped him at once. “If you’re about to bore me with a story I’m not interested in hearing, the least you can do is get my name right.”

Shock took over his features, and watching his smile wipe off his face was satisfying. Sadly, it returned as fast as it went away, only this time, it held pure interest.

“Well, aren’t you something?” He took a step toward me, his eyes holding an expression I knew all too well. “So you’re okay with cheaters, Andrei?” His voice had an agenda, and it wasn’t hard to guess what it was from how he licked his lips and roamed my body with thirsty eyes. The guy enjoyed a challenge and wanted to fuck me. Considering how I just spoke to him and the lack of enthusiasm when we met, I was his goal—someone who piqued his interest.

“I tend not to stick my nose into other people’s business,” I said coldly.

“Should I be offended? Is there something you’re implying, Andrei?” Once again, he dragged my name on his lips in a way that might work for other guys but not me. His behavior repulsed me.

“I’m not implying anything. On the contrary, I think I’m being pretty clear. But it sounds like you’re the one implying something to me.” My words set fire to his eyes, and he took another step toward me. He stood close enough for me to smell his sweet, flowery scent that made me think of poison ivy. God. The guy is toxic.

“I don’t know. Maybe I am. That depends.” He spoke low enough so only I could hear, and I glanced away to find Elliot chewing on his nail.

It felt like he had been demolished into nothing when his brother was around. And I hated it. I cared about Elliot. Therefore, I disliked his brother even more.

“There you are. I was looking all over for you,” a deep voice said and made Aloïs step back and away from me as if he were stung by a bee.

Finally. I didn’t care how gorgeous the guy was; his presence was suffocating.

And speaking of gorgeous, that was an understatement for the guy who came to stand beside Aloïs. In all of his glory, which carried over his six-foot-six frame, the handsome man placed his beefy arm around Aloïs’s slim waist and pulled him closer in an intimate gesture. He then moved his other hand, a fancy watch around his wrist, and pushed it through his blond hair as he sent a toothy, white smile my way. His features were beyond impressive: high cheekbones, stubbles-dusted square jaw, full lips, impeccable tan skin, and mesmerizing amber eyes. Not brown or hazel, but pools of golden liquid that pierced right into my soul. He looked like a Greek god. Fuck that. He looked like Zeus himself. Not the type of cheap porn movie Zeus, but the actual god from the Olympus. I had never felt so ugly in my life, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to stand there and stare at this man’s beauty.

“Zemson Knight,” he said in his rich voice that was as fine and smooth as premium whiskey before offering me his hand. “I’m this one’s husband.” He tilted his head in Aloïs’s direction while shaking my hand. And there it was. The guy’s defect. He was married to Aloïs, the snake. So something must be screwed up in that beautiful head of his.

“Andrei,” I said before he let go of my hand and moved to greet Elliot with the same warm smile he had given me just a moment ago.

“It’s been a while.” He kissed each of Elliot’s cheeks. “You are as beautiful as always.”

Seems like flirtatious runs in the marriage.

“Oh, please, you probably had one too many drinks if you don’t notice the extra few pounds he gained.” Aloïs spat out his poison, aimed at his brother.

Elliot’s face paled on the spot, and I remembered what Miles had told me about his dad’s struggle with eating disorders throughout his adult life. For God’s sake. They were brothers. How could someone be so cruel and unhealthy toward someone as sweet and kind as Elliot?

“Not even a drop of alcohol in my blood.” Zemson winked in Elliot’s direction before he nudged Aloïs closer to him.

“So, what were you talking about with Andrei?” he asked a moment before Aloïs shrugged him off.

“He’s Miles’s boyfriend,” Aloïs said, regardless of what his husband had asked.

“Oh, really? What do you do for a living, Andrei?”

“I’m still in high school.” I offered him a clumsy smile.

“At Bay High?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah.”

He fist-bumped me, and while I was shocked by the gesture, he shared that he also attended the school back when he was a teenager. We stood there for a while, with Zemson asking me questions about the place and the teachers. By the time he was telling me about his impressive yet short football career, Aloïs was fed up with the conversation. After all, five minutes had passed without him getting any attention. As if he hadn’t avoided his partner’s touch thus far, he wrapped himself around Zemson’s large frame and forced him to look at the dance floor.

Daniel, Maya, and Claudia were dancing with Miles and the groom, enjoying every moment of their special day.

“Don’t you think Maya is the spitting image of Daniel and Claudia?” Aloïs asked, and it was the truth. She had Daniel’s sharp blue eyes, Claudia’s curly blonde hair, and curvy eyebrows.

“She’s a beautiful girl,” Zemson agreed.