Page 120 of Ruled By Rivalry

Her head cocked back and forth between us, unsure whether to continue pleading her case to Elliot or explain the situation to me. I gave her a little nudge in the right direction.

“They tried reaching out to my father for that article, you know?” I took a deep breath. “A man I’ve never spoken to. A stranger. There was a very real possibility the first time I’d hear from him was through a People article you orchestrated—”

She stuttered, groaned, took a step toward me and then back. “I didn’t—” But she stopped herself. Her face screwed together, maybe for the first time imagining the consequences her actions could have. The consequences they almost did have. “Don’t try to turn this around on me,” she suddenly hissed.

Whatever faith I had in her ability to self-reflect faded.

“You did the exact same thing! Used the press to get Elliot to move in with you—”

But we’d been over this. She’d already used that mistake of mine against us, so it held little weight. “And even though it took me a while”—guilty glance at Elliot—“I realized it was wrong. I apologized.”

Allegra ignored my words pointedly. Was in full defense mode, probably not even hearing me. “And it’s not my fault. That thing with your dad. I don’t know why Elliot would want you, if he doesn’t even—”

She cut herself off. If I had even a small emotional attachment to the man I got half my genes from, her words would’ve stung. Why would Elliot want me, when not even my own father did?

But he’d never even been part of the equation of my life. It had always been Mom and me. My grandparents and me. Paula and me. Now, Elliot and me.

Elliot loved me not out of some obligation or sense of responsibility, but because he knew me, and he liked what he saw. If I was sure about one thing, it was that.

With another groan, Allegra left. Calling someone whose name I didn’t recognize when she said it in hurried greeting. By the time she got to the point of the call, she was too far to hear.

Or maybe Elliot just got so close, I barely noticed anything else around me anymore. “Hey,” he said, his hands finding their way to my face, holding it gently. “I’m sorry. What she just said—”

I cut him off before he could feel too guilty. “It doesn’t matter.”

It never had. “It did. It does. I didn’t know she would . . . She shouldn’t have—”

And I think it wasn’t necessarily what she said that concerned Elliot; it was that she’d said it. That the girl who he’d considered his best friend—a girl he’d loved for the better part of his teens—was capable of such cruel words.

His next words confirmed it. “I’ve never seen her this way . . .” Elliot shook his head. “I’ve known Allegra for a decade, and I know she can be . . . a little venomous sometimes. But this . . .” He continued trailing off, his hands falling to my shoulders, squeezing them like he wanted to make sure I was still there.

A look on his face like he’d said the words, like it was his fault I’d heard them.

“I couldn’t care less about my father. All I heard her admit was that you want me.” I nudged his shoulder with mine, hoping to lighten the gloom suddenly hanging over us. Preferably, I’d like to get rid of it completely.

Elliot smiled, even if it was hesitant. “A win is a win, I guess.”

“And look at it this way. Now that I’ve survived your scary ex and your scary grandfather, what else could tear us apart?”

Finally, Elliot kissed the tip of my nose, loosened up. “My three scary brothers?” His head shook against mine, and I felt his exhausted sigh against my lips. “I’m glad you survived Hunter, though. I was worried.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest feel heavy and warm, full of everything I’d denied myself until now. “I think we . . . bonded?”

He laughed against the crown of my head, into my hair, taking a deep breath after. “Impossible.”

“He liked the dress,” I argued.

Contrary to his last words, he said, “Obviously.” Like it really was the most obvious thing in the world. His fingers played with the fabric. “I don’t have to tell you that you’re talented. You know that.”

I laughed. “Doesn’t hurt to hear every once in a while, regardless.”

“Like a friendly reminder?”

“Exactly like that.”

I felt the huff of his exhale against my skin when I put my arm around his neck. The way he played with my hair, it felt like we were completely and utterly alone, and he’d always had that power. To make every situation feel intimate even when it was the opposite.

We could be standing on the biggest stage in the world, and if Elliot Ashwood looked at me, I probably wouldn’t notice the thousands of people watching.