It's Pucking Complicated

The Consequences of Reckless Decisions

ISADORA

Phillippe scratches his head and focuses his eyes on Justin, who hasn't taken his eyes off my face. I'm so shocked that I can't get a single word out.

"No, it's not really like that yet," Phillippe claims while looking back and forth between us. "Sure, there are negotiations—"

"Negotiations?" I echo.

His face reddens. Justin lets out a laugh and pats his shoulder. "Don't worry, Grubben. Isa here has no idea how anything in our world works. She spent far too much time...away. Really, sissy. You should know by now that Dad doesn't consult anyone before making a decision—he just makes one. In our world, everything's arranged. You're one of us whether you like it or not. What makes you think you'd be so different?"

Phillippe's face is even redder than mine. "Justin, I don't think that this is the right time to—"

"No," I say firmly. "I don't care about arrangements. Whatever Dad thinks he's decided, he decided it alone, and it has nothing to do with me."

Justin tilts his head to the side, looking smug. "Really? And you think you have the authority to challenge such a decision? If I were you, Phillippe, I'd be offended. It seems my sister thinks she's too good for you."

"It isn't that and you know it," I retort. "I won't let anyone decide what I get to do with my life. If I marry someone, it'll be out of love, not some cold arrangement that's only in place to benefit Dad. I'm sorry, my choice is mine, and I won't let anyone take that away from me. Besides, I'm already with someone else."

Justin laughs loudly at my last sentence, but his eyes grow colder than they already were. "You can argue all you like, but let's be honest with each other for a second, sissy—whatever little game you're playing isn't bound to last. We both know that. Whatever you think you're doing and whatever you think you have just isn't real. And when it all falls apart and your jab at me doesn't land, Dad's arrangement, whatever it may be, will be waiting for you, and you won't be able to say no. He always gets his way. One way or another."

Our faces are only inches apart now and Philippe is backing away. "You're so convinced I'm doing it for you."

"I know you are, mutt," he hisses, letting his true colors show now that Phillippe isn't within earshot anymore. He can barely contain his anger. "Watching you parade around and make a fool of yourself is so f*****g hilarious. You have no idea. You're so pathetic, Isadora. You should be on those knees of yours thanking the skies that someone like Philippe Grubben would even consider marrying someone like you."

"Someone like me, huh?"

"Yeah," he states in a lower voice, inching even closer to me. His body's shielding me from Knox, which is the only reason he hasn't spotted us yet. "The daughter of an immigrant w***e of a babysitter who thought she won the lottery by letting her boss stick it inside of her. You'll never be able to outlive being the daughter of a w***e. That's all you'll ever be. That's all everyone sees when they look at you. That's all he sees, too."

I raise my hand to slap him, but he grips my wrist in his hand to stop me. "Do you think he'd ever approach a respectable girl with that ridiculous offer? Oh, I know, Isadora. I know he hates me for wanting to be captain, and you know what? He's wasting his time. You be a good lap dog and you tell him that."

"Yes, because you're so unbothered by this, aren't you?" I retort, twisting the knife even deeper while fighting back tears of rage. "He doesn't even talk about you, Justin. You don't exist to him. The sooner you get that through your head, the easier the pill of defeat and irrelevancy will be for you to swallow. Now, let go of me!"

I shove him back with all my weight and he stumbles backward. This finally catches Knox's attention, and he stops and looks at us. I walk up to him, not taking my eyes off Justin. He wants to make me think that he's not deeply disturbed by the fact that I'm dating Knox, but he's a terrible liar. Always has been.

"What happened?" he asks in a low voice as anger flashes across his eyes. "What'd he say? Why do you look like that?"

I know Justin's still watching, so I move closer to Knox so there's no space between our bodies and loop one arm around his neck.

"Kiss me," I whisper. "Now, while he's still looking."

Knox looks confused for a few seconds and I think he won't do it. Kissing was definitely not part of our arrangement and honestly, I'll definitely regret this later, but right now, I need to get back at Justin the only way I know how, and this is it.

I can't fight him. I won't stoop down to his level and call his mother names.

This is all I have. It's the only reason I even said yes to the whole agreement.

Knox places his hand on my hip and it slides to my lower back. He pulls me closer and his mouth drops to mine. I hold my breath when his lips brush against mine and something washes over me just then, and I have no idea what it is.

I can't believe I'm wasting my first kiss on this.

He pulls me closer so our thighs are touching and presses his lips against mine more firmly. A pulsing wave of heat unfurls inside me and I feel it everywhere. I place my hand on his arm but it grows a mind of its own and slides to his chest before moving to his jaw. A low, growling noise leaves the back of his throat and the sound ripples through me, stirring something deep inside of me that I didn't know existed.

I pull away slightly to peer into his eyes. There's a dark look in them and his lips are parted, too. I'm panicking. I can't hide it.

"Come on," he murmurs in a low voice before taking my hand in his. I duck my head as we head toward the stairs. It's like whatever spell I was under just broke and the noises of the party—the loud music and the chattering—are flooding back.

I'm aware of all the eyes on me.

On us.

But we disappear upstairs before I can think about it too much. My clammy hand is in Knox's, and he's guiding me through the corridor. He knocks on the first door we come across before opening it. There's a couple inside, and they stop making out as soon as they see us.

"Beat it."

They exchange a look before she lowers her tank top and they shuffle out of the room. Frowning, I follow him inside and ask as soon as he locks the door, "Why'd you kick them out? This isn't your house."

"No," he agrees, facing me, "but people will do anything you want if you're assertive enough about it. Now, tell me what the hell that was all about. What happened?"

I close my eyes as a wave of pure embarrassment crashes into me. Knox is looking at me expectantly, though, and I know he won't let this go.

"I'm sorry about that. I just..."

My throat closes up and I don't trust myself to say anything else. I'm fighting back tears at this point. God, I hate Justin. I hate how he crawls under my skin and stays there, taunting me until I lose my mind with rage.

Knox doesn't say anything. He just watches me.

I have no idea what he's thinking about.

I bet he's furious.