Chapter 3

The AC in the Apple Store was cranked up high after school.

Kaelen sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone with total indifference, while I stood at the display counter, watching the employee pack the top-spec MacBook Pro into its sleek box.

"Card or cash, sir?" The employee smiled at Kaelen.

Kaelen didn't even blink before handing over the black card.

I held the heavy box in my arms, feeling nothing at all inside.

This was money I would've had to work three full months at the fast food place to earn.

Now, all it took was a few tears and a bit of playing the victim, and it was mine.

"Happy?" Kaelen walked over and put an arm around my shoulders.

"So happy." I tilted my head up and looked into his eyes. "With this, I can prepare for my Ivy League applications so much better."

"Ivy League..." Something flickered in Kaelen's eyes.

He knew that if he lost that bet, he'd have to give up the Ivy League spot his family had paid so much to pave for him. But clearly he wasn't worried about that at all, because he was convinced he'd win.

"Come on, let's go get you some French food." He wrapped an arm around me and led me out.

Right then, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out and saw a Snapchat notification. Sender: Zander.

I glanced instinctively at Kaelen — he was busy negotiating with the parking attendant and hadn't noticed.

I opened the message.

A photo popped up on the screen.

It was Zander, taking a mirror selfie in the locker room.

He'd just showered, his hair still dripping wet, droplets sliding down his sharply defined eight-pack, his V-line disappearing beneath the low waistband of his sweatpants.

I flushed without meaning to.

Under the photo was a line of text: [That Kaelen guy only knows how to throw money at people. Does he have a body like this? Maeve, you deserve something more interesting.]

But reading that line, I let out a cold laugh.

Zander had finally lost his patience.

He couldn't stand watching Kaelen make such smooth progress, so he was starting to sabotage things.

I thought for a few seconds, then typed out a reply:

[That's it? Guess you've been slacking off in training.]

Then I sent him a photo of the laptop I'd just bought, sitting on the table.

Message sent.

I could almost picture the look on Zander's face on the other end — stunned, and yet his competitive streak instantly ignited.

Sure enough, less than half a minute later, Zander's reply came through.

[A busted laptop is all it took for Kaelen to buy you off? Maeve, you're cheaper than I thought.]

I didn't reply again. Because Kaelen had already walked over.

"What are you looking at?" He reached out to grab my phone.

I pulled my hand back and turned off the screen.

"Nothing, just some college admissions ads. Let's go eat."

Dinner was at an expensive Michelin-starred restaurant.

Kaelen talked the whole time about his upcoming championship game, while I played the role of the perfect listener, giving him adoring looks right on cue.

"By the way, Kaelen." I brought it up while cutting into my steak. "I saw Zander today. He seemed kind of... dismissive, about you buying me the laptop?"

Kaelen's knife stopped mid-cut.

"What did he say to you?"

"He just joked that you only know how to throw money at people, and... and that his body's better than yours."

"He actually said that?" Kaelen dropped his knife and fork onto the plate with a loud clatter.

"He was probably just joking." I quickly tried to soothe him, reaching over to rest my hand on top of his.

"You know how he is, he's always got a mouth on him. To me, you're the best, obviously."

Kaelen turned his hand over and gripped mine back, so hard it actually hurt a little.

"Maeve, you're about to apply to colleges, right? I heard those top-tier admissions consulting firms are expensive. Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to the best team of advisors I know. I'll cover the cost."

My heart jumped inside my chest.

A top-tier admissions consulting firm — that started at fifteen thousand dollars, minimum.

"I can't let you do that, it's too much..." I put on a show of alarm.

"I said it's happening!" Kaelen cut me off, his tone firm. "I'm your boyfriend. I won't let anyone, especially that bastard Zander, think I've shortchanged you."

I lowered my head, hiding the satisfied smile creeping into my eyes.