Chapter 4: Confessions and CEO Chaos

After a few days around Silver Ridge, Annalise and I flew back. We spent the flight home swapping stories and stalking Sam and Tyler’s Instagrams. Annalise pretended not to care, but she kept asking for updates.

After spending time together, I realized Tyler, beneath his sweet and gentle looks, was just as goofy as me. He sent me memes at 2 a.m., and I sent him weird shower thoughts. It worked.

Me: “I was awake before I fell asleep.”

Tyler: [photo.jpg]

He sent a picture of a tomato on his windowsill.

Tyler: “This tomato tastes like tomato.”

Me: “If you’re sad, call me. I’ll hang up and make you even sadder.”

He replied with a crying emoji, then actually called me. I scrambled to answer, nearly dropping my phone.

The line crackled, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Sorry for calling out of the blue,” Tyler said quietly.

My face burned for no reason. I coughed. “What’s up?” I tried to sound casual, but my heart was racing.

He laughed gently. “Why didn’t you hang up? Can’t bear to make me sad, right?” His voice had a playful hook, all tease.

He sounded so smug, I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see.

I shot back, “What about you?” I poked at my pillow, grinning.

“Hm?” He sounded genuinely curious, like he hadn’t thought about it.

“You know I’m chasing you, right?” I didn’t give him a chance to answer, putting on a pitiful tone. “I eat like a pig, chase like a puppy, love like a fool—fully housebroken and ready.”

I could hear him choke back a laugh.

“No, I’m not—” he stammered, flustered.

I teased, “You don’t know I’m chasing you? Then what are we doing? Are you like this with every girl?”

He steadied his breath, voice trembling a little. “I know you’re chasing me.” He paused, then said it so softly I almost missed it.

I raised an eyebrow.

I waited, holding my breath.

“I like you too.”

I couldn’t stop smiling.

I kicked my feet under the covers, biting my lip to keep from squealing.

But he didn’t relax, continuing, “I just think confessions should be face-to-face, more serious... I wanted to confess at the start of the semester.” He sounded almost apologetic, like he wanted to do it right.

“You deserve flowers and a proper confession, not just a few words over the phone.” My heart melted a little. I pictured him with a bouquet, blushing.

I nodded. “Makes sense. Then I’ll name you my provisional boyfriend.” I grinned, knowing he could hear it.

“Looking forward to getting promoted?”

Tyler laughed, and through the phone and the night, I could almost see his smiling eyes.

His laughter was soft and genuine, like a promise.

“I am. Really looking forward to it. Thanks for the shot.” He sounded like he meant every word.

Before school started, I met up with Annalise. She said her school and Sam’s were just a block apart. I was surprised. “No way!” I threw my hands up, almost spilling my coffee. “Small world!”

“Maybe our love lives are finally blooming,” she shrugged. “A classmate wanted me to drag you to some dinner thing, but I knew it was trouble, so I didn’t tell you. When I got there, I saw those two jerks! ‘He can’t even admit he’s a flirt!’” She rolled her eyes, clearly still annoyed.

Annalise lowered her voice, glancing at me guiltily. “I got worked up and mentioned seeing them at Silver Ridge. He’ll definitely track you down at school. Sorry, babe, go ahead and scold me.” She bit her lip, bracing for impact.

I chewed on my straw. “That million from his mom was a gift, right? She won’t ask for it back?” I tried to sound worried, but honestly, I was more amused than anything.

Annalise gasped, then hugged me. “Girl! I’ll consult a lawyer and get you a bodyguard. Who knows what those two drama kings will do to my precious!” She squeezed me so tight I squeaked. “You’re priceless, Quinn.”

When I first landed in this world, I didn’t know the CEO was the CEO. In high school, he was awkward and shy—totally my type. When he started acting like a CEO, I thought he was just role-playing.

He wore those button-downs like he was prepping for a board meeting, but he still tripped over his own feet sometimes. It was kind of endearing.

By the time I realized he was the real deal, it was senior year. He was all over that drama queen, always smirking with that cold, calculating smile.

He started showing up in expensive cars, sunglasses perched on his head, looking like he owned the place. I should’ve known then.

“Girl, you know you’re playing with fire?” He’d say it with a half-smile, like he was daring me to prove him wrong.

“Girl, you’ve got me hooked.” He’d lean in, voice low, and my heart would skip a beat.

“Girl, I’ll break up with her, so don’t be jealous, okay?” I overheard the last one by accident.

He didn’t know I was around the corner, but his words stung anyway.

On principle, I grabbed him by the collar, slapped a test paper in front of him. “You’re at the bottom of the class and still have time for romance? The money’s your parents’, not yours. Is writing two words that hard?”

I glared, waving the paper in his face. He looked like he wanted to argue, but couldn’t.

He narrowed his eyes. “Girl, you—”

I smashed a watermelon barehanded and raised an eyebrow. “Problem?” I cracked the melon with a karate chop, juice splattering everywhere. He blinked, stunned.

He finally caved, scribbling answers with a pout. “I don’t get this question...”

After the SATs, I was planning to break up anyway, but my godmother found me first.

She tracked me down at graduation, checkbook in hand. I almost laughed.

Not taking the money would be stupid. Plus, I tutored the CEO like crazy—consider it a tutoring fee. I took it with zero guilt.

I deposited it the next day, then bought myself a fancy milkshake to celebrate.