Chapter 1646


    Chapter 1646


    Skyler wasn’t surprised that Zavier had a thing for girls bursting with energy.


    The girl sent tennis ball after tennis ball flying across the court, rapidly emptying a small cart. Wiping


    sweat from her brow with a towel, she then turned to look at Skyler. Her gaze was part appraisal, part


    disdain. “Skyler? From Southern Port?”


    “Yeah, Skyler replied.


    “y tennis much?” The girl, Desiree, questioned with a hint of challenge.


    Back home, the Blues had always emphasized the arts over athletics. Skyler could paint, y piano,


    and recite poetry like a pro, but sports? Not so much. “Nope,” she admitted.


    Desiree swung her racket and smacked another ball served up by the machine. “Tennis isn’t exactly a


    high-roller’s game. A few private lessons outside, and you’re set. What, a couple hundred bucks a


    pop? Your folks can’t spare that?”


    A couple hundred bucks. That was a month’s living expenses for many folks.e2


    Skyler didn’t like the tone, but she didn’t bite. “What do you want with me?”


    Desiree twirled her racket, sauntering closer with deliberate steps. “Heard you’re engaged to Zavier?”


    “That’s right.”


    That single word was like a nail hammered into Desiree’s heart, making her eyes sh with hurt. “So


    what if you’re engaged? You think that means Zavier’s actually going to marry you?”


    “I haven’t assumed anything,” Skyler said coolly.


    Desiree wasn’t buying it. “You don’t think so? Skyler, lies will make you ugly, you know.”


    “Are you Zavier’s girlfriend?” Skyler cut to the chase.


    Desiree almost said yes; the word was on the tip of her tongue but got swallowed back down. She’d


    been chasing Zavier since freshman year, and now, as a senior, everyone thought they were an item.


    But deep down, she knew Zavier wouldn’t even give her a second nce. How could she possibly be


    his girlfriend?


    Desiree’s silence seemed like confirmation to Skyler. “If you’re his girlfriend, then you should know the


    engagement is just family pressure. He’s made it clear he doesn’t like me,” Skyler stated.


    Desiree seized on that. “He said he doesn’t like you?”


    “You can rx,” Skyler assured her.


    But Skyler’s calm and her indifferent references to Zavier only irked Desiree more. In a sh, she


    grabbed Skyler’s chin. “Listen, Skyler, Zavier is out of your league. Stay away from him if you know


    what’s good for you. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you get kicked out of Capital College.”


    Skyler was usually the peaceable type, but even she had her limits. She pushed Desiree away. “If you


    want Zavier, he’s all yours. But if you try any dirty tricks on me, I won’t make it easy for you.”


    Desiree was exasperated. Did this woman think Zavier was some kind of prize to be won?


    Skyler continued, “I don’t know you, and I don’t want to. So, please, keep your distance. I don’t want


    any part of whatever you’re nning.”


    With those parting words, Skyler walked away.


    Desiree, fuming, mmed her racket against the wall, snapping it. “Who does she think she is? Thinks


    she can threaten me at Capital College?”


    Another girl, who had called Skyler toe here, approached. “Hey, don’t sweat it. Getting worked up


    over someone from a backwater town isn’t worth


    it.”


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Desiree shot her a cold look. The girl was clueless. Southern Port wasn’t some backwater, and the


    Blue family was anything but ordinary. Otherwise, why would the Rivera family even consider an


    alliance through marriage?