Say that again.

RYDER’S POV. 

I knew something was wrong the moment Aiden stopped breathing.

Not literally—but close. He stood there, stiff as a board, fingers twitching like his body wanted to run and punch something at the same time.

I rolled off the couch and followed his line of sight.

Yeah.

Two naked idiots on his bed. I felt embarrassed immediately. 

“What the hell?” I snapped.

They froze like kids caught stealing.

I stepped fully into the room, anger rising fast. I didn’t care how much I hated Aiden on most days—this wasn’t okay. I won't take it lightly if someone invaded my space like this. 

“Get off the bed,” I said sharply. “Now.”

One of them laughed nervously. “Chill, man—”

“Out,” I cut in. “This isn’t cool. At all.”

They sighed and got up from the bed. 

They were my friends from the club and I invited them over because I was getting bored. We started talking but half way through, I got bored and left the room. 

I had almost forgotten of their existence. 

I turned to Aiden. He looked like he was vibrating. His jaw was locked so tight I thought his teeth might crack.

“I’m sorry,” I said, quickly. “I didn’t know they were here. I was working. I swear.”

His eyes snapped to me.  “Tell them to leave,” he said through clenched teeth.

I didn’t hesitate. “You heard him. Get dressed. Get out.”

They got dressed and quickly walked out with no remorse on their faces. 

The girl who’d come in with Aiden—Ava, I guessed—stood by the door, way too pleased with herself. Like she’d just watched a show she paid for.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Silence followed for a beat. Then Aiden exploded.

“What is wrong with you?” he shouted. “Do you have any sense of boundaries?”

“I just said I was sorry,” I replied, trying to stay calm.

“You invaded my space!” he yelled. “My bed! Do you know how disgusting that is?”

“I didn’t invite them in there,” I said. “I didn’t even know they were making out. I had my earplug in for hours. I was working.”

He laughed, mockingly. “Working? You? Do you even know what that word means?”

I stiffened. “Watch your tone.”

“This is Princeton,” he continued. “People like you don’t understand what it means to be a student in this school.” He paused with a scoff. “Why am I even asking that when it is cleared you worked your way into the school.”

I blinked. There it was. 

That elitist attitude, just like his father’s. A self– righteous prick. 

“So you think I paid my way in?” I asked flatly.

He scoffed. “Didn’t you?”

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in disbelief. 

“You’re loud. You’re messy. You don’t act like a human being,” he snapped. “You act like a problem.” 

“I can't wait to get rid of you,” he added. 

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Funny. Even your father couldn’t get rid of me.”

His face darkened. “You’re a huge problem. And I’ll make sure you’re gone.”

“You can try,” I said calmly. “Won’t be easy.”

He shook his head like he couldn’t stand the sight of me. Then he yanked his bedsheets off, holding them away from his body like they were poison, and threw them into a laundry bag.

I inhaled slowly. “I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”

“No,” he said. “I don’t want your money. I want people like you to stay away from me. From my room.”

I frowned. “People like me? Why does that sound…” 

He turned back, eyes cold. “Loud. Insecure. Always pretending. Hiding their insecurities by being loud.”

That one hit.

I scoffed. “Or maybe you’re jealous. I have friends. I don’t hide who I am. I’m not scared to be gay—unlike you.”

The room went dead silent.

Ava sucked in a breath like she’d just heard a bomb drop.

“Wait—Aiden’s gay?”

“No,” Aiden said quickly.  “I’m not.”

I tilted my head. “Didn’t look straight when you made out with me at that club.”

He laughed, sharp and bitter. “I’m not gay because I’m not broken.”

That did it.

“What does that mean?” I growled. 

He stepped closer, his eyes burning. “People become gay because they’re insecure. They are gay because they know they can't satisfy a woman.”

I scoffed. He will be surprised that gay men are better in bed. And he would know that if I actually fucked him that night. 

Curse my sense of morality. 

“You shouldn't say things you don't know,” I warned. 

He leaned in. “Well. It doesn't change the fact that gay people are broken and they need to be fixed.”

That did it. 

My fist connected with his face, hard. The sound echoed. He stumbled back, hitting the wall.

Yeah, I punched the golden son of the Millers and I felt damn good.