Winona was no fool. The second she heard Tarquin''s tone, she knew jealousy was eating him alive.

    Honestly, Winona found it hrious-stoic Mr. Bradford, of all people, was a total jealousy monster!

    A guy who hardly ever dated, suddenly in love, and now? Wow. He''d get jealous over anything.

    And it all started because she and Elysia had watched a silly video together. Winona quickly tried to defuse the situation, blurting out,

    "Elysia, I''m gonna go hang out with Janelle for a bit. You take your time, no rush!"

    She didn''t wait for a reply, just clicked away in her sky-high heels, putting serious distance between herself and the drama.

    Elysia didn''t chase after her. Instead, she turned to Tarquin and asked, "Wait, you didn''t watch it?"

    Tarquin''s face was stormy, like he''d been personally wronged. "No, I did not!"

    Elysia blinked at him, confused. "Okay, you didn''t. Why''re you so upset? If you wanna see it, just ask Mr. Huber for the link."

    "I don''t want to see it!" he snapped.

    Elysia was baffled. "Alright, then don''t. Why are you so worked up?"

    Tarquin clenched his jaw, looking like he could just about eat her alive. “I don''t want you watching it either!"

    Elysia stared. "It was just for context, you know?"

    "You don''t need to watch it for context!"

    "It was censored, anyway."

    "That doesn''t matter!"

    Elysia just stared at him, exasperated. “Are you picking a fight or something?"

    "I''m not picking a fight!"

    "Then what are you mad about?"

    "I''m not mad!"

    Elysia shot him a warning look. "If you keep talking to me like this, I''m not gonna speak to you at all."

    Tarquin scowled, clearly not happy.

    Elysia turned to go, but Tarquin grabbed her arm, looking utterly miserable. "I''m just jealous, okay?"

    Elysia was stunned for a second, then burst outughing.

    "Are you three or something? What''s there to be jealous about? I told you, it was censored. If it wasn''t, Janelle would never have let us watch it. You''re such a baby!"

    "Mr. Huber offered to show me, but I refused!"

    “Alright, alright, I get it. Mr. Bradford''s got a jealous streak a mile wide. It''s totally my fault today, I''ll be more careful next time, okay? Please, your majesty, don''t hold it against me."

    Tarquin''s expression softened a little. "Call me ''hubby.""

    "Yes, hubby dearest! Now stop being so sour!"

    That yful tone made Tarquin''s throat go dry, his whole body suddenly too

    warm.

    Before he could say anything, Elysia tugged him forward, switching to a more serious topic.

    "Come on, let''s go. Your buddy''s in a mess and you''re here sulking? If Keaton finds out, he''ll chew you out for sure!"

    "If he does, I''ll just punch him," Tarquin grumbled.

    "And what if I chew you out?"

    "I''ll just surrender and let you win."

    Elysia blushed, kicking him lightly.

    Enough with the banter-she got down to business. “Winona and both noticed there was something weird with Keaton and Beatrix. Didn''t Mr. Huber see it, too?"

    Tarquin shot her a look. "We''ll talk about you watching the video tonight!"

    Before Elysia could roll her eyes, he continued, "Mr. Huber noticed, but he''s ticked off that Keaton confessed."

    Elysia was stunned. "Wait, you mean Mr. Huber knows Keaton was set up?"

    "Yeah. Keaton would never do something like that. It''s obvious someone drugged him."

    "So why did he admit it?"

    "No idea. Keaton won''t say."

    Elysia frowned. "Who drugged him? Beatrix?"

    Tarquin shrugged. "Not sure yet, but I''m betting she had something to do with it." Elysia shook her head in disbelief.

    "But Keaton''s told me before, he doesn''t even like Beatrix-and she doesn''t like him either. The engagement was just to keep their parents happy."

    Tarquin nodded. "Either there''s something else going on, or Keaton got yed by the Sutton family."

    "Got yed? How?"

    "They pretend it''s just a fake engagement, but then set things up so he can''t back out."

    Elysia paused, frowning.

    "That makes no sense. Keaton

    doesn''t like her, and she doesn''t like

    him. Even if she manages to trap

    him into marriage, she''d just be making herself miserable. Isn''t she digging her own grave?"