My Boyfriend Played Mind Games, So I Played Them Better Chapter 01

My Boyfriend Played Mind Games, So I Played Them Better Chapter 01

I’d always known how to play dirty.

Back in elementary school, my parents once planned to take my little brother on vacation and leave me behind.

Just before they left, I slipped my mother’s phone into a load of dirty laundry and ran the washer.

The phone was toast. So was the trip.

In high school, a clique of girls froze me out.

I created a burner account, posed as a rich, good-looking guy, and flirted with them one by one.

When they started confessing their feelings, I pretended to be torn.

[You’re great, but your best friend has been really sweet to me too.]

[Honestly, I don’t know which one of you I like more.]

The clique imploded, and the girls spent the rest of high school sabotaging one another.

But I’d never played those games with my boyfriend, Ethan Langford.

Then he started bringing up a sweet, innocent-looking freshman far too often.

“You have no idea how hopeless Mia is. She has absolutely no sense of direction. I swear, someone could scam her and she’d probably thank them for it.”

I knew exactly what it meant. Ethan’s attention had started to stray.

It wasn’t cheating, but it got under my skin all the same.

I didn’t call him on it.

Ethan was the sole heir to a nine-figure family fortune.

I wasn’t going to let anyone get between me and that golden ticket.

***

My phone chimed with a new Instagram notification.

[Mia Reed requested to follow you.]

I showed Ethan the screen.

“I shared your profile with her. She really admires you and kept asking me to introduce you two.”

I accepted the follow request.

Mia messaged me almost immediately.

[Hi, Ivy!]

[I’ve been bugging Ethan forever, and he finally shared your profile with me!]

[Ahhh, I’m so excited! I finally get to be besties with someone as gorgeous as you!]

She must’ve taken me for a complete idiot.

Plenty of people knew how to reach me. Why had she insisted on going through my boyfriend?

Ethan added, “Mia’s family doesn’t have much, but she’s determined and works incredibly hard. She reminds me of you.”

I gave him a small smile.

“Is that so? Then I’ll have to make sure I look out for her.”

“That’d be great. She just joined the communications team for student government and has been helping me out, so you’ll probably be seeing her around a lot.”

Good to know.

I replied to Mia.

[Hi, Mia! Ethan’s going to a party this Saturday. Want to come?]