Betrayed Then Back For Blood (Briar Jennings) novel Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Chapter 142

As the duet ended, the audience applauded with a scattered, awkward rhythm. They stared at their freshly elected campus king and queen as the pair stepped off stage, their faces unreadable, their performance burned into everyone’s memory like a fever dream.

Never in their lives had they seen campus royalty with so little concern for appearances.

Shoneport University’s campus idols weren’t actual celebrities with monetizable influence, but they still had access to exclusive opportunities, elite internships, and first–pick networking circles. Those weren’t things just anyone could get. But with that performance, they might have thrown the opportunities away.

The guy who had first suggested that Frank and Briar perform was now stumbling off to a corner, curling up in shame.

He knew he’d screwed up. He was full of regret. He really shouldn’t have said anything.

All he’d wanted was to see the gorgeous campus queen dance. Instead, he got a deadpan, overly cheerful rendition of “You are my sunshine.”

And now, the tune wouldn’t leave his head.

No one dared suggest the duo perform ever again. That performance had nearly shattered the collective fantasy. Any remaining filter of untouchable perfection was hanging by a thread.

Pretending nothing had happened, the crowd quickly pushed other students to the stage to revive the mood.

Backstage, Mason dragged Ted over and plopped down beside Frank and Briar. Flashing a huge thumbs–up, he grinned. “You Weaponizing cringe? Whose idea was that?”

guys

are vicious.

Frank chuckled. “What are you talking about? Do we look like the scheming type?”

Mason snorted. “Maybe not Briar. But you? A guy with tons of schemes? Please. Swear on something sacred, and maybe we’ll believe you.”

At first, Mason had been truly baffled by that performance. But after Ted patiently walked him through the logic, it all made sense.

This was Frank’s latest genius tactic. He self–sabotaged in public to avoid being mobbed by female admirers for the rest of the year. Reputation damage in exchange for peace and quiet.

This was the kind of spotlight others would kill for. However, these two were desperate to escape it.

Frank raised an eyebrow, amused. “Well, well. Look who’s catching on.”

Mason puffed up proudly. “Hey, I’m not the same meathead you met freshman year.”

Frank didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, right. Robert probably explained the whole thing to you.”

They’d been friends too long for Mason to fool him. The guy had muscles for days but not a single strategic bone in his body. Whatever brains he had were used up just getting into Shoneport University.

And ever since he started getting all touchy–feely with Ted, his IQ had dropped even further.

Frank was half–convinced the guy would forget to breathe if Robert wasn’t around.

Mason was speechless.

He decided to pretend he hadn’t heard that. Real friendship means letting some things stide.

Ted shook his head. “You really went to all this trouble just to avoid a few girls chasing you around campus? You’re graduating soon, What’s one more

year?

10:35 Mon, 18 Aug

Chapter 142

Besides, starting next semester, their entire research group would be off–campus doing hospital rotations. They’d barely have time to breathe, let alone

socialize.

Frank gave a meaningful glance at Mason and Ted. They were still holding hands like it was the most natural thing in understand my pain.”

Only then did Mason realize their hands were still firmly clasped. His ears turned red

as he awkwardly tried to pull away.

world. “You wouldn’t

20

Though they were often close in private, he was still self–conscious in public.

But Ted held tight and didn’t let go. “Don’t tease him, Frank. He’s not exactly built

for subtlety.”

Frank surrendered with a laugh. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave.”

Honestly, calling Mason “dense” in matters of the heart was being

generous.

They shared an apartment, a room, and even a bed. Ted had basically stake

his claim

sign, and somehow Mason still hadn’t caught on.

Everyone in their group knew. Everyone but him.

That paper–thin layer of plausible deniability hadn’t been broken yet. And somehow, Ted had the patience of a saint.

If it were hot–tempered Ashton…

Frank glanced sideways at Briar, who was

s seate

I quietly nearby, sipping from a plastic cup like she hadn’t just sung a lullaby on stage.

‘Hang on. Now that I think about it, Ashton isn’t doing any better. He still hasn’t managed to get anywhere with Briar, has he?‘ Frank mused to himself.

He couldn’t help but click his tongue. ‘Love really does make fools out of everyone.’

Briar sat peacefully, watching Mason and Ted’s tightly clasped hands. She smiled faintly.

Having grown up in Qathana and spent her formative years at a certain special ops base with an almost exclusively male roster, this kind of dynamic was practically normal to her. Male–male pairings were so common they were practically expected.

Ted caught her gaze and looked

Over.

Briar didn’t look away. She raised her

comes to men’s health…”

Cup in a faux–toast and said smoothly, “You know, I’m pretty skilled in traditional medicine. Especially when it

Ted choked on his own breath.

His eyes darted from their interlocked hands to… somewhere a little more south.

Ted coughed hard, trying to cover up the sudden awkwardness.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify