“Maybe I should have driven.” He grimaces, inspecting our mud-splattered legs, our bikes caked in brown muck. It may have stormed all night, but the sun is up and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Fall might officially be here, but this morning is a flashback of spring.
“Drive? Where’s the adventure in that?” I pull him over the stone bench that sits just this side of the lookout. “Let the bagel-fest commence.”
“Tell me something I don’t know about you.” He sits with his legs folded under him, and I do the same. There’s something undeniably romantic about facing one another like this as the sun sprays its orange glow over our shoulders, miraculously warming us despite the icy breeze.
“I hate bagels,” I say with my next bite, trying to keep a straight face.
“What?” He inches back, and I can’t help but love the panic I’ve induced in him.
“I’m kidding. I’m an open book. I’ve got like nothing to tell. I’ve lived underneath the shadow of my brother and sister all my life—the end.”
Grant’s eyes widen. “That’s funny because I don’t see your brother or your sister’s shadow when I see you. Not even a hint.”
“That’s because I appeared before you virtually uncluttered. It’s a freak sort of a thing you’re experiencing. My brother is at Briggs. He’ll put the kibosh on this good time soon, you’ll see.”
“And your sister?”
“She’s”—shit—“away. Working.” It’s technically true. Aubree has bragged a thousand times how they’ve crowned her head librarian of the entire correctional facility. For a second, I picture her playing the part of the sexy librarian just as that greasy guard comes in and has his way with her—and I mean that in the consensual sense. Aubree would no sooner have someone take advantage of her than she would rip their teeth out one by one.
“Nice.” That sad smile comes to rest on his face once again. “And your parents?”
“They’re off in their own world. In fact, they’re going on a cruise to see more of it. My brother and I are flying solo for Thanksgiving.”
“You’ll spend it with me.” Grant comes to life at the thought.
“R-r-really?” Damn. My cheeks blush ten shades, but Grant is nice enough to pretend not to notice.
“Yes, really. It’ll be fun. My mom doesn’t know how to cook for three people, so we always end up with enough to feed a small tribe. My parents would love it, and that way I finally get to meet your brother.”
“Actually, it’ll just be me.” I wrinkle my nose. “He’s taking off to New York with his girlfriend.”
“Really?” Those whiskey-colored eyes of his seem displeased by the idea. “What were you going to do?”
“I hear Hallowed Grounds makes a mean turkey sandwich.”
“Hallowed Grounds will be closed.” He pulls my hand forward and lands a kiss to the back of it. “Good thing I saved the day.” He offers up that sarcastic grin, and I crawl right onto his lap.
“Good thing, indeed.” My mouth finds his, and we forget about the bagels, the golden sun, the muddy trails, and the icy wind. Grant and I tell one another our life stories one kiss at a time.
All week Grantand I acquaint our tongues with our tonsils every chance we get. On Thursday, on my way back to my dorm, I stop off at Hallowed Grounds, and no sooner do I step inside than I regret my decision.
“Ava!” Daisy does a spastic wave, but it’s not the fact she’s causing a scene that demands I spin on my heels and run. It’s the brunette by her side that has me twitching.
A body bumps into me from behind, and for a moment, I’m frozen in horror thinking it might be Grant.
“What’s up, chica?” Lucky dances around me until she groans at the sight of Daisy and Piper. It’s kind of hysterical when you think about it. My brother is dating Piper, and hers is dating Daisy. I suppose that’s not the to die for funny part—thatwould be the fact we don’t want to spend a single second with our brothers’ one and onlys. “Shit.” Lucky pulls me along. “We’d better bite the bullet.”
“If it’s a lead bullet, I might die. I’m part werewolf, you know.” Lucky teased me mercilessly after Rush—the wandering werewolf—took a few solid bites out of my neck on Halloween night.
“Get over here, girls!” Daisy pulls the two of us in for one giant group hug, and all but suffocates us in her candy sweet perfume. I, myself, am partial to Daisy, so I don’t mind one bit any scent she chooses to douse herself with, but I can hear Lucky gagging up a storm. “So, what’s up? How’s the b-o-y?” She tries to mouth the word, but misses by a tattletale mile.
My jaw practically unhinges as Lucky and I take our seats across from the two of them.
“What’s this?” Piper cocks her head. “Say it isn’t so!” Her mouth rounds out with glee. “Owen is going to d-i-e!”
“Well, I’m glad the two of you can spell.” I flatten my hands over the table in an effort to keep from tipping it over. “Maybe I should just l-e-a-v-e?”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Piper pulls my seat next to hers in one Herculean move. “I’m not some spy your brother owns. For sure, I’m not here to spill your secrets. Anything you do with your life is your business. Believe me, I know brothers. I have two myself—three if you count Blake.” She winks at Daisy. “He’s the cute lead singer of the 12 Deadly Sins. He’s technically my brother’s brother.”
