“It needed some work and was headed to the scrap yard,” Dean drawled. “I just took it off his hands.”
I blinked and looked down at the car, admiring its sleek and shiny edges. “It didn’t look like this when you got it?”
The corner of Dean’s lips twitched as he shook his head. But it was Seb, leaning against the hood on his forearms, who replied with a smirk, “Dean is very good with his hands—”
Dean swatted Seb over the back of the head so fast and efficiently, that I stifled a laugh with my hand when I saw the shocked look on Seb’s face.
“Ow?” Seb said, glaring at Dean and rubbing the back of his head before he caught me smiling. “I’m glad you find his bullying amusing.”
“I’m sorry, Seb.” I pressed my lips together tightly. It didn’t help that I noticed Dean trying to do the same.
Seb shook his head, mocking disappointment at the both of us, as he grabbed what was left of Dean’s share of salted pretzels. “I’m taking these as your apology,” he warned before shoving them in his mouth pointedly.
Dean rolled his eyes and took a swig of his soda.
My smile grew faint as I broached the next question. “Would you ever consider being made if they offered?”
“No,” Dean said simply, screwing the cap back onto the soda bottle. “My life is fucked up enough already.”
The smile he offered me was closed and barely reached his eyes. And I think his way of reassuring me he was okay when my expression had changed to one of empathy.
Seb changed the tone of the conversation when he said, “I think, and don’t smack me again, but I think if Dean was to be made, they probably wouldn’t even bother with the whole blood ritual thing.”
My eyes widened. “I’m sorry. Blood ritual?”
“It’s just an initiation ceremony,” Dean said far too casually. Whatever worried expression had crossed my face next made him elaborate. “New members take an oath of silence and spill a few drops of blood from their fingers.”
“It’s still creepy.” Seb shuddered before continuing “Anyway, his accent alone would get him in.”
Dean frowned and pulled his attention to Seb. “What’re you talkin’ about?”
“Bro,” Seb deadpanned.
“I don’t have an accent.”
Seb scoffed and looked at me. “He says with an accent.”
“We all have accents,” I said, biting my lip when Dean looked at me with curious interest. “Yours just sounds like you’re about to tell us you have an offer we can’t refuse.”
“Ha! See?” Seb grinned excitedly as he clapped his hands once and pointed at me. “We’re keeping her. She knows what I’m talking about.”
“Right. ‘Coz I don’t get enough Godfather references from you as it is.” Dean said it to Seb, who smugly stuffed his face with more food, but he kept his eyes on me with a look of consideration, or maybe even impressment, as he smiled slightly.
The clock radio on the Cadillac’s dashboard ticked over to 3 AM as Dean, certain he wasn’t too concussed to drive, pulled up in front of the apartment. He spent the entire drive in content silence while Seb and I chatted. The conversation started when I asked about the brace on Seb’s wrist. He explained he fell off a roof and sprained his wrist, and then elaborated why he was on a roof when my mouth dropped open in worry.
“I’m a roof tiler by day,” he chuckled. “I don’t hop roofs for fun.”
He revealed that Dean was a mechanic, which explained why he managed to fix his own car. In turn, I told them about my day job as an admin assistant for my mother’s real estate agency.
“Not as exciting as what you two do.” My life was so mundane compared to theirs.
“Eh, you balance it out by working at The Den,” Seb shrugged with a smile.
I glanced at Aiden’s car when the Cadillac’s engine shut off. I didn’t want the night to end yet, not when I knew Aiden was staying the night. He would be asleep, which meant I wouldn’t have to see him until morning, but that didn’t stop me hesitating to get out again.
“You could always send Dean up for you.” Seb was grinning, his chin resting on the back of the front seat as Dean and I looked back at him. Dean with his brow raised and me smiling in bemusement. “Knock the guy’s ego down a little. Tug on the spacers in his earlobes or something.”
I had given them a little insight about Aiden’s antics during the drive too — and of his piercings. He was a self-proclaimed hipster who often gloated about himself. Seb questioned how a girl like Kira, who I also told them about, would want to date a guy like Aiden. I told him that Aiden could be a good boyfriend, he just had a funny way of showing it. Dean quietly hummed in contempt — the only input he had for the entire conversation.
