Immediately, I shrugged, because I would take anything right now as long as it’s not her wanting to end things.
I made sure Cosette knew that as I said, “I’m fine with that. I’m not scared.”
Siege nodded beside me, and I noticed her shoulders slumping, seemingly nervous herself that we’d be chickening out because it was obvious that this means a lot to her.
Maybe it even meant everything. We all know her dad’s the only real family she has, and it must’ve been killing her to be hiding secrets from him when clearly, they have a strong bond.
“Great. Dinner tonight at my place, then. Who am I riding home with?”
“Me,” I said at the same time Nero and Siege did, becauseof course, we just had to bring all our cars today instead of carpooling.
Cosette chuckled as she scanned us, deciding on something. “I’m not choosing. So, answer me this. What’s one thing I enjoy eating by itself, but not mixed with food?”
Raisins? No, she hates raisins altogether. Was it?—
“Peanuts,” Siege said with ease, and Cosette’s smile widened, her anger from earlier apparently gone as she melted in his arms with a hug.
“Take me home, Mr. Azul,” she just about purred, and it’s the third time today that I’ve wanted to punch my brother in the face.
Lucky bastard.
27
COSETTE
Three boyfriends.
I’m really going to tell my dad I have three boyfriends.
Was I crazy? I know my dad loves me to no end, and that he’s always been supportive of me. But really, Cosette? Are you just going to expect yourAsian, Catholicdad to take this and accept that you went from never taking a boy home to not just one, not even two, butthreeboyfriends?
You are a heathen, and your dad’s going to disown you, and he’s going to be disgusted?—
“Hey, beautiful.”
I turned my head to look at Siege in the driver’s seat as he pulled out of the school parking lot, hand reaching over to soothe his thumb over my forehead to straighten the wrinkles on it. Huh. Didn’t even realize that my face was showing how bad my inner monologue was.
“You okay?“
“Yeah. Yeah, it’s nothing. I’m just thinking about how I have to perfectly cook the adobo the way he likes it if I want him to soften up later,” I excused, accepting Siege’s hand and lacing our fingers together.
“You know, I’m still surprised you handled the mission at Dione’s so well when you’re the worst liar I’ve ever met.”
I laughed, knowing it was a pretty terrible lie, so I can’t even blame him for calling me out like that.
“Shut up. You want the truth now? Now, I’m just thinking about how much I miss having alone time with you.”
Truthfully, I would’ve loved riding with anyone home. A ride with Nero probably would’ve gone a little more quietly since we’re still testing the waters of our newfound relationship, and a ride with Dex would consist of me jamming to the radio while I make him begrudgingly sing along with me.
But a ride with Siege? It’s the perfect combination of calm and carefree that I needed before tonight.
“Yeah?” He asked, clearly taking what I said well, and if I were to guess? He misses having me to himself too.
“Mm-hmm. So much so that I want to ask you to take the scenic route home.”
The corner of his lips curled, and he brought my hand to his lips to place a kiss on the back of it before he single-handedly made a sharp turn to get us off-route.
For a while, I couldn’t recognize the way he was taking, driving through neighborhoods unfamiliar to me.
