“I lied to you at the beginning of the semester. We have a class together. That one class I told you about that’s difficult for no good fucking reason. She’s my assignment partner till the end of December.”
He whistles. “Woah. I was expecting for you to just bump into her at some point, not have a whole ass class together. How’s it been so far?”
Distracting. Exhausting.Arousing.“It’s been quiet.”
He gives me athat’s bullshit,look. “You sure there’s nothing else going on there?”
Avoiding all eye contact, I plant myself back on the couch.
“I’m sure.”
One thing I do is keep my word, and I gave my word to Kamila when I said I wouldn’t tell anyone. Ethan, although my closest family member, falls under that category.
“I’m not going to make you tell me anything else.”
“Thank you.”
“However,” he continues and I groan. “I will say this. I always liked Kamila. She was so much,” he stops as if stuck on what word to use, “better than Ana.” Her sister’s name comes out as a curse. “You guys had a special connection.”
“Well, shit changes,” I snap at him a little too harshly before apologizing.
He snorts. “I’ll stop talking about her, just know that I’m here.”
“Thanks. I know you are.” Ethan’s been looking out for me since I was a kid. He’s basically my brother.
“And if you ever want to bring her by some time?—”
I cut a hand through the air. “No, just no.”
He laughs, playing with his pen. “Fine, whatever. You wanna grab a bite to eat after closing?”
“If you stop talking about her, I will have dinner with you.”
He puts his right hand up to his heart. “I swear I will not dare mention the evil girl again.”
I roll my eyes at the fucker. “How’s Chris doing, by the way? I haven’t heard you talk about him in a while.”
Now it’s Ethan’s turn to be dismissive. “We’re taking a break, and before you ask any other questions, it happened right after you left, and no, I don’t know how long it’s going to last.”
Seems like I’m not the only one keeping secrets. “I’m assuming you don’t want to talk about it?”
“You assumed right.” His lips remain tight.
I give him a pat on the shoulder. “If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here for you too, bro.”
“Thanks.” He nods.
Now that he’s distracted, I take the opportunity to mess his hair up with both my hands like we used to when we were kids. I sprint to the door. “See you at seven!” I yell when I’m halfway down the street.
“You’re a dick!” Ethan shouts outside of the shop, annoyed, but the smile in his voice is crystal clear.
Chapter Twenty-One
KAMILA
“Bullshit.”
Jake eyes me distrustingly.
