“I told you they’d be here before the fire was actually usable,” Finn said, sounding amused.
Luca scoffed loudly. “It’s usable.”
“Last week you tried to light it with a napkin,” Finn said calmly, taking a sip from his mug.
“That was my new strategy!”
“We’re having a fire?” I asked. I stuck my hands in my coat pockets, suddenly feeling the cold so much more. I did my best not to shiver.
“We always do on Fridays,” Luca said sassily, as if that was something I should know about them. Since we’d only had occasional bonfires when we were growing up, and only ever on warm summer evenings, I had to assume that was something they’d started as a band. “Now, come on! Before we miss it.”
Finn laughed. “You Turner siblings really are impatient.”
I might have argued that I shouldn’t be lumped in with that, except that I was practically shoving them aside to get to the warmth. I was pretty sure our bags were dropped in the foyer and I heard Luca make some comment about the guest room upstairs, but I chose not to worry about it as I continued forward into the house. I’d visited enough times not to get lost as I weaved my way through the mansion toward the backyard.
I could see the bonfire easily as I reached the glass doors, warm gold and orange against the dark blue of the evening sky. As I opened the door, I heard the popping and cracking of logs, sparks drifting upward before disappearing into the night, mixed with the dull sound of chatter.
I knew all the Take Five boys well enough to recognize them on sight, but it took me a moment to remember their girlfriends. There was Ivy—Poppy’s older sister—laughing at something Zach was whispering in her ear. A girl was perched on the arm of Neil’s chair, wrapped in an oversized scarf that I was sure must have belonged to him, and I assumed that was his girlfriend Grace. That left only Megan and Sloane, Hudson and Luca’s girlfriends respectively, who were sitting beside eachother holding steaming mugs and giggling. Hudson was near them as well, but he was focused on toasting a marshmallow that was already turning black.
The others stepped out right behind me and Luca quickly pushed his way forward, then he clapped his hands loud enough to cut through the noise. “Alright, everyone—announcement.”
A collective groan rose up immediately.
“This better not be about fire safety again,” Hudson called.
Luca ignored him. “Lilah has arrived.” He stepped aside dramatically, waving a hand in my direction. Then, as a complete afterthought and in a much less excited voice, he added, “Also that Valentine brother she’s dating or whatever.”
“I think I’m growing on him,” Tino whispered in my ear. Goosebumps raised on my arms and I tried to tell myself it was from the cold even as tingles went down my spine. “He actually remembered my last name.”
I laughed, but the sound was quickly drowned out by multiple voices calling out welcomes. Tino got pulled into introductions he technically didn’t need but was clearly being subjected to anyway. Hands clapped his shoulder, people handed him drinks, Luca disappeared briefly and reappeared with a blanket that he promptly shoved at us.
“Sit,” he ordered, pointing to an open spot near the fire. “It’s cold and you two look like you’re pretending you’re not freezing.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Tino and I moved toward the fire, settling onto one of the low benches near the stone ring. The heat immediately soaked into my legs, my boots thawing out inch by inch. I hadn’t realized how tense my shoulders were until they dropped all at once.
Without really thinking about it—and without missing a beat—Tino draped the blanket over both of us. He shifted closer, hisarm settling around my shoulders, pulling me gently against his side.
It felt… easy.
Like he was actually my boyfriend.
I rested my head lightly against his shoulder, just enough to sell it, just enough to feel the warmth radiating from him. The fire crackled in front of us, sparks dancing upward, and from the corner of my eye, I caught Luca watching us with a knowing smile.
The “relationship” on display.
Hudson finally gave up on his marshmallow and dropped into a chair across from us. “So,” he said, pointing the stick in Tino’s direction, “are you musically gifted like your brothers, or is that a genetic fluke?”
Tino opened his mouth, then paused. “Define gifted.”
Luca snorted. “That’s a no.”
“Hey,” Tino said, offended. “I can sing.”
Yeah, that was a total lie.
Sloane leaned forward, eyes lighting up. “Prove it.”
