But people are forcing me to be scared.
Lorenzo comes back, zipping up his jeans with one hand and grabbing his cigarette with the other. "Miss me?" he grins.
"Like a hole in the head."
He drops back beside me, smoke back in the air between us. We sit in silence for a beat.
Then I turn to him again. "So, what the hell did he say to you? Earlier, back there."
Lorenzo smirks. "Can't tell you. Confidential."
I shove his shoulder. "Oh fuck off, you're not his lawyer."
He laughs. "I'm serious. He told me some pretty messed-up shit. I'm not gonna throw it back in his face."
"Come on."
"Nope."
I glare. "What, you think we're gonna fall in love and you'll be the asshole who betrayed his trust?"
"Exactly," he grins. "I'm not risking getting called a traitor when you two eventually make out and then you start crying in his arms or some shit."
I shove him harder. "Fuck you, Lo."
He chuckles. "Hey, I'm just playing the long game."
"Well, play a different game," I snap. "Because that one's not happening. Not now. Not ever."
"Whatever you say, cousin."
I know what that look means. He doesn't believe me.
I feel Lorenzo shift beside me. Then I feel his eyes on me.
"So…" he starts, voice casual. "If you'rereallynot into Rava…"
I turn my head slightly, just enough to catch his smirk out of the corner of my eye.
"…mind if I shoot my shot?"
My jaw locks. He shrugs, still staring at the sky like he didn't just drop a bomb.
"I mean, if you're so sure there'snothingthere. He's cute. Smart. Got that whole forbidden fruit vibe going."
I sit up halfway and look at him. "What?!" I snap.
He lifts his brows. "What? You don't want him. Waste not, you know?"
"You're not good for Rava," I shoot back without thinking.
"Oh?" he says. "Since when doyouknow what's good for Rava, hm?"
I flop back onto the ground, staring at the sky. "I don't know," I mutter. "But I know it's definitely not you. Also, what the hell do you mean, 'forbidden fruit'?" I add, turning my head toward him. "What do you know?"
He shrugs. "I know everything. Should I go?"
"Yeah. Sure. Go. If you want him that bad, go for it."
