“Is it for a girl?”
Jennie’s voice cut sharply, casual but pointed. I looked at her, holding her gaze, trying to keep my pulse steady.
She didn’t know. She couldn’t know.
“No,” I said evenly, though my jaw ached from the effort. “Can’t I just… find a hobby?”
Jennie scoffed, leaning back in her chair, arms folded. “A hobby? Joshua, you study your ass off, you’re an athlete, and you’re an heir. Do you even have free time to pick up a hobby?” She tilted her head, curiosity carved across her face.
“I’m right here, aren’t I? Clearly free,” I shot back, my tone edged.
“Shove that attitude up your ass,” Alex said flatly, not even looking away from his painting. He flicked his brush, his voice dripping with that signature don’t-give-a-fuck energy.
I sighed, rubbing my palms against my thighs, dragging one hand down my face hard enough to sting. My chest hurt from holding everything in, from pretending it wasn’t eating me alive.
“Please.” The word slipped out before I could catch it. My voice cracked, quiet, raw. My throat tightened, but I forced it out again. “Please. Teach me.”
Jennie’s mouth actually fell open.
I never saidplease.
Not to anyone.
Her eyes widened, flicking to Alex as if to confirm what she had just heard wasn’t a hallucination.
Alex stopped mid-stroke and frowned at me, also surprised at the sudden ‘please’ from me.
I rolled my eyes and turned away. These idiots.
Jennie’s grin slowly returned, sharper than ever. She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, her eyes sparkling.
“Sure. I’ll help. Whenever you’re ready, let me know, but ask Alex too sometimes,” she added, almost as an afterthought. “He knows. He can translate for you if you get stuck.”
My eyes snapped to Alex, narrowing. He didn’t even bother looking up from his canvas.
“Because she asked,” he said flatly, dragging his brush through a streak of blue like this conversation was background noise.
I leaned back against the couch, exhaling sharply. “So Iamthird-wheeling.”
“Fuck off. It’s different,” Alex replied instantly, his tone clipped, matter-of-fact.
Jennie stuck her tongue out at me, smug, like she’d just scored a point. She knew what she was doing, rubbing it in.
Alex might’ve been my best friend first, but he’d always drop anything for her.
The biggest soft spot.
Bullshit.
Didn’t matter. I didn’t give a shit.
“Thanks, Jen,” I muttered finally, keeping my voice low, even. Jennie’s smile softened just a fraction, like she’d caught something under my tone but decided not to poke.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a moment, thinking about how fucking stupid I probably looked.
For a girl.Yeah, it’s for a girl. So what? Why does the motive matter?
I glanced up, eyes catching Jennie and Alex in the middle of their usual bickering.
