“True, but you can’t make friendship bracelets for all of us and not have one yourself. That’s not how it works, kitten,” he explains, taking my hand.
He wraps a larger, multicolored friendship bracelet around my wrist, made from all the colors I used for theirs. It’s a beautiful chaos, and I feel my nose starting to burn.
“Did you make this?” I ask, surprised.
“He bribed Chiara to do it.” Joshua chuckles.
“Bribed her with what?” I raise an eyebrow.I swear if he just gave her something expensive, I’ll…
“Our Netflix password,” Clay admits with a shrug.
“I haven’t even given you guys yours yet,” I muse, to which Clay looks guilty. “What?”
“I saw Xander’s bracelet and got jealous. He mentioned you made one for all of us, so Josh and I just helped ourselves.” He grins, showing off the red bracelet on his wrist. Joshua then rolls up his sleeve to show the blue one on his. “Thanks, by the way. We love them.”
“How did you know which color was for whom?” I ask, glancing between the two.
“Come on, kitten,” Clay boasts as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“What?” I question, still puzzled, but Sophia cuts in.
“Can we go eat? I’m starving,” she complains, letting her head fall to one shoulder and lifting her gaze to the ceiling.
“I—” I start, but Clay grabs my left hand at the same time Joshua takes my right.
They have a kind of stare-off, but Clay lets go, and Joshua pulls me to walk. “You need to start eating regularly again for your stomach,” he lectures quietly.
“Okay,” I give in, still not understanding what just happened between those two.
Once we reach the cafeteria, Clay and Joshua decide to grab plates of spaghetti for all of us, so Sophia and I sit at the usual table.
“Are you okay? You seem a bit off today. Want some tea?” I ask her.
Considering her usual demeanor, it doesn’t sit right with me how her bubbly personality is dimmed, and she is way too quiet.
“I’m just frustrated, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.” She shrugs, not easing my worries the slightest with her answer.
“Did I do something wrong?” My insecurities bubble up, and I find myself holding my breath.
Am I the problem?Maybe she already has enough of us in her home. Chiara feels way too at home for my liking, letting her stuff lay around everywhere.I need to talk to her about it.
“No, I’m genuinely happy to have you back, Lina,” she reassures, reaching over to grip my hand.
“Then what—” I begin with a relieved sigh, but I’m interrupted.
“Oh, look, how cute. Costa’s fucking the whole family. Maybe she reminds them of those fat Buddha statues they worship in China,” Del Moro sneers to his partner, both standing behind us.
“Does your ass ever get jealous over all the shit that comes out of your mouth?” I ask flatly.
“Buddhism originated in Nepal, I’m Korean, and you’re an asshole,” Sophia snaps.
“Who would have thought China has a backbone, or are your hormones out of place? Is your pussy bleeding, baby?” he asks Sophia, tone husky.
I rise from my seat, positioning myself between Sophia’s chair and Del Moro. “Don’t talk about a woman’s hormones if you can’t even make a whore moan.”
“You fat piece of shit,” he barks out, grabbing the front of my hoodie and yanking me toward him.
A spike of fear hits me, but in the next second, Joshua is there. He twists Del Moro’s arm, forcing him to release me, and steps between us, pushing him back. My fear spikes again, but this time for Joshua, who jabs a finger into Del Moro’s chest, leaning into his space. “Touch her one more time, I fucking dare you,” he warns, so furious like I have never seen him.
