“Right.” I knew that already, just wanted him to say it. “And what do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Structural engineer. Building bridges and tunnels.”
“That’s cute.”
Dante’s eyebrows lift into his hairline. “Cute?”
I nod while taking a slow sip of my coffee. Warmth spreads through me when Dante tracks my tongue swipe over my lip. For a moment I think he’s going to dip down and kiss me, but his gaze once again pings to the other side of the quad.
“Okay, why do you keep looking over there?” I attempt toturn my head to look, but Dante’s fingers on my chin stop me. “What the fuck?”
“Keep your eyes on me. Laugh, now.”
I laugh awkwardly. “What is going on?”
Dante smiles, but it’s not his real smile. This smile is terrifying and fake. The type of smile an alien would give when attempting to learn how to be human.
“We’re going to get up and walk back to my house, okay? Don’t argue with me. Just trust me, alright?”
Every single molecule in my body screams at me to argue. But the firmness of Dante’s direction, the slightly frantic look in his eyes easily convinces me to keep quiet. So, I listen. We slowly stand and Dante carefully removes my backpack to sling it over his shoulder. When he takes my hand in his, it feels less like it did the other night, and more like he wants to ensure there’s no way for me to be taken away. His grip is so tight my fingers ache.
Fear washes through me, because Dante doesn’t seem the type to be worried. Doesn’t seem the type to run away. Dante is danger incarnate, so what in the world could ever spook him? The walk to his house feels like the shortest yet longest walk of my life. Probably because Dante is unusually quiet.
When we step inside, Dante grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me a little. “There issomuch I have to tell you, but you are about to get a crash course in some very serious information, so just stay super chill. Okay?”
“I… what?”
Dante shakes his head. “There’s not enough time. Come on.”
He drags me into the living room where the three other boys are already waiting. Their eyes snap to me, then immediately snap back to Dante. Dante roughly manhandlesme into one of the wingback chairs situated in the corner away from the window. Scully meows from the ground and jumps into my lap, causing shocked gasps to rattle through the boys. I pet between her ears, letting the softness of her black fur calm me. A rumble of a purr escapes her and I smile, despite the harrowing situation I seem to currently be in. Who doesn’t love a purring cat in their lap?
Dante steps over to the window and peeks out of the corner of the blinds. His fingers go straight, then flex as if he’s fighting the urge to punch something.
“There’s a tail on Reid,” Dante announces like that should mean something to me.
Three gazes immediately ping to me.
“Why is there a tail on Reid?” Parker asks with a furrow between his brows.
Dante shrugs. “I noticed it this morning. He followed Reid to the math building, waited outside, then followed us into the quad.”
Indignation rolls through me. “You were watching mestill? After the library?”
Dante once again looks unrepentant. “I never said I was going to stop. And don’t even try to say a word because I know youstillfollow me.”
“This sounds like foreplay,” Jacob interrupts with an odd little smirk.
“Shut up,” Dante and I say simultaneously.
Dante’s hard gaze lands back on me. “Why do you have a tail?”
“How the fuck would I know? I go to class, go home. I don’t go to clubs anymore. I don't have hookups. I haven’t done anything!”
“Maybe it’s because of you,” Hayden accuses, gaze firmly on Dante.
“Me?” Dante asks, clearly affronted.
Hayden stands from the couch and joins Dante by the window. He stares out the blinds for a moment, fingers anxiously tapping against his thighs. I watch on like a distant observer. This all might be about me, but why are they all so shaken?
