“Parker,” Reid says from beside me when he appears out of thin air. Perhaps he can teleport.
“Reid.”
“Hey, so, Dante’s birthday is next week.”
I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, again almost incurringthe wrath of the person walking behind me. Reid takes mercy on my stupidity and grabs my arm, tugging me toward the quad, away from the crowded sidewalk.
“I thought his birthday was in July.”
Reid snorts. “That’s Hayden.”
“Oh.”
“You guyssuck. You’d kill for each other, but you don’t know when his birthday is.”
“I only know Jacob’s birthday because we have the same one.”
Reid’s stare is so icy it rivals the snow at our feet. “I want to throw him a party.”
“Good luck!” I attempt to yank out of his grasp, but for such a little twink, his grip is firm. Jesus. “Whattttt…”
“I want to have a card night at our house, just us. Cake… drinks…nomissions.”
“Talk to Hayden,” I grouse, already reaching my peak annoyance.
Reid blinks his icy blue eyes rapidly at me like I’m the stupidest man on earth. Maybe I am, compared to Hayden, at least. Just when I’m about to say something else, Reid takes a slow, deep breath, closes his eyes, then reopens them to smile an awkward, stilted-looking smile my way. It’s a little scary. Looks a little like Dante’s smile, if I’m being honest.
“Please assist me with throwing my boyfriend a birthday party.”
Well. Shit. “Okay.”
“Thank you. Are you heading back to the house? I need a ride back.”
I was, but usually I stop by and watch Mason’s house for a little while… but I can’t tell Reid that because he’ll respond like a raptor who’s had their favorite toy taken from them. He’d surely eat me alive. Especially since I can’t explainwhyI feel like I have to keep protecting Mason even though he’s perfectly safe in their old house that’s more secure than Fort Knox.
“Fine,” I reply through gritted teeth.
Reid’s returning smile is incandescent. Thankfully, he’s quiet as we get into the SUV and as we make the brief ride home. At least he’s not smoking anymore. The thick cloud of cigarette smoke that used to follow him around would set me on edge for hours. Not that it’s his fault my mother started smoking at the age of twelve and died of lung cancer before she could even reach forty.Rarely happens to someone this young, the doctor had said with a stumped look on his face. Of course, anything to take something from Jacob and me. The universe will always ensure cruelty to us.
Reid hops out of the car without a parting word and skips up the steps, no doubt eager to search out Dante, who’s lucky enough to have Tuesdays off from going to campus. The house is warm from the heater and smells like Jacob’s dark chocolate zucchini bread when I step inside. After hanging my jacket up, I run my hands through my hair and make my way toward the kitchen.
Jacob grunts in acknowledgement as he continues to furiously type on his laptop, setting a world record speed surely for how fast he can type.
“Do you know when Dante’s birthday is?” I ask conversationally as I walk over to the counter to make myself a cup of coffee.
“I think… in the fall? I think he’s a Scorpio.”
It’s my turn to grunt now. I finish making my coffee, spin around, then lean my back against the counter to aim a heavy look at him. “His birthday is next week.”
Jacob’s eyebrows wing up. “No shit?”
“Also, what the hell do you know about star signs?”
“Candy liked them.”
“Of course,” I reply with a forced smile.
“She wasn’t awful.”
