“What?” Elsa asks.
“Nothing.” It’s none of my business, even though I’m pretty sure something is completely wrong with her.
Silver has been acting out of character more often than not lately. That means she’s either being threatened, or she has a life-altering situation.
Maybe I should tell Dad about it. He’s friends with her father, the mighty future prime minister, Sebastian Queens.
The party goes on. The boys put on a football game, and it’s a nostalgic reminder of the times where we used to meet in Aiden’s house for game nights when he started going out with Elsa.
How I used to sit in a position that gave me a discreet view of Xander’s side profile. I’ve lost count of how many times I watched him while pretending to focus on the game. Or how much I smiled when he and Ronan jumped up to celebrate a goal.
Now, he’s gone.
I shake my head once, not wanting to think about that particular subject.
“So, hear this.” Elsa brings my attention to her and Teal. The three of us are sitting with Kir around the dining table as he devours the cake. “Teal says love is only a chemical reaction.”
“It is.” Teal crosses her arms over her T-shirt that reads, Don’t Know. Don’t Care. “It’s just a dopamine rush like drugs and other things.”
“You can’t get drugs to fuck you.” Elsa raises an eyebrow.
“You can have them get you high, and that’s better than fucking.” Teal keeps her ground.
“Drugs can make you feel high, but it’s temporary.” I wipe the corner of Kir’s mouth. “Love can be temporary, too, but it has an everlasting effect. Sometimes, it becomes hard to breathe or think or even be without it.”
“That.” Elsa’s eyes brighten up.
She’s saying that be
cause she’s living it with Aiden – who’s been watching her instead of the game, by the way, but why the hell am I saying it?
“You guys need help.” Teal shoves an earbud in her ear. Elsa laughs, hitting her shoulder with hers.
“Can I get juice, Kimmy?” Kir asks me.
“Sure thing, Monkey. And slow down.”
“Mmmm,” he speaks through his bite of cake, grinning up at me.
Teal and Elsa are still in their friendly banter. Knox and Ronan are shouting at the game while Aiden watches Elsa. Cole flips through a sociology book from Dad’s library.
The scene and the sounds disappear as I go into the kitchen. I open the refrigerator, but I don’t find Kir’s favourite apple juice.
I try the cupboard, but the top one won’t open. I stand on tiptoe and pull it hard, but still nothing.
Frustration bubbles into my blood, and it’s not because of the stupid cupboard.
My gaze strays to the house opposite us. It’s quiet, lifeless, and appears deserted.
Is this how I will act from now on? I’ll look at that house and fight the need to cry or something?
He could’ve not told me. He could’ve left and kept the entire thing to himself.
But is that what I want, really?
“Here.”
I push back as a taller body opens the cupboard for me. Cole smiles down at me as I retrieve the bottle of juice.