“Not really.”
“Are you feeling better after the run?”
“Yeah, I… I enjoyed it.” I look at him, really look at him, and take note of every inch of him. His teeth bite down on his lower lip when he nods.
“Meet me in the greenhouse tonight.” He pushes off the wall and saunters toward the staircase. I watch him walk away; his back covered in a black tee that’s a little too tight. His ass is hugged in a pair of jeans that make me lick my lips at the sight. He’s too beautiful. My time with him, this month of not having our folks around will soon be over, and we’ll have to face the truth. We may not be able to be together when they’re back.
When our parents return from their honeymoon, Damien and I are going to need to talk. And just the thought of it has me worried.
It’s still a few hours before tonight, and now that I know he wants to meet, I can’t sit still. Pulling on a pair of sneakers, I head out of my room and make my way down the steps and toward the living room. The patio doors are open, and Finn is sitting on one of the chairs, smoking. The joint hangs from his full lips, his hair hanging over his forehead, as he looks down at his phone screen.
I can’t tell what he’s doing, but the moment I appear, he shoves it into his pocket and looks up at me. “Hey, little sis,” he grins, with a playful expression making him look younger than his twenty-four years.
“What are you up to?” I ask, allowing my gaze to sweep across the garden, then I bring it back to Finn.
“Not much, just getting high and enjoying the sunshine before tonight.”
I settle across from him before asking, “What’s happening tonight?”
“Bonfire,” he tells me. “The Black Knights and the Thornes always have a bonfire before the big dance in a week.”
“The big dance?”
“You’re going with me,” Damien says, appearing at the door. “Finn, don’t you have something to do?” He asks his brother, his eyes glowering down at the youngest Thorne.
“Nah,” Finn winks at him, and I can feel the animosity in the air. I’m not sure what they’re hiding, but I’ll find out. “I’ve just been chatting to Gen.”
“Leave her the fuck alone. She’s bad news. You know she runs with the Havens.” There’s poison in Damien’s words when he spits the last word. He told me briefly about them, but I don’t know the full story. And I have a feeling it’s quite a story.
“Are you going to the bonfire tonight?” I ask Damien, trying to calm the brothers down and to eliminate some of the animosity that seems to be brewing between them.
“No. And neither are you.”
I shoot to my feet, crossing my arms over my chest, and question him, “What? Why?”
One thing I’ve come to learn about Damien Thorne over the past week, he doesn’t say something because he wants a reaction. He tells me, Cass, and Finn something, so we can obey, but this time, I’m fighting back.
“Because I fucking said so,” he tells me, with those flame-blue eyes boring through me. I expect him to close the distance between us, but I can also feel Finn’s intrigued stare on me. Damien shakes his head before turning to leave. I’m starting to get used to watching Damien walk away from me.
“Just ignore him, he’ll get over himself,” Finn tells me. “Damien is the eldest, so he takes it upon himself to exert his power, but Cass will talk to him and get him to back down. You have to be at the bonfire, it’s one of the most epic events, besides the actual dance.”
“I’m not great in crowds,” I tell Finn honestly. “I have anxiety. It starts slowly, taking hold of my muscles and twists in my stomach.”
“You’ll be fine. You’ll have me, Cass, and the asshole to look after you. And if Damien tells you he’s your date, I know he won’t leave your side.”
My heart stutters at Finn’s words, but I don’t reply, because I don’t know how to tell him that I’ve done things with his brother. Granted, it was just intense making out, but I’m meant to be their family now. Even if we’re not related.
“And I know my big brother wants to see if those petals of yours will wilt under his thorny exterior,” Finn whispers when he walks away, chuckling at his unamusing comment.
Time to talk to Damien.
I may be young, but I’m not his property. He can’t just tell me what to do and expect me to obey.
22
Damien
Finn is pissing me off. The fact that he’s got Gen on his radar has me extra cautious. She’s trying to wiggle her way into our lives again. She’s one mistake I’m not making again, and my brothers should steer clear as well.