The look that passes between us has me holding my breath.
Cass’s long, honey eyelashes flutter as she blinks several times, cocking her head to the side. “Titus?” There’s concern in her voice, but also something dark and husky.
I swallow hard, taking a beat to decide whether to say what I want to say. Am I ready? To change everything?
Just then, there’s a knock on the door.
I move to get up, but Cass presses a hand to my collarbone and gently pushes me back down onto the bed. “Where do you think you’re going, cowboy? Stay seated lest you sway like a drunken sailor again.”
When she opens the door, it’s Herc, loaded down with three takeout bags from Jin-Jin, my favorite takeout Chinese food place down the street.
“One more bump to the head, you’re gonna land in academic probation,” Herc says.
Cass playfully slaps her brother on the shoulder, then takes the bags from him and spreads them out on the desk.
Herc nods at me. “I got a text from Cass to pick up some food for the sick boy. How you doing?”
I lift one shoulder. “Meh, you should see the other guy. Well, you would have if you’d bothered to tear yourself away from the ladies to save my ass.”
Cass rolls her eyes. “Boys.” She peeks inside the first bag. “Oh, cashew chicken for you, Titus. Oh, look, you remembered sporks and napkins this time.”
Herc puffs out his chest. “What? I always remember utensils and shit.” Cass rolls her eyes. “Yeah, when I remind you.”
I usually don’t mind their banter. It must be the concussion because I’m feeling bristly about it now. I’m not too fond of Herc contradicting Cass.
The twins’ back-and-forth continues as the three of us camp out on the floor and eat our food. And I’m grateful. I’m pleased that I have time to spend with my friends. I’m overwhelmingly happy he brought me food because I was starving. And I’m grateful that I have people keeping me company.
When we finish eating, Herc stands abruptly and starts cleaning up.
“I’m sorry, Cass. I’d stay to keep an eye on this knucklehead to give you a break, but I have practice and a term paper due.”
Cass shrugs. “I understand. What time is it, anyway?”
“About 11 a.m. Open a friggin’ window and get some sunlight, at least, you two.” He smirks as he slides his backpack over one shoulder.
Why do I feel happy that he’s leaving? Because he’s leaving you alone with his sister, and you’re a dirty bastard.
As Herc is headed out the open door, he bumps right into someone else coming in.
I can’t see who it is, but I can tell from the sound of the “Oh!” That it’s a woman.
“Sorry!” Herc says with an awkward chuckle. “Are you okay?”
“I’m doing great; hope you are,” the woman drawls.
“Oh. Uh. Yeah. Great now. I mean, sorry, I almost knocked you down.”
He steps aside and lets the woman come in, and I see it’s a sister from Beta Beta Psi. She looks over her shoulder as Herc steps away. “Well, if anyone was gonna knock me down, I hope it’s you,” she says, blinking her eyes at Herc.
“I would never,” he says, looking horrified, backing away, not getting the joke.
She chuckles. “Run along then. Cass has my number when you figure it out.”
These Beta Beta Psi sisters can be…a lot.
But the woman is here with an overstuffed overnight bag for Cass, so at this moment, I appreciate her.
“Meghan! You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Cass says, standing up to hug her sister.