“Come on, Z, man,” Nix said. “We’re supposed to be chilling.”
“Yeah, whatever,” he conceded, digging in his pocket and pulling out a blunt.
“Not that kind of chilling,” Nix grumbled.
“B doesn’t mind, do you?” Zane gave me a wicked grin.
“Quit being a dick, Z.” Kye threw something at him and Zane snarled.
“Boys.” Chloe shook her head. “Are Miles and Nate like this?” she asked Celeste, who glanced at me with a confused expression.
I chuckled. “Someone has a crush.”
“I do not,” Chloe protested, narrowing her eyes at me.
“Nate is…”
“Someone I don’t want to talk about.” Nix nipped my collarbone.
“Nate Miller is complicated,” Celeste added. “He doesn’t really let people get close.”
“Except Harleigh, right? You two seem tight.”
“Clo,” I chided, aware of Nix silent and still behind me.
“What?” She shrugged. “Nix knows you’re his. You’ve always been his.”
Her words hit me dead in the chest.
I had always been his, hadn’t I?
He just hadn’t realized it until it was too late.
“Whatever you’re thinking.” He leaned in, whispering against my cheek. “Stop, right now.”
“How did you know?” I breathed.
“I know you, B. I know you better than anyone. Want to take a walk with me?”
“Nix, we can’t just—”
“Sure we can. Come on.” He got up and offered me his hand. “We’ll be back.”
Zane muttered something under his breath as he leaned back on his elbows, taking a deep hit on his blunt.
“Try not to kill each other, yeah?” Nix gave his best friend a knowing look before sliding his eyes to Celeste.
“Have fun.” She waved.
It still surprised me how accepting Celeste was of all… this. Me. My past. Nix and the guys. She seemed totally unfazed by it. In fact, she seemed curious. Maybe a little too curious if the tension crackling between her and Zane was anything to go by.
Nix hooked his arm around my waist and tucked me into his side.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Somewhere a little more private.” He guided us over to the abandoned mill.
“Is it safe?”