“In your dreams.”
“In my dreams, you’re not a prude slash nerd.”
“Now, who’s the jealous one?”
“Of your nonexistent sex life.” He pretends to yawn. “Wake me up when this one starts to say the word cock. Sorry, I meanpenis.”
“You little—” I pause when I feel Ava’s body vibrating against mine. “Are you laughing?”
“No, I swear.” She does a shit job at hiding her laughter. “I’m done.”
“Something Cecy will never say in this lifetime,” Remi muses.
Ava snorts and bursts out laughing.
“I’m going to kill you,” I tell him, then glare at Ava. “And you just lost bestie privileges.”
“No, Cecy.” She hugs me tighter. “Don’t leave me. And shut up, Rems, seriously. Leave her alone. We need a prude in our ranks like we need a manwhore, aka you.”
Remi laughs. “Joke’s on you because that’s a compliment!”
“Was that supposed to make me feel better?” I ask Ava while wearing my poker face.
She merely grins and hugs me again. “You can die celibate and we’ll still love you.”
Rolling my eyes, I push her away and head toward Anni, who’s not so subtly watching Creighton while toying with her straw.
When I sit beside her, she smiles and offers me some snacks.
Remi chooses to put Ava under fire, obviously bored with the old rehearsed topic of my alleged prudeness.
You’re not a prude if you like primal play.
I slowly close my eyes to chase away Jeremy’s voice. Just why on earth do I keep thinking of him when I’m supposed to be focusing that energy on starting anew with Lan?
Though is that what I truly want?
“I missed being here with you guys.” Anni sighs.
Right. She was often forced to stay in her brother’s mansion upon his order and there was nothing she could do about it.
“Can’t you tell him no?” I swallow. “Jeremy, I mean.”
“Tell Jer no?” She laughs awkwardly. “Have youseenhim?”
I have.
Countless times.
And I hate it.
Because even when he’s not there, I find myself searching for his shadow in the darkness, behind the trees.
Everywhere.
“I did get some of my freedom back, so silver lining!” She smiles.
“Has he…always been controlling like this?” I realize that I’m digging where I’m not supposed to, but I can’t help it.