“It’s not like you were very helpful when I asked what food and drinks they like. I had to order some of everything.”
“How the fuck would I know what they like? I went years barely seeing West because our dads had their bitchy feud. I sure as fuck don’t know what his girl likes.”
I could’ve asked Ashtyn but I didn’t want to seem clingy. This was supposed to be casual, yet it looked more like an overzealous Super Bowl party.
“Are you nervous or something?” Kane chuckled, folding his arms across his chest. His thick, veiny forearms drew my attention. “Is this what a first date is like for you?”
“I’m not nervous,” I huffed, turning my attention to the knowing smirk on his face. “And I’ve never been on afirst date. Fucking doesn’t count as a date.”
“You’re telling me I’ve been doing it wrong this whole time?”
I ignored the innuendo as I rearranged the different chip varieties–again, and Kane’s phone buzzed with a text.
“They’re here. I’m gonna go let them in.”
“Fuck, they’re a few minutes early! I need to go change,” I said before sprinting to Kane’s room while he laughed behind me. He could make fun of me all he wanted, but this was important to me. I wanted everything to be just right.
Shit, I sounded like a bitch about to go on a first date.
I’d brought a duffle bag with clothes and bathroom products because I knew I wouldn’t be going home before our…party, date, whatever this was. I shoved off my worn sweats and oversized tee and tugged on a pair of dark rinse skinny jeans. I pulled a cream scoop-neck sweater over my head, not giving a shit if it messed up my hair. It was a disaster anyway. I brushed through the dark tresses with my fingers and put it in a messy ponytail. I dabbed a bit of perfume behind my ears and on my wrists.
I had to smell good for mydate.
When I left Kane’s room, West and Ashtyn were standing in the kitchen area with drinks in their hands. It was just the three of them…
“Hey! Where’s everyone else?” I looked around. They definitely didnotbring any of their friends.
“Oh,” Ashtyn smiled. “I only brought this one. I guess I made this into a double date.”
Verrrrry funny.
“Hope y’all are hungry then,” Kane smirked as he eyed the countertop that was filled with every type of dip, charcuterie, and pinwheel available at the restaurant I’d ordered from.
Once everyone had eaten and the small talk was getting a little too small, I looked down at my plate that I’d barely touched. My nerves were shot, my nails picked to shit, and my lips bitten to hell.
“What’s up with you?” Kane asked as he nudged my knee with his. Ash and West were snuggling in a chair and Kane and I were on the couch.
“Nothing,” I shrugged.
He narrowed his eyes. Was I that obvious?
“Yes, you are that obvious,” Kane answered the question I asked in my head. At least I thought it was in my head…
“Do you mind if I steal you for a few, Ash?” I asked as I stood from the couch. I stepped over Kane’s giant, manspread legs and waited for her to extract herself from West’s arms.
West smacked her ass as she stood up. “Lead the way.”
“I’ll show you Kane’s library.”
“Kane has a library?” West laughed.
“I think it’s less for reading and more for smoking cigars and drinking whiskey while plotting to take over the world,” I smiled as I hooked my arm with Ashtyn’s.
The library was the only other room on the third floor aside from Kane’s room. I knew he in factdiduse the room as a place to escape with his books, but I didn’t want to “out him” to his cousin. Loving books was nothing to be ashamed about, but Kane had an image to maintain, even in front of his relatives.
The Morettis were a book family. Ever since we were kids, Alana and Gio had encouraged their kids to read, probably because they were avid readers too. My dad was more like the dad fromMatilda–the kind of parent who was personally offended that I would rather read a book than watch TV.
My childhood method of escapism was more than entertainment. It was survival.