But it wasn’t nothing.
He wasn’t nothing.
Ronan was starting to mean more than I knew how to deal with.
The coffee hit just right, smooth and strong with a hint of sweetness. Drew leaned forward, smirk in place, plate pushed aside mid-bite. “So…when's the wedding?”
I choked mid-sip, coughing into my fist while Ronan shot him a look that could’ve curdled blood. Without missing a beat, he leaned over and punched Drew hard in the arm.
“Fucking hell,” Drew yelped, dropping his fork and clutching his bicep. “It’s a valid question!”
Daleyza rolled her eyes at her brother, but she was hiding a grin behind her glass.
Setting my cup down with a little more force than necessary, I pinned Drew with a deadpan stare. “You’re an idiot.”
Drew just smiled at me. “Yeah, but I’m your favourite idiot,” he said, stuffing more bacon into his mouth from Daleyza's plate.
“There’s no wedding. There’s nothing.” I said, voice flat, but the second the words left my mouth, they tasted bitter. Like some part of me wasn’t convinced anymore.
Drew opened his mouth, probably about to say something equally dumb and irritating, but before he could, I caught the flicker of something—something raw —in Ronan’s eyes.
A tightness rose in my chest.
Stupid, handsome face that makes me want to know more about him. To get closer to him. To kiss him.
I shoved a strawberry into my mouth, chewing it as if it would distract me from the sudden tension in the air. It didn’t.
Drew had no concept of awkward silences and ploughed ahead like a wrecking ball. “Yeah, sure. You keep telling yourself that. I see the way you both look at each other, and the way he talks about you all the time with Kieran.” He waved a fork between Ronan and me. “And listen, Ronan doesn’t bother with girls at all, but you must be pretty damn special, even Keirans stopped fucking girls.”
“Seriously, Drew, shut it before I shove that fork up your ass,” Ronan mumbled before finishing his food.
That was weird, Kieran not sleeping about. I knew what he was like; I heard it from most of the women who live in Velmore. There was no way he was going to stop doing what he was known for just because he met me. However, I appreciate that he and Ronan hadn’t told anyone about Vespera being my grandmother.
And there was that little nagging feeling of ease knowing he wasn’t fucking around anymore.
“And Darian rants about you constantly, it's actually hilarious. I remember him coming home years ago, talking about a friendhe made who was meant to be a secret, with heart-shaped eyes and everything, until you disappeared. Now he’s so riled up every time Ronan even mentions you.” This time, Daleyza kicks him underneath the table.
Ronan exhaled slowly through his nose, his jaw flexing hard enough to crack stone. He was watching me now, and all I wanted to do was talk to him. He doesn’t know about my past with Darian, and I doubt he has told them anything but that he hates my guts.
“What’s your name anyway? Ronan calls you Cherry, and Darian never mentioned your name.”
“I told you my name.” I popped another strawberry in my mouth, and I didn’t miss Ronan's heated look on my lips.
“You haven’t told anyone your name, Cherry.” I swallowed. Then I remembered what he said when we first met.
Consider it a little deal between us. When you can trust me, you can share it.
Over time, even if it has only been a short time knowing him. I do, mostly. I also know who he is meant to be to me, so I finally reveal what nobody else but Malrik knows, and that’s just because he’s my crazy ass stalker.
“It’s Ravena,” I said, letting the name slide out carefully. I met Ronan's eyes, and for a heartbeat, he smiled—a small, quiet thing, but it carried weight. He knows now that I trust him.
I picked up my coffee and took a long sip as my fingers trembled slightly. The warmth seeped into my bones, rich and slightly bitter, and a contented sound slipped out before I could stop it.
Ronan stilled, his body tense, fingers tightening around his own mug. Then the door opened and shut with a thud. Two figures stepped inside, their conversation cutting off the second; they noticed me.
Darian and Kieran, and while Kieran looked mildly curious to see me here, face unreadable, Darian looked pissed. His eyes narrowed to slits as he stalked toward me, radiating nothing but pure hostility.
“Fuck no,” Darian snarled, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. “Get out. Now.” I had time to process the words before he was standing in front of me, fists clenched at his side.
