“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you Ell. But it’s okay, most people are.”
Lynn—who I’ve just decided is my favorite person—waves her spoon without even looking up from the stove. “Don’t you make me yell at you in front of this nice girl and scare her off, she doesn’t even know how to cook.”
Elle and Cam exchange a look before mumbling, “Sorry, Lynn.”
She levels me with a look, nodding toward Cam like it's a tragedy. “He doesn’t know how to cook either, don’t worry.”
Cam presses a hand to his chest, gasping like she just accused him of kicking her puppy. “Lynn, that wasonetime—”
“Thatwas notone time,” Elle cuts in, launching the rest of her cinnamon roll at him. This time it lands dead center, leaving a streak of frosting sliding down his face.
“You cannot keep throwing food at me and expecting it to solve your problems.”
“That’s exactly what I expect,” she flashes him an innocent smile before turning back to me. “See, Raven? This is what I deal with. Daily.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I like her.” I give Cam my best glare, folding my arms over my chest, knowing I look anything but angry. “She actually got me food, which was more than I can say for you.”
Elle claps, aiming her spoon at Cam like she's just been crowned something that doesn't matter. “Thank you! Can you believe he didn’t even think to feed you? How rude.”
Cam rolls his eyes and shakes his head, taking another bite. “Great. Just what I needed…two of you.”
Elle looks outside and bolts upright so fast her chair screeches across the floor. “I've gotta run.” She’s halfway to the door before I even register she's moved—and then she's back again, pulling me into a hug before my brain can catch up. “We’re going out later, okay. I’ll find you.”
Then, like a whirlwind, she’s gone and I'm left blinking at the now-empty space where she just was.
“She’s something else, I really like her.”
“She’s definitelysomething,” Cam mutters, stealing another cinnamon roll. I'm not one to judge, but I'm pretty sure this is his fifth one.
“Don’t let her fool you though, she’ll drag you into trouble faster than you can blink.”
I laugh, because I can totally see that. “I love her already.”
Cam groans dramatically. “Of course you do. But be careful with her,” he says casually, brushing crumbs from his hands.
“What do you mean?”
He leans against the counter, watching me carefully. I can't help but feel like he's baiting me. “She can read minds.”
I freeze, staring at him.I'm sorry, what?“Did you just…She canwhat?”
He holds up a hand, clearly amused by my immediatewhat the fuckreaction. “Relax, she won’t do it without your permission. Besides, if shehadgone digging around in your head, you’d know.”
I try to glare at him, but nausea wins out. Figures. “What do you mean I would know if she had? How do you know she wouldn’t? What does it feel like?”
Cam watches me carefully, but my mind is already miles away.How exactly would I know? Does it hurt? Would she say something? Would she know all the shit running through my head? Wait, does everyone here read minds? I'm fucked.
He must see the look on my face because his voice drops into something calmer. “I know, because she’s my sister.” He pauses, like that alone should explain everything. “It also means you passed her test.”
My stomach twists. “Test?” I echo. “Are we justignoringhow creepy that sounds?”
His lips twitch. “She calls it anevaluation.”
“I’m not really sure if that makes it better.”
I try to force a small smile, but the idea of someone poking around in my head, even with permission, makes my skin crawl. I look around and realize there's no one in the kitchen anymore.When did they all leave?
“Seriously.” He gives me a look meant to calm me down, but it doesn't work. “If she didn't like you, believe me, you'd feel it. She can be terrifying when she wants to be. But she's solid. You can trust her.”
