“So, Romero,” Kiara says his name in a slow drawl. “You write?”
“Among other things.” Cosmos dumps a piece of ice into his mouth and bites down on it. I shiver, imagining his teeth sinking into something entirely different.
The flirty smile Kiara was flashing at Cosmos when Sullivan was around drops away, replaced by giddy excitement.
“Can I tell you a secret?” She leans across the table and, without waiting for an answer, says, “The poem I’m reading tonight isn’t really from my new collection like I’m going to say it is. I wrote it in ten minutes this afternoon, just because I knew it would get a rise out of Sullivan.”
“Oh, I like you.” Ivy grins, then takes a sip of her spiked drink.
Should I tell Cosmos she’s been drinking? Now that look at her more closely, it seems clear she’s underage. Probably eighteen, if I had to guess.Twenty, at the most. I don’t want to break her trust after just meeting her, but the whole thing makes me uncomfortable. I’ll just keep an eye on her. If she has any more, I’ll definitely tell him. The last thing I want is for her to get herself into trouble.
“I’m very likable.” Kiara grins and continues to explain her plan. “Sullivan hates anything having to do with sex because he says it’s‘crude pandering to the endemic masses.’” She laughs and leans back in the chair. “He’s gonna have an absolute conniption about this one. He might die of an aneurysm right here on the spot.”
“Good thing I’m a doctor,” Cosmos laughs.
Kiara straightens. “A doctor.” She looks at me with a wicked grin, clearly thinking I’m on a date with a hot doctor and have landed the mother lode of all mother lodes. “How did this happen? How do you know each other?” She waves a hand between us.
I clear my throat and take a sip of my drink, trying to formulate an answer, but my brain isn’t working again.
Cosmos scoots his chair a foot away. “We met at the hospital.”
Ivy, oblivious to the tension or the inappropriateness, casually adds, “Hazel’s mom is Cos’ patient.”
Cosmos coughs and glares at his sister. I do, too.
“Wait, your mom’s in the hospital? I knew she was sick, but I didn’t know it was that bad. Why didn’t you tell me?” There’s no avoiding the hurt in Kiara’s voice.
I didn’t mean to keep it a secret. I just didn’t wantto emotionally fall apart on her, and it was a lot easier to avoid that when she didn’t know. I like Kiara and didn’t want to lose her friendship because I was too much to handle. I guess it’s unavoidable now.
“She’s going through cancer treatment,” I whisper.
Ivy slurps up the last of her drink, and Cosmos shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
Kiara’s mouth hangs open in a silent exhale, then she takes a sharp inhale and her eyes flash with understanding. “This is why you’ve been missing class! How could I have been so oblivious? I’m such a crap friend. I should have known something was wrong.”
If anyone has been a terrible friend, it’s me. Friends tell each other things. I know that, but actually doing it is… terrifying. Like handing someone a thread attached to your heart and waiting to see if they pull and unravel it. Now that she knows, I feel frayed.
“I should have told you.” I’m not sure I believe it, but she shouldn’t blame herself. I’m the one who chose not to share. And seeing the gutted expression on her face, I wish she’d never found out at all.
“You should have told her what?” Sullivan returns with two beers and sets both down in front of Kiara. She takes a big gulp before answering his question. “Hazel’s mom’s in the hospital with cancer.”
“Shit.” He runs his hand through his hair. “Sorry, Haze.”
“It’s fine.” They’re the least convincing words I’ve ever spoken. But I don’t want the pity on his face. Itmakes me feel raw and itchy, like everyone’s staring at me and I don’t know where to look or what to do with myself. “So, are you going to read anything, Sullivan?”
“Nah, not my thing.”
Kiara slams down her empty beer glass and jumps to her feet. “Well, I’m going to. So, better go add my name to the list.” She gives me a quick questioning glance, as if to say,‘Do I even know you?’It’s like a punch to the gut.
“Add Cosmos, too,” Ivy says.
Kiara grabs Ivy’s arm and pulls her out of her seat. “Come with me. You too, Sullivan.”
It feels like she’s trying to get away after realizing I kept something so massive from her, or like she’s trying to make up for not noticing by giving me time alone with Cosmos. What she doesn’t realize is we could have all the time alone we want. I shiver at the thought.
“Here,” Cosmos drapes his jacket around my shoulders. I don’t correct his misconception. The leather is soft and worn in. It smells of cardamom and coffee. Instinctively, I drop my nose to my shoulder and take a deep inhale before thinking better of it.
Cosmos chuckles.
