It’s the only reason I’m not booting his ass out of my place and flipping him off as I slam the door.
Instead of that, I get beer, which Zane takes, stares at, then sighs and shakes his head. “Actually, better not. My parents have already threatened to cut me off twice this month, and if I get a DUI, they might actually follow through.”
Well, that’s concerning. He’s more worried about keeping his trust-fund money than he is about driving safely and, you know, not killing someone.
I need to talk to Everest again and ask why we like Zane. I mean, maybe it’s the floppy curls or his biceps, or the abs I can see through his tight t-shirt. Everest is a good guy, but he also seems like the kind of man who would be distracted by cut abs.
“Alright, so,” Zane says, tapping away on his phone. “I’m sending all the possum care links to Cielo’s phone. I mean, it seems kind of straightforward, but everything I read also says they can be stubborn little bitches.”
Cielo holds the thing a little closer to his chest, like he’s trying to protect it from Zane’s insult.
Fuck, it’s cute.
“That’s fine. I’m pretty stubborn, and I think Cielo can be pretty convincing,” I answer.
Zane’s eyes cut to Cielo and linger for a moment. “Yeah. I bet.”
I want to put myself between Cielo and Zane and hiss at this guy like the little possum did, but that would not go over well. So, I take a deep breath and remind myself that Cielo is mine, and I am his.
Inasmuch as we can belong to each other.
And I don’t need to worry about Zane.
Plus, Cielo hasn’t looked at him even once. Though he hasn’t looked at me once either.
“Can I ask why you’re hanging out together and?—”
“He’s nice,” Cielo interrupts quietly. He must have heard the rest of my question in his head. “He’s frennnd.”
I really need to talk to him about the concept of friends and how we can’t just accept anyone who seems nice into our lives. But that seems patronizing. And also, I do trust Cielo’sjudgment. Maybe I can give Zane a bit of a break. My vibes have never been wrong before, but maybe today is a new start.
Maybe I’m entirely wrong about him.
“Listen, you’ve been really good to Cielo, so thank you, but if I’m not mistaken, you’re part of the group of people who hate the Vyastil here.”
Zane swallows very heavily, then shrugs. “I’m not part of anything. My parents are more intense about it than I am. I couldn’t give a fuck.”
“But Everest told me you’ve spent your entire life helping petition to have the portals closed,” I point out.
Cielo’s gaze flickers up just once, but he doesn’t seem bothered. It hits me that maybe Cielo wants that, too. Maybe he wants to go back to life without humans in it. Back to his world without all this.
Without me.
“Never, my Dante.”
His voice is like a balm, and I take a breath before realizing Zane is talking. “…think that there’s something weird about this whole thing. I mean, what they require is basically sexual assault. Not giving people a choice? Or giving them the illusion of a choice, but it’s really built on a fucking guilt trip and fines and prison sentences? How is that ethical?”
I can’t argue with him. I like the Vyastil I’ve met. But I think their government is shady as fuck. Two things can be true at the same time, though. I have proof of this because Cielo, Quilliyn, and even Rathyn are good and kind, but I’ve seen what happens when their own people get punished.
It’s fucking medieval.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong. But I am saying hating an entire group of people for what their leaders have done?—”
“They’re not people,” Zane snaps, then he closes his mouth tightly and casts a look over at Cielo, who isn’t paying anyattention to him. Thank fuck. “Sorry. I, well…you know what I mean.”
“I don’t.” That’s a lie. I do know. But I want him to sit in the discomfort of having to explain it to me.
Of course, he doesn’t. He just sighs and stands up. “I should head out. Cielo, see you at the gym?”
