Page 20 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“I do when my cousin is in detention,” Catherine replied.

“Liliana.”

Catherine caught Cross’s stare, and held it. Despite the way his eyes—a dark brown that almost seemed soul-black under the library lights—made her want to freeze like an idiot, she didn’t shrink away from his gaze. “Yeah, Liliana.”

“Your brother is Michel, right?” Cross asked.

“According to my mother and father, and the family photos they make us smile for every year. I think they picked him up in a fucking ditch somewhere, but whatever. Why?”

Cross’s laughter burst from his lax, lazy smile so fast, it shocked Catherine. Not because he laughed, but because of how he looked doing it. “Yeah, I’ve got one of those, too.”

Her confused look made his grin deepen.

“A sibling that makes me want to burn the house down on a regular basis,” Cross added quickly. “Camilla, my sister; she’s eleven. Drives me—”

“Crazy,” Catherine interrupted.

Cross shrugged. “I mean, that works, too.”

Catherine surveyed her nails; the almond-shaped pink and sparkle manicure needed a touch-up, and soon. “Do you know my brother?”

“Sort of,” Cross answered.

“Why ask about him?”

“Making conversation.” Cross winked when Catherine looked up at him. “I didn’t know what to say to you other than the dress code thing, and you completely ignored that.”

“I didn’t ignore it.” Catherine pulled the fake daisy flower crown from her hair, as that was the only thing she was currently wearing that was against the dress code of the school. It was stretchy, with daisies all around the band, and could be worn like a headband, or a crown. Obviously, she preferred the crown style. “They make us wear ugly uniforms, and the only thing I can control is my shoes. You know, as long as they’re not higher than four inches. They can deal with this.”

Cross reached out and snagged the daisy hair band. “Nobody pointed it out yet?”

“Got written up twice before lunch, actually.”

His husky laughter surprised her again.

“Just ignore it; they’ll eventually let it go. One less thing to fight about.”

Catherine nodded at his leather jacket. “Is that why you wear that and not your blazer?”

“I wear the blazer … occasionally.”

“Not what I asked.”

Cross leaned across the table, and set Catherine’s daisy accessory back in place on her head. His fingers were careful not to catch or pull her hair, she noticed, but his fingertips were damn warm against her temples. Then, he pulled away, but her skin still felt warm.

Yep.

She missed a whole breath there.

“There, perfect,” he murmured.

Catherine eyed her new companion. “You still didn’t tell me why you don’t wear the blazer.”

“It’s shit material. My jacket costs more than ten of these stupid uniforms. I wear the rest of it; that’s the best I can do.”

Yeah.

Catherine liked Cross, and his fuck-you-attitude.