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“Not around other people.”

“Of course not.”

I catch another brief deliberation with my ceiling, but I’m not sure if it’s about me or what I said.

“So just us?”

For the first time in what feels like a month, I don’t recoil at the thought of intimacy with my boyfriend.

I’m not exactly wet for him but my insides aren’t twisting either.

“Just like you wanted.”

I don’t dare point out that I didn’t actually want to have sex in the theater. All I suggested was a movie. A movie that’s sure to be less cinematic and more pornographic now that he’s choosing it.

“Hopefully Khaos doesn’t walk in.”

Shrugging, Guy doesn’t seem as bothered by that possibility as I was hoping.

“Did you ever talk to him?”

“Why? Is he bullying his little sis again?”

“No.” The opposite actually. It’s Friday night and Khaos has been ignoring me since Monday morning. I wouldn’t mind normally, except I’m still waiting on that thong he was supposed to buy me.

“Good. He knows what’s up.”

“What is up?”

“You don’t insult another guy’s girlfriend.”

“Oh,” I say, even though Guy’s let several people insult me before, male and female. “So you did talk to him?”

Picking up his phone again, he just says, “Uh-huh.”

Maybe it was after I asked Khaos the same thing because it didn’t really sound like Guy had yet.

So Khaos has time for Guy but not me.

What am I doing? Am I…jealous?

That’s ridiculous. I don’t even want Khaos’s attention. If anything, I should be grateful my stepbrother is avoiding me. Every interaction I have with him is hostile and leaves me…

Craving more.

No. That’s wrong. Bad. Despite Khaos thinking I like being bad, it’s not true. He has no clue who I am or what I like. I like being good. I am good. And it’s only slightly monotonous. Sometimes.

More and more lately.

And not just slightly but extremely freaking monotonous. The thought of spending one more night sitting through one of Guy’s parties in my own house makes me want to lock the doors and never let anyone in again. Just Guy.

Maybe Guy.

Of course Guy. I need him. He’s the only one who’s been here for me. Literally. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Guy. He didn’t raise me, contrary to what my mother said, but he did save me and he continues to save me every night he stays with me.

“What did he say?”

“I can’t remember. Nothing important.”