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He raises his eyebrows proudly and I shove him, certain he’s only mentioning it to piss me off. Hockey players have a reputation for being hotties, he knows that. Being the captain’s little sister gives me the privilege of being around the gang, and I admit that when I notice the glances of some of the girls, it’s hard not to see their jealousy.
“I’m okay!”
“It’s the hot guys, that always has its effect,” he jokes. “You are like your brother! As soon as there is something to watch, you love your evening!”
I roll my eyes because, unlike Edgar, I only have one person I’m interested in tonight—and for years—but he’s been hitting on a blonde. I give a quick glance and then pull back, feeling the pain in my chest spread to form an unpleasant lump in my throat. I drink from my glass.
Come on, Scarlett, if you’ve failed your whole life, you can at least ignore him tonight.
“Can I ask you a question?” asks Leo.
I nod and see Leo sigh for a second, stare at a point, then turn fully in my direction.
“Is something going on with Nolan?”
I almost choke on my beer, trying to keep a straight face as my roommate watches me intently.
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to feign ignorance, but deep inside me it’s panic.
He knows?
Since when?
Is it written on my forehead?
Holy shit.
“I don’t know,” he says, resting his elbow on the backrest behind him. “You don’t talk to each other like you used to. I mean, you seem distant, and I feel like I haven’t seen you together in days.”
Fifteen.
“No…” I try. “Well, I don’t feel like… I don’t know.”
He looks at me intently for a long moment, looking doubtful.
At the same time, I’ve already done better with explanations.
“There’s nothing.”
“You never knew how to lie, you know that?”
I frown defensively.
“Your brother may be fooled, or he prefers to ignore certain things, but I know you have a crush on Nolan.”
I don’t know if it’s because the glass is slipping, or because Leo’s statement is making something explode inside me, but my beer hits the floor with a crash, splattering us both. Several people look to our table and my cheeks blush when a dark stare near the bar hits us. I don’t have time to deal with my clumsiness when a waiter joins me to pick up the pieces on the floor and wipe up the liquid.
“I’ll bring you a second one.”
“Thank you,” says Leo for me.
Then, when we are finally alone, I dare to glance in his direction and understand that whatever I say, nothing will change his mind.
It’s written all over my face.
“He doesn’t know,” I say. “You won’t say anything?”
“I don’t want to die,” he laughs. “I’ll let you tell your brother.”
