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I tried to bite his hand and he laughed, pinning me tighter, and leading me down a hall, before letting me go. Staggering away, I wiped at my mouth, and glared at him when I heard the rumble of Ty’s voice, followed by a soft and sweet reply.
I didn’t care that Daniel was watching, I didn’t care what he thought as I took a step forward, then another, and then started running when I heard Ty yell “bring her,” down the hall.
I sprinted in, tears bursting free when I saw the golden-haired girl standing there. She lit up at the sight of me and ran to me.She’s here, she’s okay, she’s right here.We collided in a hug, Lia holding me tight, laughing and squeezing me, her body strong and sure, her scent familiar, but something about her was a little different, somethinghadchanged.
But she was also still Lia and she pulled back, laughing, then brushed my hair away to kiss my cheek, and tease, “Bet you thought you’d never see me again.”
“Youasshole,” I stormed and hugged her again, almost afraid she’d vanish. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
Her grip tightened on me. Then I heard firm, masculine footsteps. I hadn’t even realized Ty had been in here but I sensed Lia’s attention pull away, then come back to me as the door closed and I stepped back, taking my friend in.
“I can’t believe I had to wait almost a month to find out you lost your V-card,” I blurted out.
Lia’s hazel eyes went wide, then broke into helpless laughter, holding onto me, everything about her so bright and warm that it was infectious. I started laughing too, relief filling me. I hadn’t seen Lia in far too long a time.
Taking her in, I almost couldn’t believe this was my friend, the way she glowed as she gazed at me, pure joy in her eyes, all shadows and grief chased way. The hollows in her cheeks had filled out, her skin was almost as golden as her hair, and she held herself differently. More certain of herself.
“I promise I’ll make it up to you,” Lia said. “How about breakfast?”
“It’s the least you can do,” I said with a sniff.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Daniel
“What are you doing?”
I jolted from where I’d tucked myself down the hall, out of sight of the three ladies within. Flora had already given me a dubious look and I’d put a finger to my lips, earning me an even more dubious look. But so far, she hadn’t said anything, so neither Lia nor Sara had any idea I was eavesdropping.
However, the dumbass towering over me might have given me away. I turned to face Ty. Even a slight frown on his intense face made it that much more forbidding. As a kid, he’d also been all stern lines and heavy eyebrows. The first time I’d ever met him, when he’d discovered me in the secret room not far from here and I tried to bolt, I’d been terrified till I got a good look at him and saw the concern and understanding in his eyes.
He had the same look in his eyes now.
Before I could say something, Sara’s voice trilled out in a joke that made my gut clench and I glanced back without meaning to. I caught a glimpse of her dark hair falling back, her face lit up with easy mirth, a look she’d never had around me, and Lia began laughing as well, and so did Flora once Sara had translated.
I felt Ty’s eyes on the side of my head and then he hauled me down the hall. I hated that every step felt wrong, that every part of me wanted to be near Sara, even if I had to stand out of sight. And at the same time, I sensed that this was how Ty and Lia felt about each other, because it caused an ugly thread of jealously to knot deep in my gut.
I’ll never have that with Sara.
We passed Artie and Heavy in deep conversation by the front door, and both of them faltered. I gave them a sardonic wave as Ty thrust me in his office. “You two need somethin’ to do?” He asked. A hurried “nope,” and “not at all, boss,” came in response and Ty grunted, then shut the door hard. When he turned, he half-barked. “Talk.”
“I think we’re in for another few days of this wicked cold snap, huh?”
“Daniel,” Ty growled, and he stalked over, giving me a look as he leaned against his desk and I shrugged, wandering toward the window. But at that moment, I’d never felt our three-yeardifference more keenly. Or maybe I just felt stupid. Heat rose in my face.
“Heavy, Pasquale and Art already sold you out, kid,” he said, and I flinched. “Woah.” I turned and his face was completely open, filled with surprise. Ty went to say something and then stopped, his expression becoming more serious. “I know it’s hard to remember or accept—but not everyone is our enemy.”
“Just most people,” I said and leaned against the wall, looking out the window.
“You thought Sara was a plant?” Ty guessed with infuriating accuracy. But he was the goddamncapofor a reason. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were distracted.”
“I was—?” Ty let out a laugh, surprising me and I turned. “Danny. Are you fucking serious?”
“I’m not calling you out—I mean, I get it.”
“Yeah, no shit you do. Sara—”
