Chapter 46
ADELINA
I had never seen Cezar so nervous before, all just to ask me a simple question. Maybe it should’ve scared me, how easily I followed him into things, but it didn’t. Even the uncertainty was easy with him.
A million questions raced through my mind. Where were we going? What was he planning? I was practically vibrating with curiosity, but I kept my mouth shut. I’d let him have his surprise.
“Dorinnn, what are you doing?” I teased, playfully nudging him as I sought out any hint of information.
“The hell do you want, you weirdo?” he retorted, moving away from me.
“Well… Cezar is taking me on a trip,” I hinted, fishing for clues.
He didn’t even blink. “That’s great, Lina. You two will have fun.” He pivoted and left the room, fleeing from me. Naturally, I chased after him.
“Yeah, I’m sure we will.” I stuck to his heels. “I think wherever he’s taking me is going to be so fun and exciting and—”
Dorin stopped, and I nearly crashed into him. He turned just enough to toss a look at me.
“I’m not telling you where he’s taking you.” Smug, stupid bastard.
“Fine! I didn’t want to know anyway.” I threw my hands up, then froze mid-stride. “Wait. Why the hell do you know?!” I grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him toward me. He stumbled into my chest. If I’d been any taller, we would’ve smashed foreheads.
“Lina, this is my favorite shirt,” he complained, brow lifted, arms crossed like an old man lecturing a child.
“I know. Your old-man shirt.” I rolled my eyes.
Dorin leaned down until we were nose to nose.
“I. Ain’t. Telling. You. Shit,” he mocked.
“You’re such an ass.” I slumped against the wall dramatically. “I cannot believe you would withhold vital, life-altering information.”
“Cut the woe-is-me act. Don’t be a child. You’re acting like Cezar.”
“You motherfucker, come here, Dorin. DORIN!” I ran after him, but this guy had the audacity to hide behind Cezar. Seriously?
“What’s going on with you two?” Cezar laughed, shielding Dorin from me.
“Whose side are you on?” I asked him, waiting for his response to determine his fate.
“Oh, Petal, you know I’m always on your side,” he replied, tone sinful enough to make Dorin practically gag behind him, “but I still like to play.”
“God, you and your pervertedness.” I laughed.
Cezar’s presence did that to me. Everything softened. Everything felt lighter.
He finished packing our things—bags lined up, jacket ready, that faint excitement he tried and failed to hide gleaming across his face. His mood was contagious.
It had been years since I’d gone anywhere. Not since my parents were alive. I tried to bury those memories, but this time… it wasn’t as painful. He had this unsettling habit of digging up parts of me I thought were long dead, only to show me they weren’t all tragic.
Some of them were still good.