Chapter 6
NERO
Aman walked into a house with a beef brisket in a plastic container in his hands.
It’s not the start of a joke; it was just my reality right now.
“Guys! I think my tempura came out grea—”
Cosette’s words trailed off when she peered at the front door, her surprise evident as she saw me standing there with her two lovers.
“What is he doing here?” She asked the two men behind me, her expression turning to one of annoyance, her lips pursing, and she even put down the plate that she was holding with her successful tempura.
“I came here to apologize,” I said in the gentlest voice I could muster, and I didn’t appreciate how the two nudged me forward as if they were too scared to get closer to her right now.
Why are they scared when I’m the one she’s mad at?
“Dex showed me the texts that were on Andy’s conversation with Eli, and I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, C. You’ve been nothing but truthful to me, and I always doubt you because I always chose to believe Andy. I’m sorry.”
“The brisket,” I could hear Siege behind me whisper with a fake cough, and I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. I wasn’t about to contest his suggestion, though. I didn’t like seeing C angry, so I offered her the Tupperware container with my mom’s beef brisket.
C’s eyes landed on my peace offering, then over my shoulder to look at her guys, and only when she raised an eyebrow at them did they move from behind me towards her.
Dex even came so far as to wrap his arms around her from behind, before talking directly into her ear. “Evidence was presented. Peace offerings were offered. What do you say we just eat now and you accept the apology from the jock-ass?”
I could tell he was proud of that pun with the way he enunciated each syllable.
That got C to soften though, as she met his eyes and laughed softly at the wordplay. “Good one,” she mumbled to Dex and, goddamn, he looked like he was given a major award or something with how happy he looked at her praise.
My judgmental thoughts were cut off as C’s eyes suddenly bore into mine, and I locked in, wanting to hear her out fully this time. Whatever C says from here on? I’m believing every single one.
She could tell me pigs started flying outside, and I wouldn’t look out a window.
“You’re forgiven. I hoped you had more trust in me that you didn’t have to wait for my boyfriend to hack into Andy’s phone.
” At that, she paused, looking at Dex as if she knew exactly how he had been able to get said evidence.
Dex had the audacity to lean down and kiss her cheek before she turned to look back at me, continuing.
“But I get it. You’ve known Andy for as long as you’ve known me.
I should’ve figured it wasn’t easy for you to decide who to believe. ”
I shook my head, not wanting to hear her excuse my actions for my sake. “No. I was wrong, and I didn’t learn from the multiple lies she’s told me. I’ll make it up to you, C.”
And there it was.
The signature Cosette smile.
I knew then that we would be okay as she placed the food I brought on the countertop, and I walked to her, knowing what she’d want next.
A hug.
Rather than saying something that I thought would sound overly cheesy, I chose to stay silent and let the quietness settle over C and me while we were hugging.
I looked towards Siege and Dex while I had C in my embrace, and I tilted my chin down in acknowledgement, my way of saying thanks. Fortunately, it was enough for them as they nodded back, surprisingly with no hint of jealousy in their eyes.
It’s not like I magically think they’re good for C. But it definitely works in their favor that they didn’t just sit back during our spat, enjoying it, and they actually helped us make up even when I basically called them dangerous for her.
“Come on. Let’s eat,” C said, pulling away from me and setting the two dishes from the countertop to the table. I then went to the kitchen to grab myself a set of plate and utensils, placing them beside hers, while the two sat on the other side.
While us three guys sat down, Cosette still hadn’t settled down yet, grabbing a glass container and putting some of the tempura on there. “Take this home later, too, so your mom can taste my cooking,” she said while the three of us waited for her to finish.
The dinner felt intimate as C finally joined us, and we all started digging into the food, handing each other the dishes. There wasn’t much conversation going on, since none of us seemed to want to engage in small talk, but other than that, it wasn’t awkward.
It even felt comfortable. Natural.
Regardless, I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at C beside me, and then at the guys positioned in front of me, eating my mom’s brisket.
Was it so bad that I still wanted someone better for her?
Yeah, they may be right. I really am a jock-ass.
“Combs!” I heard C’s voice from across the street, and I turned around from my open car door, seeing her already on a half jog towards me.
“What’s up?” I asked, wondering what’s so important that she had to come all the way here and not just text me so they could get going.
“Do you want to ride with us instead? We’re all going to school.”
I looked behind her, and in the distance, Siege and Dex were waiting inside their car, eyes on us. Or maybe C’s ass that was definitely in their view, I don’t know. Their eyes were trained a little bit south of our faces.
“Uh, I want to accept the offer, but I’m gonna pass.”
Cosette nodded, and I studied the way her lips twitched as she bit her cheek, trying to read her expression.
“Yeah, okay. Are you still going to pick Andy up? It’s a bit late though, isn’t it?”
There it is.
“No, C. That’s not the reason. I have practice afterwards, and I doubt the three of you would want to hang around when you could just go home, so I’d rather drive myself home after.
” I gently poked her forehead, trying to get it into her head that I’m completely done with Andy.
Surely, it’s not like she was looking for drama, wanting to isolate Andy, or whatnot.
C’s probably just scared that if I give Andy even a sliver of a chance to talk to me, she would have me convinced yet again at whatever web of lies she’s going to weave.
At that, her face seemed to lighten up, a smile finding its way to her face. “Right. Football, duh,” she muttered to herself, nodding. “Okay, drive safe, then.”
I nodded back at her, ruffling her hair, and she just laughed, pushing my hand away as she crossed the street again, getting inside Dex’s car before they drove off with her waving at me.
It didn’t take me long to follow, and I even ended up behind Dex in line to enter the school’s parking lot, with us taking up spaces side-by-side.
I slung my bag over my shoulders as I got down from my car, and I waited for C to get down so we could all walk into school together.
“Now that we’re okay, you’re going to cheer for me at the homecoming game, right?” I asked C as she stepped out, my arm automatically slinging over her shoulders, and I didn’t turn around to see what her boyfriends thought about that. I didn’t really care.
They know our friendship, and I doubt they’d stop me.
“I’m a good friend, Combs. I still would’ve gone even if you’d kept being a jerk.”
When we walked into the hallway, Andy seemed to have emerged out of thin air, eyes wide at how she found me and C together. With my arm around her shoulders. “What the hell is this? Nero, why didn’t you pick me up?”
As the commotion began, the people nearby who were at their lockers glanced in our direction to see what was happening, but a single look from me caused them to look away immediately.
I understand they are capable of hearing us, but it seems strange that they would just stare at us.
I don’t want to give Andy the satisfaction she gets from attention.
“I don’t believe you anymore, Andy. And I will never believe another word so long as it comes from your mouth,” I said, keeping my arm around Cosette, even though I could feel her tensing up beside me.
I was making a point and a statement.
From now on, between the two of them, I will only ever trust C.
Something I should have done way before.
Andy just stared at me, and then at her ex-best friend. “You’re going to regret this—”
That was essentially all she could utter, as Dex and Siege emerged from behind us, positioning themselves on either side of her with their arms folded.
“I’d think twice about continuing that threat.
I don’t take threats lightly, especially when they’re aimed at my girl.
You should know by now what happened to the last one who dared to do that,” Siege said.
Okay, well, that’s unnecessary.
I may find joy in putting Andy in her place, but I still didn’t like that these guys were Azuls.
And it seemed that Cosette felt the same as she placed a hand on his forearm, lightly tugging.
Andy was the first to leave though, as she looked at all four of us, knowing she was outnumbered, and went running down the hallway.
“Was that really necessary?” C asked Siege, an angry expression on her face that I almost want to laugh at the slight fear in his eyes.
“What? Girls like that need to get scared every once in a while.”
Yeah, Cosette definitely deserves better than the three of us as her attack dogs.