Chapter 26
DEX
“Order the meatballs for Cosette,” Siege told me as we lined up in the cafeteria with Nero, while Cosette was holding our table.
We didn’t want her stressing over what to get, so Nero insisted that she just sit there and we’ll get the food.
I have to admit, seeing Mr. Golden Boy at her beck and call makes it so much easier to accept what’s developing between the two.
It’s not like I haven’t been seeing it even before he realized he wanted more from her.
They truly were the epitome of friends-to-lovers, and it makes me feel at ease that now, at least, we have someone outside of the Azuls that’s also dedicated to protecting Cosette.
Just in case.
“How’d it go for you two last night?” Siege asked Nero as we were still waiting, clearly the one holding this tiny boy group together.
“Nothing happened yet. Well, something did, but not— We just haven’t had sex yet.”
How the fuck is he so open in discussing this with Siege?
But most importantly—
“Why the fuck not?” I asked, not quite believing he passed on the chance when our girl was basically looking forward to it.
Nero’s like her Prince Charming.
We’re just the hot knights.
Well, maybe dukes. Or princes from other nations who were actually villains and were trying to conquer the land?
Fuck, I don’t know. The whole analogy’s falling apart.
“It’s not like I didn’t want to. We got home, made out, and boom, Hoyt was there. Even C forgot he’s back when he’s been gone so long.”
“Fuck. That’s going to be a problem, isn’t it? Pretty sure Siege got away with staying over before, but how’s she going to sneak all of us in now?”
Nero shrugged, and we were all lost in thought, figuring out a way to go over things in our current situation.
“We could always go one-by-one,” Nero suggested, and Siege and I just looked at him, not judging but calculating.
“Dibs for tonight,” I immediately said, smirking as the two tried to scramble to get tonight’s schedule, but I was pretty fast and already ahead of them.
“Fuck you. We haven’t even agreed yet,” Siege protested, looking over to Nero for support as if they could void my dibs.
“Dibs on tomorrow night,” Nero said instead of siding with Siege, clearly pissing the latter off as he muttered ‘assholes’ under his breath.
First law of dibs? Don’t be a sore loser.
We finally got our food after a few more minutes, each of us carrying a tray back to Cosette, who had her e-reader out. When she noticed us coming, she beamed at the sight of the food, putting her Kindle away, preparing to eat.
“What were you guys talking about? Seemed pretty intense,” she asked, and I met Nero’s own hesitant gaze because what were we supposed to say? We were scheduling when we could have sex with her amongst ourselves?
“We were talking about possibly scheduling when we could have sex with you,” Siege said nonchalantly, making me groan and Nero shake his head in disbelief as we sat down.
“What?” Cosette’s eyebrows shot up to her forehead, not quite impressed.
“It’s not what it sounds like, sweetie. We’re just figuring out how to take turns sneaking in and sleeping over now that your dad’s back,” I said, trying to explain in a non-misogynistic way that we’re actually talking about schedules of hanging out with her and not just for sex.
“That doesn’t sound any better. You talk about me like that behind my back, and I’m withholding sex from all of you. I’m in this relationship as much as you are. Are we clear?” She asked, clearly not happy.
God, I so want to kick Siege in the dick, right now. If I end up having to go celibate because of him, I’ll cut his balls off myself.
All three of us just nodded, with Siege at least having the courtesy to look guilty while Nero and I glared at him.
“Now, give me my damn food,” Cosette said, and all of us were shitting ourselves, quickly giving her whatever she wanted.
I don’t have scientific evidence that girls run the world.
But I’m pretty sure Cosette runs ours.
“I’m still mad about what happened in the cafeteria.”
It was the end of the school day, me and Nero meeting Siege and Cosette by her locker as they came from their joined class together.
“But, I admit that it got me thinking of how we’re going to do this now that things are more complicated and my dad’s home. It’s not like I can sneak three guys into my room when I want to be with you all. So, I have decided that…”
Jesus fucking Christ, she’s not breaking up with us, is she?
My hands suddenly felt clammy in my jeans’ pockets, fingers curling into a fist like I’m itching to knock Siege’s fucking face off for saying what he said.
Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck fuck fuck—
“I’m going to tell my dad. All of it. About us.”
I inhaled sharply, my fist unclenching.
“And I’d like it if you’d be up for meeting him tonight,” Cosette continued, eyeing me and Siege.
Immediately, I shrugged, because I would take anything right now as long as it’s not her wanting to end things.
I made sure Cosette knew that as I said, “I’m fine with that. I’m not scared.”
Siege nodded beside me, and I noticed her shoulders slumping, seemingly nervous herself that we’d be chickening out because it was obvious that this means a lot to her.
Maybe it even meant everything. We all know her dad’s the only real family she has, and it must’ve been killing her to be hiding secrets from him when clearly, they have a strong bond.
“Great. Dinner tonight at my place, then. Who am I riding home with?”
“Me,” I said at the same time Nero and Siege did, because of course, we just had to bring all our cars today instead of carpooling.
Cosette chuckled as she scanned us, deciding on something. “I’m not choosing. So, answer me this. What’s one thing I enjoy eating by itself, but not mixed with food?”
Raisins? No, she hates raisins altogether. Was it—
“Peanuts,” Siege said with ease, and Cosette’s smile widened, her anger from earlier apparently gone as she melted in his arms with a hug.
“Take me home, Mr. Azul,” she just about purred, and it’s the third time today that I’ve wanted to punch my brother in the face.
Lucky bastard.