Chapter 48

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My eyes go wide as I gasp, spinning to see Alvez walking down the hall, completely nonchalant. But that was no ghost, sneaking an intimate touch when my brother’s back was turned.

“What is it?” Rafe asks, turning towards me.

“Sorry, I uh–just saw a spider,” 1 murmur. “Really big one.”

“Gross,” Jesse says, a shiver running through him. I grin at him, because Jesse hates spiders.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here,” Rafe says, nodding towards the elevator at the end of the hall. “Ari and I have to have a chat after all.”

“Really?” Jesse gasps as we step into the elevator. “What about!? Do I get to come. too?”

“No,” Rafe says, slinging an arm around my shoulders and glaring over at our cousin. “Siblings only for this one.”

Jesse hangs his head back as the elevator lifts us swiftly into the air. “That’s so unfair,” he groans. “Come on, I’m basically a sibling – our dads our brothers, our moms are sisters! Genetically, I’m pretty much the same

“Don’t be weird,” Rafe says, glancing over at Jesse with his brows knit as the elevator door opens and we start down the hall.

Jesse continues to complain all the way into the room but Rafe ignores him and I laugh, because Jesse can be such a baby when he doesn’t get his way. But eventually Jesse flops, defeated and depressed to be deprived of the gossip, onto his bed as Rafe pushes me towards the bathroom.

“Rafe, you can pee alone,” I mutter, tossing my chemistry book onto my bed as I

  1. go.

“This is about secrecy not bodily functions,” he murmurs, shutting the door behind him and leaning back on it. “Which I’d think would be something you appreciated, considering this is a conversation about your mate. So?” He raises an eyebrow at me. “Spill.”

I sigh, closing the lid to the toilet and sitting down on it, taking off my cap and

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Chapter 48

taking a moment to massage my sore scalp under its tight braid. Rafe listens quietly and carefully as I tell him everything about Jackson about his apology in the bathroom that allowed me to see a different side of him, my impulsive invitation to breakfast, and then about his waiting to go into his obstacle course. with me, and the hint and the help he gave.

the end, Rafe looks more contemplative than angry, which is probably a good thing. “So,” he says, looking studiously down at the floor with his brows drawn, “do you

back against the toilet tank. “I mean, anything is possible, and I think he’s being nice to me because he does sense a connection. between us. But I think that if he knew I was

a minute before he sinks to the floor a bit. “It’s all just so weird, Ari,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “I don’t know how

telling me,” I say, but I smile at my brother because it feels nice to be

important. But there’s so much at risk. And he did seriously try

try, Rafe,” I say quietly. “I don’t think he’s going to try to hurt me again. Honestly,

like, even if he doesn’t know he’s your mate, he’s got some impulse to protect you?” Rafe asks, looking up at me. “I mean, that makes sense…the way dad protects mom feels

the comparison to dad and mom – because they feel just so

I…just

And Luca?

gleefully at the thought of them. And very good looking.

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Chapter 48

Tu Mar

swatting her playfully in the rump. She spins in a circle and

little with a big sigh. “I’ll try to be nicer. Though it will not be easy.”

smile, starting to thank him, but a

pee somewhere else, Jesse,” Rafe

Jesse replies, dry,

say, standing up and eagerly pulling on my cap. Rafe gets to his feet too, but his eyes move

heading for it. “I want to take a minute to myself.”

for the door, eager to see what the seamstress did to my uniform to make it fit better. Rafe starts to strip

the bathroom, snicking the door shut behind me. “You have a guest, Mr. Clark,” he says, his voice half devious and half angry. “Who is asking for you in

Jesse’s gesturing hand towards there door, where I burst into a grin to see the seamstress here

I shout, scurrying over, excited.”Hi!” she says, beaming at me, “I’m so happy to see you! I made some modifications, but,

from her hands and head for my nook. “Come over here! Thank you so much

the seamstress and I stop short in our tracks, our eyes

little as I resume my steps. “I forgot to tell

kind of…figured it

Chapter 48

smile spreads on the seamstress’s face as she looks between my cousin and me. “Oh, a secret within a secret, is it?

his—- shoulders shaking a little bit. “You can’t do this shit to me and are you serious!? Someone

stepping closer to me as I put the box on my bed

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