Page 1 of Little Do You Know

CHAPTER ONE

Thalia

“I’M SO GLAD to be back. You have no idea how much I missed ice. Ice of all things,” I say, smiling at my older brother. Owen grabs my last suitcase while I adjust the carry-on strap on my shoulder.

“I love hearing you missed ice more than you missed me. Makes me feel like a great brother, Thalia,” Owen retorts. “We have plenty of ice back at the apartment.”

“I missed you too. You don’t understand. I could talk to you anytime, but getting more than three ice cubes felt impossible. My friends would make fun of me if I asked for more because the drinks already come chilled.” I glance over at Owen, walking next to him as he towers over me. Owen’s blond hair is shorter than the last time I saw him, and now he’s sporting a short beard that makes him look a few years older. “Thanks again for letting me stay with you. I know it’s probably not exciting for you to have me crash your vibe, but I appreciate it.”

I have a feeling our parents told Owen he had to let me live with him because they pay his rent, but it’s nice to think my brother agreed to it on his own.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “It’s not a big deal. We had the extra room since Chris moved in with his girlfriend.”

“We?” I ask, hoping I misheard what he said. Owen looks as if he put his foot in his mouth by saying something he didn’t intend to. “Who is we?”

“Well, Sebastian and I share the apartment. I thought you knew this?”

I shut my mouth quickly. I didn’t realize that I would also be living with Bash when Owen extended the offer to move in with him. I don’t trust myself to say anything. As far as Owen knows, we fought last year and haven’t spoken since.

“Lia, I swear he won’t even be in the apartment that often. We’re always at class and practice.”

“Okay,” I agree calmly. At this point, I can’t say anything. What’s done is done.

He looks at me skeptically. “That’s all? Just okay?”

“I’m not the same person I was when I went to France. I’m twenty now, soon to be twenty-one. I’m mature enough to get past how much I dislike your best friend,” I say, feeling the humidity in the air as we step past the airport doors.

My blonde hair immediately starts to curl, and I cringe, wishing for the cooler air of France. At least there, I know I don’t have to see Sebastian, let alone live with him.

“Are you all set for classes?” Owen asks while we venture farther into the parking lot. I scan the parked cars, looking for his truck, but I don’t see the hideous thing anywhere. I’m not sure why he still insists on driving that thing. Our parents offered to help him get a new one two years ago, but Owen prefers sinking more money into the stupid truck than it’s worth.

“I have to meet with my adviser tomorrow. I don’t quite understand why we can’t meet on Monday, but if she wants to work on a weekend, I’m not stopping her. I really am going to miss not having any homework, though. The past year was better than I thought it would be.”

I almost didn’t come back for my sophomore year at Duke. It was tempting to stay; Penelope wanted me to. My gap year in France helped me make connections, and I could have easily asked for a new assignment.

Owen laughs shortly, shaking his head. “Welcome to real life again.”

“Real life and responsibilities.” I groan as he pulls a set of keys from his pocket. Lights flash next to us, but it’s a car I don’t recognize. “Um, so where’s the rust bucket?”

“Very funny; it’s in the shop. I had to borrow Bash’s car.”

I ignore the fact that it’s Sebastian’s car, choosing to comment on the unreliability of Owen’s.Part of me wondered if he’d even be able to pick me up from the airport because of it. “Surprise, surprise. Why don’t you just get rid of it?” I ask, dropping my carry-on in the trunk of the sports car. Owen barely manages to fit my suitcase in next to it because the area is so small. What good is a car if you can’t fit anything in it?

“Because I like it. Why do you have a thousand lenses for your cameras?”

I roll my eyes and climb into the passenger seat without saying another word about his stupid truck. It wouldn’t make any difference to try explaining the different meanings behind the lenses to him.

Of course this is the car Sebastian has now. It suits his massive ego that’s probably only grown since the last time I saw him—pretty car for a pretty man.

Nope, we cannot validate Sebastian’s attractiveness. It’s not fair to my sanity.

It is a stunning car, though. The engine purrs quietly to life, and I can tell the quality of the leather is pricey by how soft it feels. I think I might be in love with it. That’s a much safer option than the alternative of loving the owner.

“Switch seats with me so I can drive?” I ask, running a hand over the black interior. It’s beautiful.

“Absolutely not. Bash gave me specific instructions that you’re not to drive it unless I’ve been shot and cannot operate the car.”

Figures. Sounds exactly like him.

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