Page 10 of Little Do You Know

Blake looks surprised by his offer. “That’s really nice of you. Thanks.”

Owen sits in the armchair diagonal from me, spreading out. “A friend of Lia’s is a friend of mine.”

I smile at him, feeling my chaotic feelings toward Sebastian start to slip away. “Have I told you that you’re my favorite brother?”

“I’m your only brother. Blake, I hope you’re ready for the force of nature you’ve let into your life.”

“Oh, I think things are going to be very interesting. Unfortunately, I have to get a start on those textbooks, or I might be drowning when classes start,” Blake says apologetically. I wish I could protest, but I don’t want to set my new friend up for failure.

“If you must go, then au revoir. I’m glad I could steal you away for as long as I did,” I say, standing up to hug her. Tonight was…eventful, and she handled it like a champ.

“Thanks for having me. You certainly have some explaining to do, so don’t think you’re off the hook.” She whispers the last part, and I bite the inside of my cheek, nodding.

“I’m happy I bumped into you today.”

“I think the bruise on my ass wishes we’d met a different way, but I’m glad too.”

I laugh and walk Blake to the door. “Get out of here before I hold you hostage and never let you leave.”

“She will keep you here. Master manipulator here,” Owen pipes in from behind me, ensuring his two cents are heard.

“I’m not manipulative; I just happen to get my way a lot. ” I stick my tongue out at him.

“Goodnight! I’m sure I’ll see you later.”

“Let Thalia know when you get home,” Owen says, and I wave as Blake promises she will.

Plopping down on the couch, I feel the sleepy effects of the wine I drank start to hit. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t have a second glass. Red makes me tired, and white makes me fun. Actually—all alcohol makes me fun.

But now I’m responsible Thalia, or at least trying to be. I think I’m failing again.

Owen has never offered to help me in my classes, but he offered to help Blake in minutes. I don’t hate the idea, but I hope I’m wrong at the same time. “If you even want a shot with her if she and her boyfriend ever break up, you seriously need to shave that squirrel tail off your face.”

“If I had known it would bother you this much, I would have grown one a long time ago. I think I’ll keep it,” he says, pulling out his phone to type something quickly before setting it down. “Secondly, I barely know Blake. Lastly, she was clear she has a boyfriend. I’m not into girls in relationships.”

Because Owen was cheated on, I know he wouldn’t do anything to cross that line with anyone else. “I know. I just thought I was sensing a vibe.”

“What happened with Bash? I thought you said you could be polite?” Owen asks, changing the topic by quoting my exact words from the ride here from the airport.

“I also said I’m not making any promises about how your best friend will act.” I tilt my head backward to look up at the ceiling. “I did try. It would help if he weren’t such an asshole to me.”

“It might help if you stop calling him an asshole?”

A short laugh escapes me. “I doubt it. For the record, I did try apologizing this morning for the accidental party. Sebastian didn’t want to hear it or anything else from me.”

“I don’t know, Thalia. He’s got a lot on his plate right now. Try to cut him some slack.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, lifting my head to look at Owen.

He shrugs, shutting up to pick his phone up again. Of course he isn’t going to tell me. Bro code. Too bad I know that bro code has been broken before in the form of stolen kisses.

Those don’t matter anymore.

It’s as if they never happened.

Poof.

CHAPTER FIVE

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