Page 55 of A Wish for Us

“Yes,” I replied.

A wide smile decorated his face. “Then that’s okay.” He flicked his chin at me. “Weren’t feeling the EDM, sis?”

I laughed. “Not so much.”

“She just doesn’t understand it.”

I turned to face Cromwell. He finally looked at me.

“I just don’t rate it as a music genre.”

“You should,” he argued, but his voice was calm. “You just need to be shown its merits.”

His voice might have been calm, but his blue eyes were dancing with light. “I’ve heard your music,” I challenged.

I saw his lips pull up at the corner. Warmth burst in my chest. “Not properly.” I frowned at his cryptic answer.

“I need cake.” Easton rose from his seat. He eyed us both weirdly, like he was on the outside of some joke only we were in on. “Don’t kill each other while I’m gone, yeah, kids?”

“We’ll try,” I said.

The silence stretched on. Cromwell kept his gaze on the view outside the window. I glanced down at his empty candy wrappers. “Package from your mama came in, huh?”

Cromwell nodded then held out a square of chocolate from the bar he was currently demolishing. “I…I don’t eat fatty foods.” I felt my face flame. I knew the excuse sounded lame.

Cromwell ate the square. “You should learn to live a little, Farraday.”

I gave him a weak smile. “I’m trying.”

I couldn’t tell what he was reading in my face. I wanted to ask him. Wanted him to talk to me. At least mention Saturday night. But when Easton sat back down, chocolate cake on his plate, Cromwell got up. “I’m out.”

I followed him with my eyes out of the door, where he stopped near the window and pulled out a cigarette. Girl after girl looked at him as they came in for lunch. I could barely take my eyes off him myself.

Easton cleared his throat, causing me to put my focus back on my twin. He was still giving me a weird look. “There something I should know?” His voice was filled with concern.

“No.”

He clearly didn’t believe me. “Cromwell has fucked no fewer than ten girls since he got here, Bonn.”

An ache pulled in my chest at that information. “So?”

Easton shrugged. “Just thought you should know is all. Cromwell’s a screw-them-and-leave-them kind of deal.”

I flicked my hair over my shoulder. “I really don’t care, East.” Easton ate his cake. “I thought you liked him anyway?”

“I do,” East said with a mouthful of cake. He swallowed then met my eyes. “I just don’t want him anywhere near you.” His hand covered mine and his voice lowered. “You’ve been through enough, Bonn. A guy like that would chew you up and spit you out. And after everything you’ve been through…” He shook his head. “You deserve more.”

I nearly cried. Tears pricked my eyes, not just because of his words, or his protective nature. But because if he knew…if he knew what was happening to me…

“You’re my best friend, Bonn. Don’t know what I’d do without you.” Easton’s smile faltered. “You’re the only one who has ever understood me.” He blew out a long breath. “Who gets me.”

I squeezed his hand and never wanted to let go. Grief and panic stole my breath, overwhelming me. “I love you, East,” I whispered.

He smiled. “Back at you, Bonn.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him. But when I looked into his blue eyes, at the pain I saw lurking underneath, I didn’t dare. Easton released my hand. He threw on his usual smile. “Gotta get to class.” He stood up. A few people came over to him, and he laughed and joked with them like always.

I’d never felt more worry for a person in my life than I did for him.

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