Page 63 of Breaking the Sinner

“I’m not his girlfriend,” Gen said, giving Lex’s shoulder a little shove. She liked that in the month she’d been at the gym, she’d developed a camaraderie with her colleagues that allowed for little things like that. Touching strangers—touchinganyone—was strictly forbidden back home.

“She knows better than to be with someone like me,” Cobra said. Gen took her meal out of the fridge—another stir fry she and Cobra had made earlier that week—and leaned against the countertop as it warmed in the microwave.

“You would be a great boyfriend,” Gen countered, fingering the neckline of her shirt. “You’re a good guy.”

Cobra snorted but didn’t say anything else. Lex winked at her as he stood, picking up a crumpled wrapper.

“Cobra’s pretty fucking great. We gotta tell him that more often, so he sticks around.”

Fear jolted through her. “Where would he be going?”

Lex tossed his wrapper in a trash can as he weaved through the small tables in the lounge. “Wherever he wants, I guess.”

Cobra’s jaw flexed as his dark gaze jerked between Gen and Lex. “I’m here for now. Can’t you see?” He gestured at himself, drawing her gaze to the HOLT tank hanging loosely from his rock-solid torso.

But for how much longer?They’d agreed on three months, but she still hadn’t even tried to imagine her life in LA without Cobra in it too. Didn’t want to, either.

“Were you talking about leaving?” Gen asked Cobra.

Cobra shrugged. “I got this test coming up. I probably won’t pass.”

“You will,” Lex said, in a tone that suggested he’d said the same words plenty of times already. “For you, the test will be cake. I promise.”

“I dunno.” Cobra scrubbed at the back of his head. “I’ve never been good at tests.”

“Me neither. I swear to you—if I can pass it, you can too.”

“Do you want help?” The microwave beeped, and Gen pulled her food out. She held the glass bowl with paper towels as she went over to the table where Cobra sat. Lex came back to the table, hands on his hips, looming over Cobra like some sort of big brother.

“You can’t help any more than you are, Red,” Cobra said softly, staring at the table.

“We can review questions or material or…vocabulary.” She shrugged. “I’ll make flash cards. That helps, right?”

“You don’t need to make flash cards.”

Lex grinned her way. “You’re nice. I like it.” Nudging Cobra with his arm, he said, “She’s one to take to the parents, ya know?”

Gen’s face flamed again, and she almost choked on a cumin-y piece of broccoli. Cobra’s face darkened. His nostrils flared but he didn’t say anything.

“He’s one to take to the parents too,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. To turn the attention away from his situation. She stabbed a thick slice of carrot, admiring it before popping it in her mouth. “You wanna come meet my parents, Cobra?”

He didn’t meet her gaze as he grabbed for a napkin and brought it to his lap, where he started shredding it. “I don’t know about all that.”

“Meeting the parents. It’s a big step.” Lex yawned, stretching his arms over his head. “Lila’s parents still don’t like me. Not even a little bit. So it’s a gamble.”

Gen saw her window and went for it. “You should come to my house for Thanksgiving. It’s like, what, in less than two weeks?” She shrugged, ignoring the way her heart pounded waiting for his response.

“Thanksgiving?”

She nodded, scooping some rice into her mouth. Lex scrolled through his phone, seemingly unaware of the way the talk about parents affected Cobra. Lex probably didn’t know about Cobra’s home life, she realized. At least not enough to know that he might not have anyone to take her to meet.

“I don’t do holidays,” Cobra said.

“Free food,” Lex put in.

“I’d love to take you to meet my family,” Gen said quietly, searching his face. His eyes were molten, practically fire. It almost hurt to hold his gaze.

“They’ll love you,” Lex said, clapping Cobra on the shoulder. “Besides, nobody wants to be alone on Thanksgiving.”

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