Page 40 of Defend Me

He laughed loudly, then shoved my shoulder. I barely managed to avoid knocking Tilian over.

“Easy there, Hulk,” Tilian chided lightly. “Let’s not make me collateral damage just because you hate Brooks.”

“He doesnothate me. In fact, I think he’s a fan, but he’s too bullheaded to admit it.”

“You’re a menace,” he countered.

“I think you’re mistaking me for my other friends.”

“No wonder you get along so well.”

“Don’t be fooled. It’s because we’re all beautiful.”

He was still shaking his head when I turned on the TV. I got up to grab some controllers, then tossed them to the guys.

“My car’s getting work done Monday,” I said, looking at Dean. “Wanna give me a ride back home?”

His eyes shifted from me to the TV, then back. “I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Battery.”

“Oh, so riding with Rick wasn’t about the planet. Guess I’ll take an Uber.”

“I can give you a ride,” Tilian offered.

“Even better. You’re prettier to look at than Dean.”

His eyes lit up. “Cool. Just don’t catch feelings, no matter how romantic I’m being.”

“I love you like this. You’re such a little devil.”

Chapter 13

“It was as if what I wanted to kill wasn't in that skin or the thin blue pulse that jumped under my thumb, but somewhere else, deeper, more secret, and a whole lot harder to get.”

Brooks

The Most Boring Place On Earth

When I heard the front door open, I had a moment of panic.

Was someone breaking in? Would I have to defend myself? I didn’t have any weapons unless you counted a couple of sword replicas from my favorite shows, which weren’t really sharp. Maybe waving one around would scare them off.

“Brooks?”

“Oh my god,” I said as I left my room. I dropped my elbows onto the island and perched my chin on one hand. “I thought you were here to cut my throat and steal my diamonds.”

Tilian quirked a perfect brow. How did that make him look angelic?

“You told me to just come in when I got up here. Do you have diamonds to steal?”

“No, those are trash. To be honest, I don’t have very many things, so my apartment isn’t the most lucrative spot for a burglar.”

“Damn. Guess that foils my plans. I’ll have to call off the guys.”

I ran my teeth over my tongue and my lips pulled up. “Sneaky, sneaky. I like it.”

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