Page 142 of Zero Chance

I’d never had so much fun cooking.But Keene made everything entertaining.

I wasn’t used to actually cookingwithsomeone.I only did it when Mom and Dad were away and needed a stand-in.And the only help Gates had provided on those nights was to stick his head into the kitchen and demand, “Is it ready yet?”

But I loved cooking with Keene.He cracked the strangest jokes that made me roll my eyes and groan over his corniness.And he liked to touch and kiss at the most unexpected moments.I felt like I was living on top of the world by the time we actually sat down with the rest of his roommates to eat.

“Hey, this is pretty damn good,” he announced with surprise after taking his first bite.“Best damn spaghetti I ever had.Way to go, Waves.”He lifted a hand to me for a high five and cheered, “Teamwork makes the dream work,” as I good-naturedly slapped my palm against his.

When I texted my mother to let her know I was staying for supper, she asked a bunch of questions, wondering what kind of sickness Xander had and if it was contagious.

I knew she was worried about me getting sick too, which filled me with guilt for lying to her in the first place, but it was also annoying.She had no faith in me and didn’t think I could take care of myself for one measly day.It was almost making me feel resentful, even though I knew I’d never say anything to her about it.She’d only cry and talk about my suicide attempt, putting me right back in my place of shame and depression, knowing I didn’t deserve her trust.

So I dealt with the questions and gratefully slipped my phone away when she finally stopped asking them and hung up.

But then, over dinner, Xander asked if I wanted to stay after the meal and watch a movie.And I didn’t want to say no.It felt right being here.Normal.I wasn’t ready to go home.So this time, I textedDadthat I was staying a while longer but that I’d still be home by curfew.

God bless my father, he merely answered,

Okay.Have fun.Love you.

And that was that.After we finished eating and the kitchen was cleaned, Xander and I filed into the living room, followed by her three male roommates, who wanted to join us.Oaklynn was the only resident absent, but Damien claimed she was working late, so the five of us settled in on the two couches.

It was obvious Damien Archer was the master of the house, and not just because he owned it.He’d made sure Alec and Keene did the dishes and behaved when they got rowdy.When Xander said she wanted popcorn, Damien nudged Alec, telling him to go make her some.He was a quiet authority with hypnotic whiskey-brown eyes, and I liked him.

I mean, he’d never have Keene’s buoyant energy, but there was a definite steady, safe vibe about him.

Even though I was officially here as Xander’s guest for the movie, Keene monopolized me by tucking me under his arm and cuddling me close.

The opening credits had just finished playing when the front door opened, admitting a new occupant.I assumed it would be Oaklynn returning home, but a different familiar figure swept inside, bringing a gust of crisp, February air with him.

“Brr.”Thane Eisner shuddered as he rushed to shut the door behind him.“Windy out.And it’s bringing in a cold front with it.”

“Hey, hey!Eis the Wise,” Keene called, lifting a fist in greeting.“What’s up, man?”

Thane paused in wiping his feet on the doormat to send Keene a short frown.“Dugger,” he greeted soberly.“You never returned my call.”

When I glanced up at Keene’s reaction, I saw him blink in utter confusion.“You called?”

Thane lifted his eyebrows expectantly before drawing out the word, “Yes.Nearly two weeks ago.”

Keene seemed baffled for a moment before his expression cleared.“Oh,” he said, finally remembering.“Yeah.That.”Sweeping out a dismissive hand, he tsked.“No worries, man.Problem solved.It’s all good now.”

Thane didn’t look convinced.“So you and Ohrley havetalked since then?”

Thinking back to what had been going on two weeks ago, I bit my lip in worry, hoping Keene wasn’tstillon the outs with one of his closest friends because of the secret I’d forced Parker to keep.

Snorting, Keene scowled at Thane before saying, “No.Because he hasn’t come around since then?”

“So why haven’t you gone tohim?”Thane countered.

I remembered the seven from back in my days at the center.They’d been one uniform pack, but it had always been obvious Parker and Thane were best friends the same way Alec and Keene were, while Damien, Hudson, and Foster kind of just floated around between them.

Of course, Thane would side with Parker, and I could tell Keene knew that too.His arm tensed around me before he said, “Why doIhave to be the one to make the first move?”

“Because you know how stubborn he is,” Thane countered.

“AndI’mnot allowed to be stubborn?”Keene shot back, clearly ruffled.

Without thinking, I set a hand on his chest, on the lower side, just wanting to calm him.

---