Page 108 of Crew Princess
Race’s eyebrows went up. Taz’s mouth dropped.
Even Zellman noted it, and he was blitzed already. That said a lot.
Letting her go, I leaned back into Cross. “Sorry, Taz. I—”
“Nope. That was on me. I know not to hit you, and I forgot.” But she was uneasy about it. I could tell when she wouldn’t meet my gaze right away.
Race pulled her close. He lifted his chin in greeting. “So, the girlfriend didn’t come for pictures today. I’m sure you were relieved to see that?”
It took a second, but he was speaking to Cross. Not about Cross’ girlfriend, but Cross’dad’sgirlfriend.
Oooh.
I glanced up at Cross, who had stiffened beneath me. His free hand went to my leg, and he began fiddling with my dress.
“Yeah. A nice relief.”
“But you’ll meet her tomorrow.”
Why was Race bringing this up now? I threw him a frown, but it clicked. Taz’s eyes were glued to Cross, who was not looking at her. She seemed to be studying him to get some answers, and I was starting to think maybe she knew about their half-brother?
Race’s gaze jumped to mine, and I jerked back. Oh yeah. They were looking for something. That something flared in his gaze at my reaction, and I bit the inside of my lip. Fuck. Cold-as-ice crew member I was not at that moment.
Well, fine. Two could play that game, and I smiled at Race, who visibly tensed.
“How’s it going with your dad?” I asked. “I haven’t seen much of Alex lately. Everything good there?”
Taz sucked in her breath. The people around us stilled, listening in.
Cross lifted his head, glancing between me and Race. He noticed Taz then, a slight sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Why would you ask that?” she asked.
“Why do you think?” I shot back.
Race lowered his head. He slouched in his seat and angled his body, so he wasn’t fully facing us anymore. Taz reached out and laced their hands together.
She looked down, playing with his thumb. “That’s not cool of you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And his question was?”
I expected Taz to drop it. I wasn’t trying to be hurtful. I just wanted my message sent and received, but she spoke again, surprising me.
“There’s more to the story. Things my brother needs to deal with, and you can’t always jump in for him. It’s family stuff.” She lifted her gaze, looking sad but also defiant. I saw a flicker of fire in those eyes, same as her brother’s. “And I miss my brother.”
Her look was for me. Her words were for him.
Cross noted it. “Enough,” he said. “Drop it.”
She opened her mouth, but Zellman chose that moment to stagger over and stumble onto our laps. He winked before pushing himself up and stealing a place between Cross and me.
“Hey, guys!” He lifted his arms around Cross and me. “I miss my guys. Bren, you’re a dude now to me. No more of that other stuff.” He waggled his eyebrows, but I saw some sober in him. He knew what he was doing.
“Z,” I murmured.
“Dude?”
“If you don’t slow down on the Jack, you’re going to pass out,” I told him. “You’ll miss prom.”
