Page 19 of Secret

IZZY

Idecide to wear sweatpants and a lacy vest top after getting out of the shower. I quickly French plait my long hair and then hop down the stairs to the kitchen. I’m still stressed at Harley’s dismissal and Luke’s attempt at fixing it by not telling me anything, but I’m hoping I don’t see them. I can’t deal with another argument now, today has been overwhelming to say the least. The only good thing is that Blake will be here tonight, and I get to see him.

“Izzy, in here,” Sebastian shouts from the living room as I get to the bottom of the stairs. I wonder how on earth he can hear me in this large house, but I walk into the room anyway.

Sebastian and Blake are sitting on the sofa playing Xbox when I walk in. Elliot is sitting with a pretty red-head on his lap, and on the other sofa is the blonde I saw Sebastian with when I first met them. She looks at me with a disgusted glance. I raise my eyebrows at her as she takes in my normal clothes compared to her ultra-tight dress before looking back at the game on the TV.

Sebastian turns his head in my direction and says,“Hey, sis, we ordered pizza. Do you want to join us?”

Blake stops the game at the same time, making me look at him. He winks at me before saying,“Come sit with us, Izzy.”

Blake must have planned this so he could see me tonight. I get butterflies in my stomach as I look over at him. Blake is dressed casually in denim shorts and a tight, blue shirt, which looks damn impressive on him. His wavy, blond hair is a little more styled than I’m used to, but it’s out of his face more so I can see his sparkling, blue eyes.

I realise I’ve been staring when I hear a fake giggle from the blonde next to Sebastian. I ignore her as I look over the room–I haven’t been in here much–for a needed distraction. The two speakers are still there, and the room is a cream colour with dark-brown wooden beams on the ceiling, which match the dark-wood floor. There is a huge TV in the middle of the room, and some game is playing on it. The TV is above a fake fireplace that lights up the room, along with the wall lamps in the corners of the room. The rest of the room has three brown-leather sofas and a worn, wooden coffee table. There are no pictures on the wall, but I guess with four men living in this house it wouldn’t have many feminine touches, other than the huge, grey rug under all the sofas and the coffee table.

“Sure, why not?” I mutter, going to sit on the other side of Sebastian, and I smile at him. I really want to go sit by Blake and hold his hand, but I know I can’t. One glance at Blake, who is watching me, and I know he feels the same.

The blonde next to Sebastian says in a not so friendly voice, “Are you going to introduce me, baby?”

“Izzy, this is Elena,” Sebastian says, pointing to the blonde in a bored wave, and she flashes a fake smile.

“Hi, Izzy,” her voice sounds faker than the entire face-full of makeup she is wearing. I smile back, but I’m sure it comes across as more of a disgusted look.

“This is Elliot's girlfriend, Lily,” Sebastian points to the red-headed girl on Elliot's lap as a clear distraction when he notices Elena and I are glaring at each other, which works well.

“Hey, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, how was your first day?” she asks politely.

I look over at her. She has a pretty face and short, red hair with a full fringe that shapes her face well. She is much taller than me, by the look of her long legs in some ripped, skinny jeans and an oversized, black top, which hangs off one of her shoulders. I’m guessing she is most likely just under Elliot's height, and with her friendly face, she makes me relax a little. I could always use a new friend.

“It was nice, but all schools are the same thing. I made some new friends,” I say.

“Oh, who?” she asks

“Allie and her brother, Tris. I'm going over to her house tomorrow for dinner,” I say as I watch Elliot take Sebastian’s controller and try to beat Blake in the game.

“That's lovely. Allie is great. Would you like me to come? I’ve known Allie for years, but I know Tris better. I would like to get to know you,” she says with a bright smile.

“Sure, I’ll text her and ask, if you want?” I reply, thinking I should ask before inviting someone to someone else’s house. I could use a girlfriend, so I don’t want to come across as rude.

“Yeah, that would be great, Izzy,” she grins.

The doorbell goes off, and Sebastian leaps off the sofa to get it with Elena following like a puppy. It takes a lot of strength not to roll my eyes at her.

I look at the screen to see what they are playing, and I see itsCall of Duty. Tilly had this, and we played it a lot with her brothers, so I askBlake if he wants to play me next as he easily beats Elliot. Elliot throws the controller over to me, and I catch it. I use the excuse that I need to be closer to the screen when I move to sit next to Blake, letting my thigh touch his. I can’t help the shiver I feel from just that little touch, and Blake clears his throat before answering me.

“Do you even know how to play? I could teach you, I guess, but I don't think it's your sort of game,” he says honestly.

Right now, I'm insulted; just because I’m girl, he thinks I don’t know how to play games? This might be more fun if I play innocent, I give him a coy smile.

“Oh, okay. Yes, you can teach me how to play,” I try to say with an innocent face, but it’s hard not to giggle.

So I sit and watch as Blake explains how to shoot, and how the controls work. I try to pretend I’m listening and not staring at his handsome face, taking in the little dimple on his cheek when he smiles or the slight stubble on his jaw, which I want to kiss slowly.

“Okay, that's the basics. I’ll go easy on you.” He winks. Blake’s the only guy I know who can wink like that, and it's damn sexy every time. I know sitting in a room full of my brothers isn’t the time to be thinking about their best friend, but it’s not enough to stop me.

“Good luck, Izzy. The boys are beasts on that thing. I wouldn't play them,” Lily says with a chuckle, making Blake laugh.

I shrug and start playing, Blake soon realises–after I beat him four times–that it's not just luck. He stops the game to look at me with his face full of suspicion.

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