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“They don’t need to know that.” I look toward the doorway to the kitchen to check that we’re still alone.

“What do you want?” she asks, turning to face me with her mug of tea in hand.

“What do you mean?”

She raises a brow. “Surely you’re not in college for business administration because you like it. Okay, you enjoy the drama and violence, but what do you want outside of that?”

I rub at the back of my neck for a moment. “Ah. This was about you, Tess.”

She laughs. “Yeah, sure.”

“At least tell me if you’re finally going to settle down,” she says.

“I think you’re covering that for me. You’re getting married and you’re barely nineteen,” I remind her.

She frowns at me. “It’s not just for the family, though. I know it seems like it, but I love Yvette. She’s…not what everyone thinks.”

I eye her. “Really?”

“Really. Maybe I wouldn’t choose to get married yet if we’d met in normal circumstances, but if I truly didn’t want to marry her, I wouldn’t. I promise.” She sips at her tea.

I narrow my eyes. “Well…congrats, I guess.”

“Whatever. You’re avoiding the question. Are there any guys you’re interested in? For more than just sex.” She shoots me a pointed look as she says the last bit.

I’m already smirking, having been prepared to answer her question crudely.

“Maybe,” I reply. My heart suddenly throbs, and I clear my throat. “Not sure yet.”

“Oh, I know that look.” She smiles. “It’s like the one Yvette gives me. Theyou’re mine, intense look.”

“Pfft. Careful sharing that, cousin. I have a lot of dirty details I could tell you,” I remind her.

She shakes her head. “No, no. No thanks. Just tell me about the guy.”

“Ethan,” I blurt out.

“Should I know him?” she asks.

“No. He’s a couple years younger than me, and he’s studying biochemistry. We…ran into each other,” I explain.

“And you remembered the word biochemistry, impressive,” she chuckles. “Ran into…normally, or in a one-night stand way?”

“If you can believe it, I haven’t even fucked him.” I put my hand up.

Her face flushes. “Ew, don’t say it like that! But…I am surprised,” she admits. “A guy who studies biochemistry doesn’t sound like your type.”

“You don’t know my type,” I snap.

“Well, no, because you’ve never actually dated anyone, only hooked up,” Contessa accuses. “But nerdy types who are serious about their work are the exact opposite of you.”

“I can be serious! I’m just serious about things that aren’t school.”

She shrugs and sips her tea.

“But you’re interested? Is he?” she asks.

“Interested isn’t a strong enough word,” I admit. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. I know he’s interested, but he won’t admit it.”