Page 68 of Between Desire and Denial

I rounded the island and threw my arms around him. He didn’t return the hug, and he felt so stiff and small under myhold, but I still squeezed him tight and said, “I’m here now. I’ll come over and—”

“Or you can come stay with us,” Dimitri offered.

“What?” I gasped and my curls whipped around as I looked up.

“We’ve got room if you’re not feeling it here.” So nonchalantly he offered his house to my brother, so easily he made me think he was a different sort of man than I’d ever met. He was ready for a commitment, ready for the responsibility.

And Knox actually thought about it for more than a second, longer than he should have if he was happy at home. “Nah. It’s fine. My stepmom and Dad haven’t been home much anyway. I got things to do this summer, too, and my friends—”

“Who are your friends, by the way?” I asked, trying not to sound intrusive. “Esme said you two weren’t hanging around much anymore.”

“You talked to her? When did you see her?” His eyes were like lasers on me now, bright and aware.

“She stopped by with pizza the other night.” I didn’t mention the library.

He kicked at nothing on the ground as he asked, “What else did she say about me?”

“Not much.” I crossed my arms. “Just that you don’t hang out anymore.”

He let out a small “ha” and shook his head as he looked down at those fisted hands again. “Yeah, I don’t know. She got her own friends, I guess.”

“Really?” I asked and then threw out, “Because she looked pretty sad about not seeing you.”

Dimitri cleared his throat. “So, you play basketball?” he asked, changing the topic, before I laid into my brother. That’s where the conversation was headed, because Knox and I both knew Esme was a great girl.

“Used to.”

“Your fadeaway still looks decent for a quitter.”

Dimitri’s words had me snapping my gaze to Knox. And I saw his face reddened. “I’m not a quitter.”

“You just said youusedto play,” Dimitri continued.

“Yeah. I did. I can’t now.” Knox puffed up his chest.

“Oh, you break a bone?” Dimitri lifted an eyebrow, waiting.

“Wow, you’re extremely inquisitive today.” I wanted to steer him away from this particular conversation, but Dimitri wasn’t even looking at me.

“I’m working with my dad now. Plus, I’m just not into it anymore.”

“Why’d you go out front to shoot hoops then? Didn’t make varsity and quit?” Dimitri was egging him on. We all knew it. But I saw some of the determination in Knox’s eyes that I was used to, saw a little of the competitor he used to be.

“Man, I made varsity freshmen year. Could now if I tried.”

“So, you’re either a quitter or not good enough. Which is it?”

“Dimitri.” I glared at him.

My brother didn’t let me say anything though. He grabbed the ball and said, “One-on-one. Let’s go right now.”

A smile more genuine than I’d ever seen whipped across Dimitri’s face. “I’m going to beat you, kid.”

They both walked outside, leaving me standing in the kitchen wondering what had just happened.

Chapter Twenty-Four

DIMITRI