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“I’m not doing anything,” I told him, trying to ignore the knowing gleam in his eyes. “Can I help you?”

I’d hoped he would say yes, just to give me a purpose. I could always read more later.

“I’m waiting for Brayden.” Anthony glanced at the doors that lead from the coffee shop into the library. “And you looked lonely.”

“I-I’m not lonely.” I pulled the novel toward me. My face grew warm as the hair prickled at the back of my neck. For some reason being near Anthony made me feel guilty, which led to me being rude.

But he hadn’t done anything wrong and seemed interesting and polite, so I wasn’t sure why I was so shy.

Julian had commented about wanting the two of us to get closer. And I wanted to. None of this made any sense at all.

But my abruptness didn’t deter the necromancer.

“I had a break between classes,” he said, leaning back in his seat. His casual but confident demeanor and the way he crossed his legs was so much like his brother that my apprehension faded. “And Julian asked me to check in on you.”

“Oh.” I frowned down at my coffee. So, he was only talking to me as a favor?

“But more than that…” Anthony slowly raised his left eyebrow, wrinkling his nose as he thoughtfully watched me. A moment later, he grinned, folding his arms over his books as he leaned over the table. “I thought you might want to do something fun.”

“Something… fun?” This sounded foreboding.

Damen said that Anthony was Brayden’s best friend, and that the two of them got into all sorts of trouble. So, what might ‘something fun’ mean?

It could beanything.

Actually, that might not be so bad. A distraction would be nice. “What is it?”

“I knew you’d like that.” Anthony’s grin grew wider. “So—” He opened the silver spiral-bound notebook and leaned forward, running his finger over the lines. There were columns of scribbles, but Miles’s name stood out starkly from the script. “—Miles missed both school and practice for a few days and no one knows why.”

I tried to read through the tiny, loopy writing, but only bits and pieces were legible.

“Is that… Miles’s schedule?” I recognized those classes. I, too, had written out variations of the calendars synced to my phone. “Are you stalking him? I don’t want to prank Miles.”

But he might deserve it if he’s been skipping stuff. I knew I should have been more vigilant.

“Pranking? I never prank.” Anthony’s brows drew together. His dark brown eyes shone with hurt. “What in the world did Julian tell you?”

I leaned back in my chair and waved my hand as my face flamed. “N-not Julian! Damen said you and Brayden are close.”

His thick lips pursed. “And?”

“Brayden is so h-happy and carefree?” Somehow my statement had become a question. “He likes to go after Bryce.”

Although now that I thought about it, Brayden was a lot of talk too. I’ve neverseenhim do anything to our brother.

“You don’t need to worry about Bryce,” Anthony said.

I wasn’t worried.

“We’re in the same quintet and we know each other pretty well.Believe me, he’s more than capable of holding his own against Brayden.” Anthony’s serious mood continued. “He might be socially awkward, but when it comes to coming out on top, he’s beaten Braydeneverytime. He’s badass. But Brayden still tries, so he’ll strike at any weakness he can.”

Bryce… a badass? I’d been growing increasingly curious as of late about his supposed legendary prowess.

Was I going to have to arrange something?

“And Brayden is one of the most serious people I know. I mean, he likeslibraries,” Anthony carried on, gesturing vaguely around us. “He might be cheerful and loud aroundyou, but that has more to do with who you are than anything else. If I know him—and I do—he’s excited and is trying to make you feel welcome.”

“B-but…” My mind raced. “Damen said you two werefun.”