Page 47 of Code Name: Grit

I nodded. “She told me because of a conversation I had with Dante, the traitor.” When I saw him, he’d definitely be getting a piece of my mind. “Anyway, I said I didn’t think she was ever in love. Summer, either, not that we talked about her. It was more that until I was around my brother and Lark, I’d never witnessed the kind of relationship I’d want.” I hadn’t intended to say that part and anxiously waited for his response.

“Lumi—” he began again, and for the second time, I cut him off.

“I know you were in love with someone else, and like my mom and Cassio, maybe there’s only room in our lives for one person we feel that way about.”

He turned his head and stared out at the lake. “I don’t know if I believe that.”

I held my breath, wishing I hadn’t interrupted him twice.

Grit faced me again and took my hand in his. “I want you so much it hurts.”

13

GRIT

“But?” Lumi prompted.

I hated that she was right to think one was coming. “We aren’t there yet. You know it as well as I do. If things don’t work out in that way, we’ll still be working side by side, day in, day out.”

“I understand,” she murmured.

Did she? Truly? I had no idea whether she’d ever been in a relationship, but based on the life she’d been forced to lead, I doubted it. At least not a lasting one.

“I’m pretty tired.” She got up, but before she could walk away, I grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t shut me out,” I said, pulling her onto my lap, then realizing these chairs were definitely not made for it. “Hang on.” I stood with her in my arms and carried her into the camp.

“What are you doing?” That she giggled when she asked made my heart sing.

“I want to hold you.”

Our eyes met, and rather than mirth, there was heat when I eased down on the sofa, keeping her on my lap.

“I want to talk about your past relationships.”

The way her cheeks flushed and she shifted to get out of my grasp confirmed my suspicions there weren’t any.

“When we were in the panic room, you said you aren’t as innocent as I might think. And you can stop wiggling around. I’m not letting you go.”

Her eyes met mine, and she raised her chin. “I lied, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Look, this is as mortifying as any conversation I’ve ever had, and that includes the awkward one I just experienced with my mother. Can we please change the subject?”

“Why was the conversation with your mother awkward?”

“Of course you’d pick up on that part,” she muttered under her breath.

“Tell me.”

Her eyes widened at my words, and I watched her swallow before she spoke.

“Hearing about her and Cassio was, of course, weird.”

“But which part was awkward?”

Lumi sighed. “She was insistent we stay here together.”