Page 96 of Dark Knight (Knight's Ridge Empire 10)

“A triple date?” Nico repeats, his face twisting, but I’m not sure if he’s offended or amused by the prospect.

“Find yourself a decent, serious girl in the next two days and you’re more than welcome to make it a quadruple date. I’m sure Brianna would be more than up for what we have planned.”

“Fuck off, that ain’t happening,” he scoffs, much to everyone’s amusement.

“Exactly, so you’re gonna need to find someone else to delight with your presence,” Toby says with a smirk.

“Cal, what about you? Heard of any decent parties I’ve accidentally not been invited to?”

Calli’s eyebrows shoot up in shock. “Me? When have I ever been invited to a party without you?”

“Now, I’m hoping. I’m not spending the first night of the holiday at home alone.”

“I’m sure you could find someone willing to put up with you,” Calli mutters.

“Nah, he’s already shown the girls in this postcode that he can’t get them off for shit. They’ve all gone looking elsewhere.”

“Fuck you, Alexander. Fuck you. When was the last time you had a girl screaming your name when she wasn’t running away in fear?”

Alex’s eyes shoot to Calli, and my blood turns to lava at the thought of him touching her.

My grip on her thigh tightens until she squeaks in warning.

“You’re a fucking dick,” Alex mutters.

“You two really need to get laid,” Stella helpfully points out. “You’re right cranky douchebags.”

“Well, you would be if your only option for Friday night was hanging with your kid sister,” Nico growls, getting my back up.

“I could think of worse things,” I say, without meaning to let the words out loud.

“Sorry, Bro,” Calli says before Nico gets a chance to respond to my comment, “I’m booked up, babysitting the brats.” She shoots an amused look in Theo’s direction. “You’re more than welcome to—”

“Jesus. When did my life get so boring?”

“Careful what you wish for, man. We’re on the cusp of shit getting real exciting,” Theo warns.

Silence falls over our group as the stark reality of the situation settles over us.

“Right. Well, now we’ve discovered that Nico has no friends, I’m out,” I say, noticing the teacher I’m meant to be having a lunchtime maths session with heading toward the exit.

I squeeze Calli’s thigh again, wishing like hell I could lean in and kiss her before pulling my tray closer, ready to leave them, but Calli’s soft voice stops me.

“What’s wrong?”

I have to do a double-take at the concern that’s pulling at her brows.

My stomach knots with the way she’s looking at me. As if… as if she… cares.

The heat of everyone else’s attention burns into the side of my face, forcing me to recover.

“I’m out,” I repeat, ripping my eyes from her as if her words meant nothing and walking away.