Page 33 of Devious Love

“After graduation, they were on-again, off-again, but when he got hurt, she jumped in and helped a lot. It brought them closer.”

My heart squeezes painfully, but not because of Remi. As much as I try to avoid thinking of Dominic, I can’t help but feel heartbroken when I remember the call from Matt two years ago, during their junior year of college. Not only did Dom’s shoulder injury take months to heal, but it was so severe, it destroyed any hope he had of being drafted to the NFL.

Chia scratches the back of her neck. “My cousin Sara went to school with them. According to her, the relationship was always very one-sided. Remi is crazy about him while he kinda lets her love him.”

“She’s crazy jealous about him for sure,” I comment. “But what does that have to do with me? Does she really think that after almost five years, I’m still chasing the boy I liked when I was fourteen? My stepbrother?”

The corners of her mouth tip up, and there’s a naughty sparkle in her eyes as she angles in. “Boy? I get that you haven’t seen him in person since the day you left, but Mia, there’s nothing boyish about Dominic Watson. The guy is pure eye candy.”

I scoff, willing my body not to react to the thought. “We’ll see if I still think so.”

I take a sip of my drink and avert my eyes. Chiara is the only person who knew I was in town last year. She was with me that night, but she has no idea why I left so abruptly or why, instead of heading to this house, I went straight to the airport and flew back to Dad.

“You will.” She scoots closer. “Have you hooked up with anyone worth mentioning since you and Jeff broke up?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I’ve told you before, I never slept with Jeff.”

She turns so she’s facing me head-on. “No? Why did I think you did?”

“Maybe because I lost my virginity to his older brother?”

Her jaw unhinges.

Sighing, I press my fingers to the underside of her chin and close her mouth. “You look like a fish.”

“How could I not? Damn, girl. I wish I had your boldness.”

“Dad says I have a talent for messing things up, and I have to agree. It’s not something to be envious of, trust me.”

“Still. You’re bratty but not bitchy, bold but not arrogant, you know?”

“No?” I giggle and set my mug back on the table.

“You’re impossible,” she crows, flopping back against the couch. “Boldness like yours might actually help me work up the nerve to tell my mama and papa that I’m bi.”

I lean over and press my temple to hers. “You’ll tell them when you’re ready, and it’s okay if you’re not there yet.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Silence settles between us, and a sense of comfort washes over me for the first time since I touched down in California.

Though we’ve barely seen each other in person in five years, we made a pact to stay close, and we followed through. We FaceTimed constantly, talking, laughing. We’d do homework together and spam one another with ridiculous memes and GIFs. Our favorite was to hit play on a movie or an episode of a TV show at the same time and text our reactions the whole way through.

I love this girl to the moon and back, and I know she loves me just as much.

CHAPTER 9

she’s your stepsister

DOMINIC

Age 22

August

Though the ACin the taxi is doing its job, I’m still sweating, and on top of it, I’m on the verge of hurling. My head is fucking killing me, and Matt’s rambling doesn’t help. He spent the whole flight going on about Mia’s return, and it carried over to the ride home. He won’t shut up about the party he’s throwing to celebrate, and don’t get me started on all the “tips and tricks” he wants to share with her on how to survive college.

I need a fucking break.