Page 82 of Devious Love

The moment is cut short, though, when my phone buzzes in her hand. A banner at the top of the screen appears, displaying a text from Remi.

Nostrils flaring, Mia pushes my phone into my hand and takes a step back. Her expression goes blank, cold.

The loss of her heat cracks open an empty cavern in my chest.

“This shit won’t work with me.” She turns and heads back into the house. Just inside the door, she peers over her shoulder. “Sleep tight,stepbrother.”

As she walks away, I clench my jaw, hands balled into fists. She’s right. I need to tell her the truth about Remi. It’s the only way.

CHAPTER 22

you remember the rule?

MIA

Age 18

October

The scentof roasted coffee beans and caramel lingers in the air as I step out of the café, the warmth of my cup seeping into me. Chiara catches up, her shoulder brushing mine.

Jeff and Tessa are waiting for us on campus, where we plan to hang out before tonight’s bonfire. If only I could dig deep and come up with an ounce of excitement. I’m being a shitty friend, but my mind is too caught up on Dominic. Not only on the text from Remi, but the moment we shared three nights ago. For three days, I’ve only seen him in passing—and in my dreams.

And in those dreams? Fuck, I’ve never had sexual fantasies like this. It’s new and exciting, but I’m also desperate.

I’m desperate for him, for a moment alone.

I had no idea it would be this hard to spend time together while keeping our relationship a secret. These days, I’m constantly busy with classes and he’s busy at the shop. And when we’re home, we’re surrounded by family, and we’re so exhausted, it’s impossible to wait them out and spend timetogether after everyone is in bed. Hell, most of the time, we crash before our parents do.

I hate it.

And then, there’s Remi. He wasn’t lying about the texts from his uncle, but that late-night text from her made it impossible to trust his words.

Chiara elbows me, bringing me back to our conversation about the bonfire.

“Last year, the DJ was awful. If it’s him again, I’m leaving.” She laughs, tossing her curly hair over her shoulder.

“That bad?” I ask half-heartedly.

“It was all early two thousands emo.”

I chuckle. “That’s definitely not your type of music.”

There are two routes from the café to campus, but only one of them leads past the shop. Dominic and Miles are working on a secret project, and curiosity is killing me. So, at the next street, I turn left, hoping to see him and get a peek at the project, even if it’s only from the sidewalk.

“Any particular reason we’re taking this way?” Chia loops her arm through mine.

“No.”

She pinches my bicep, and I shake her loose.

“Chiara!” I laugh. Halfway down the street, I squint at her and say, “Did you invite Ashley to the bonfire?” Ashley is a girl from one of her classes I’ve seen her flirting with more than once.

She stumbles a step, blinking. “Wh-what?”

“Ashley. The cute blonde from your math class. She was flirting with you.”

“Um, no.” Her face flames. “Yeah, we were flirting, but I didn’t invite her.”