Page 289 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

“You do?” I was stalling again and he was giving me the perfect out.

He slammed his locker closed and we started walking toward the cafeteria. “There’s a party this Saturday. Come with me.”

“Like…as your plus one?”

He laughed. “It’s not a fancy thing, newb. Just a get together after the football game. But yeah. I want you to be my plus one.” As we entered the cafeteria, he slipped his hand into mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I know you’re working, but we could go after. I can pick you up.”

His hand felt warm and safe. I didn’t know why my eyes gravitated toward the Untouchables’ table. Or why my heart skipped a beat when I saw Matt glaring in our direction. I turned my attention back to Felix.

“I’ll have to ask my uncle. Speaking of which…” Now was my chance. The perfect lead in. “He wants to meet you. Do you maybe want to come over for dinner sometime this week? I make a pretty great vegetarian lasagna.” I didn’t have to tell him everything right this second. The whole secret non-scholarship student thing could wait. But for some reason he still looked confused. He stopped me before I could get in line for a salad.

“There’s a whole lot about everything you just said that I need clarification on,” he said. “First…vegetarian lasagna? What’s wrong with good old fashioned beef?”

I laughed. “It’s bad for your heart. And I’m trying to get my uncle to eat healthier.”

“Fair enough. That brings me to my second question. You want me to meet youruncle? That’s a first. Already introducing each other to extended family?” He laughed.

“He’s not…” my voice trailed off. “He’s not my extended family. He’s my only family. I live with him.”

“Shit. I’m sorry. I know you mentioned at the party that you lost your mom. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you about her. I just knew it would be…I don’t know why I didn’t ask. I’m sorry.”

I cringed at his third apology. I hated when people said they were sorry. It wasn’t like he had killed my mom. He had nothing to be sorry for.

“I just assumed you lived with your dad?”

I shook my head. “No, my dad was never in the picture. It’s always just been me and my mom. I mean was. It was me and my mom.” I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to referring to her in the past tense.

“I’m sorry.”

Why did he keep saying that? “Honestly, I’m not. If he didn’t want me then I don’t care to know him either. But I should probably clarify that even though I don’t know who my father is, my uncle does. And you have nothing to worry about, my uncle told me that we’re not related.”

Felix just stared at me.

“Like you’re not my…secret brother or step-brother or something. Or cousin. None of that. Not that I was thinking you were. But it’s good to double-check that kind of thing. Just to be safe.”

“Just to be safe.” He flashed me a smile. “It sounds like you were worried about that. Which you shouldn’t have been. Wouldn’t you like being my sister? I think it would be great if we were related. I’ve always wanted a sibling.”

What?Seriously wait…what?

Felix started laughing. “You should see your face.” He tried to catch his breath.

“What is wrong with you? That’s not funny. At all.”

“Well, it kinda was.”

I slapped his arm. “I thought you were serious for a second. That you wanted me to be your sister instead of…” I let my voice trail off. What were we exactly?

“No, definitely not. It would have been really hard to unlike you, newb.”

I felt my cheeks flush.

“I can do dinner Thursday. And I’ll ask your uncle about Saturday myself, okay?”

I nodded.

“Save me a seat at your table. I’m going to go get something with tons of beef.”

I laughed and his hand slipped out of mine. Felix had only ever sat with me at lunch that one time to ask me to his party. But he probably knew that saving him a seat wasn’t really necessary. The only person I ever sat with was Kennedy. Speaking of which…she had been avoiding me all day a lot better than I had avoided Felix and Matt yesterday. I grabbed my salad and sat down across from her.