Page 90 of Hacking His Code

“Oh my God, are you not claiming your very own child!” Cassius cuts in.

Gabriel’s eyes light in fury, but it doesn’t stop Cassius from continuing.

“I tell everyone I knocked up Sadie because I never want anyone ever to say that I didn’t claim my beloved child.”

“For once, Cas—you disgust me!” Gabriel snaps.

“Is this seriously the first time Cassius has disgusted you?” Alistair says with a grin. “And quit dodging the question.”

“Let me just say that if she was, both Remi and my mother would kill me if I were to tell you guys before they had a chance to announce it.”

“Well, congratulations,” I reply. “I really hope my mother doesn’t look in the tabloids.”

Cassius directs his attention toward me. “I thought you should know, Arinessa’s mother is doing well. She’ll be woken from her coma Monday.”

“That’s good…right?”

“She was under a lot longer than we had hoped, but we found out what was wrong. She should be fine.”

“That’s great!”

“Hey, no shop talk during boys’ night out!” Alistair chastises.

“Oh, I was merely giving Hunter suggestions as to how to deal with his erectile dysfunction,” Cassius japes, and again the table breaks out into laughter.

Gabriel orders me another beer once mine is drained, and I listen to the antics of my contemporaries, getting in a smart remark every so often.

Elric elbows me. “You know, I remember when we were like seven, our parents got us together for a playdate. Your parents were so anal about everything, it’s no wonder you turned out like you did.”

This time, the table doesn’t laugh.

“Elric, I think it’s time you slow your roll,” Zev suggests, pushing Elric’s beer just out of his reach.

“No, it’s fine. After my aunt’s disappearance, which I’m sure you all know about, it kind of cast a shadow on our world. I don’t want that to be the way you define me,” I say quietly. “It’s all anyone ever associates me with.”

“Sorry, man,” Elric says.

“Go ahead, ask me about it if you’d like.”

After a long minute, Cassius asks, “How is your mother? It was said that they were close.”

“She’s had years to process it, and I think she has, but it changed her.”

Cassius nods. “I imagine that it would have.”

“In about an hour, we’ll meet up with the girls,” Gabriel says.

An alarm on Elric’s phone sounds. “Looks like I have to cut out. Early flight.”

“I think I’m going to cut out too,” I say.

“Nonsense!” Sven says. “Soon, we’ll be meeting up with the ladies. Meghan will be with them, and you’re exactly her type.”

Alistair snorts. “I hardly think you can say he’s ‘her type’ when you barely know him.”

“I knew it!” Sven shouts. “I knew you were hitting it!”

“Just because I don’t go making broad assumptions of who my friends should be seeing and hooking up with doesn’t mean I’m ‘hitting it,’ as you suggest.”