shoulders as he slips it on. A slight push toward my class gets my feet moving in the direction I need to go. I don’t notice the people around me, I don’t even care my teacher is about to close the door as I slip past her. All I can feel is the softness of Milo’s lips on mine
Chapter 3
Dante finds me a few seconds after my class gets over. Typically, we all meet in my stairwell and share lunch, but today he directs me toward the cafeteria. I want to drag my feet, to argue that our lunch spot is so much better, but it’s like he knows me or something.
“Laura, Milo and Ollie are already waiting for us. You don’t need to hide away in some corner. we should have been coming here to eat ages ago. I think we just liked having you to ourselves.” I open my mouth to give him some reason why our private lunches are better, but he continues. “Milo told us he kissed you.” That shuts me right up. What should I say to that? Will he be mad? “Probably wasn’t the best idea considering we’re trying to keep our relationship under wraps, but I wish I would have done it first.”
My eyes snap up to his. Dante has a dark look. He’s one of the biggest guys in school, and before I knew him, I would never have wanted to tangle with someone like him. In reality, though, Dante is sweet and thoughtful. When he goes quiet, most people would think he’s being all dark and broody, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, he is intense, and yes, he does have an edge, but that edge is buffered with a big soft spot for everyone he cares about.
“You’re not mad?” My question comes out as a whisper, even though we’re mostly alone in the hall.
Dante wraps his arm over my shoulder and squeezes me to his side. “Sometimes I wish you would have grown up like us, knowing what to expect when you found us.” I open my mouth again to apologize, but he places his finger over my lips, shushing me. “But I know you wouldn’t be you if you had. And you are perfect just the way you are.” Dante’s words are spoken just as softly as mine were, the deep timbre of his voice rolling over the syllables.
Something inside me melts with his words, and I find myself wrapping my arm around his waist. I want to lay my head on his chest, to pull the feeling of contentment he’s exuding into me. But I know it’s dangerous, it’s not just his words but the closeness I feel to them when their gifts are connecting us. The last thing I need at school is for someone to see me sparking up.
“When are you going to shift for me?” I surprise myself by asking the question I’ve wanted to ask for a while. Dante releases me, and I feel the loss of his touch immediately. Wrapping my arms over my stomach, I wonder if I’ve pushed him too far.
“You want to see me shift?” His words are hushed, and if I weren’t waiting for his response, I wouldn’t have heard him. He reaches forward and grabs the handle for the lunchroom door.
The noise hits me like a wave, but he hears my answer anyway. “I do. But I understand if it’s private or something.” I try to smooth over my blunder. If that’s not something he’s ready to share with me, it’s okay. I can wait. I make a show of peering around the crowded room looking for Ollie and Milo. Dante brushes his fingers against mine as he passes. I know he did it on purpose. It takes away a tiny bit of the sting I feel at his rejection.
“They’re over here.” I tag along behind Dante, keeping my eyes on his back as he makes his way over to a corner table. It’s a long, picnic-style table that looks rather full. It’s clear this is where they usually sit, and there isn’t any space for me. I shuffle my feet, wondering why they thought this was a good idea.
“Hey, took you guys long enough.” Milo jumps up, pulling his legs out from under the table. “Here sit.” He motions for me to sit down in the spot he just vacated. Not wanting to stand any longer I slide in next to Ollie. Milo puts