The Moth and the Flame (When Rivals Play #2) - B.B. Reid Page 0,113

established between them.

Knowing Wren would defend me even though I was dead wrong, I elbowed past him and focused on Four.

“There are worms where my brain should be.” Closing the distance while warily keeping an eye on Ever, I stuck out my hand. “I’m Louchana,” I offered apologetically. “Don’t call me Lou.”

After only a moment’s hesitation, she shook my hand and grinned. “Why? Does he call you Lou?” she teased, referring to Wren.

“Yes. And one day, I’ll castrate him for it.” Four laughed and so did her brother although I could tell he didn’t want to. “So, you guys are twins?” Although they had similar coloring, they didn’t look anything alike, but I figured it was because they were fraternal.

That thought fled when they both frowned, and I wondered what the hell I said wrong this time.

“Why do you say that?” Four asked.

“Your names,” I pointed out. “Four? Ever? Forever? You’re like a set, right?”

Four laughed nervously. “No, that’s pure coincidence. We’re not related at all.”

It was my turn to frown. “But you live together.”

“My mom is dating his dad.”

Suddenly, it all clicked into place, and I had to say that I was relieved. Brothers didn’t look at their sisters like Ever looked at Four. I had planned to corner Wren when we were alone and beg him not to leave me here with these people. I still might.

I was about to ask more questions when Ever pulled Four into him and whispered something in her ear. It was brief, and Four only nodded in response. When they started to kiss, I looked away and caught Wren’s eye. He’d been leaning against the wall watching me the entire time, his eyes guarded as they’d been for almost a month now, and I wondered if maybe it was time I put pride aside and get over that damn wall once and for all.

I hadn’t noticed that Four and Ever’s make-out session ended until Ever sauntered by me and signaled for Wren to follow him. They both disappeared leaving Four and me alone.

“I don’t mean to pry, but what was with that?” she asked me as she came to stand beside me.

“What was with what?”

“You and Wren. The tension. You could slice it with a butter knife.”

“Oh.” Sensing I didn’t want to talk about it, she shrugged and asked if I was hungry. “Weren’t you guys headed to school or something?”

She sighed as she led me through the house. “I think under the circumstances, skipping is in order. Besides, today is only a half day.”

We stepped inside the kitchen and found the tattooed God who broke up the fight bent over the island, texting on his phone. He looked up, and the most wicked grin I’d ever seen split his face. “Welcome to our ridiculously non-humble abode.”

I took in everything about him. The long, lean body. The pierced nose and eyebrow. The mahogany hair slicked back to show off that gorgeous visage. The bruise already starting to form on his jaw didn’t even distract from his handsomeness. I knew with just one look that he was trouble.

“This is Jamie,” Four introduced, and I could tell she was reluctant to do so.

“Jameson John Buchanan at your service, but you may call me Jamie and only Jamie, you lovely fuckable thing.”

I tilted my head to the side. “Is calling me fuckable supposed to flatter me?”

“Do you want it to?” he shot back smoothly.

I was a little taken aback. “How old are you?” He wore the same school uniform as Four and Ever but he seemed older somehow. Beyond his years. And it made me wonder if this devil-may-care attitude was all an act.

He proved me right a second later when his smile turned downright predatory and sexed. “Young enough,” he said with a growl that I felt down to my very bones.

The confidence that I could handle anything this guy dished was sapped from my body by that smile alone.

“Don’t worry,” Four said as she patted my shoulder. “He’s harmless.”

Maybe…but Wren wasn’t.

At that moment, I realized my best friend might have just tossed me from the frying pan into the fire. Then again, if I was going to get Wren to stop running from what we both knew in our hearts, then perhaps a little jealousy could light the match.

Holding out my hand, I allowed Jamie’s much larger one to envelop mine. “Louchana Valentine, virgin extraordinaire.”

Four groaned in agony, but I was too busy focusing on the heat and the challenge that suddenly engulfed