Rob slid his index finger and thumb down the zipper of Felix’s coat. “He’s not going to like this.”
“Who? James?”
Rob laughed. “Naïve as ever, Sanders. You’re driving him mad you know. Playing hard to get. It’s his weakness.”
I wasn’t as naïve as he thought. Because I knew now that he was referring to Matt. “I’m not playing hard to get. I have a boyfriend.” I didn’t. Felix had made that pretty clear. He’d been kissing someone else.I think.Regardless, it was easier to pretend that Felix and I were exclusive. I didn’t want Matt to try to kiss me again. Or get anywhere near me at all. I was going to set some ground rules fast on this stupid after-school project hangout.
“Huh. If you say so.”
The way he said it made it seem like he knew I was lying about Felix being my boyfriend. What did Rob know? I realized it was possible that he knew who else Felix was kissing. Before I could ask him, he opened the bedroom door.
“Sanders has arrived,” Rob said and strolled into the room.
I waited a moment, trying to clear my head. I wished I was about to walk into some random sunroom or second kitchen, but there was a nameplate on the door. This was definitely James' bedroom. I took a deep breath. All I had to do was not engage with Matt. Or James. Rob would be the only person I talked to. And I’d keep it to a minimum.
James’ room wasn’t anything like Matt’s. There was no fear of coffins or vampires as I walked in. But still…that same coldness had me crossing my arms in front of my chest. Everything in the room was baby blue. Like his parents had found out they were having a boy and vomited the color everywhere. There were also a few posters on the wall of Giants’ players. It could have been any boy’s room in New York. The only thing unique about it was that one wall had floor to ceiling shelves filled with books. It was practically a library. Which didn’t exactly make the room feel any homier.
“Sanders, this is James,” Rob said.
I looked over at James.
He was sitting at his desk staring at me staring at his room. It looked like he wanted me to disappear as badly as Charlotte always did.
“We’ve actually met,” I said.
“Right, right,” Rob lightly slapped my shoulder. “I forgot that you two were talking at the party last weekend. You can just sit on his bed. I already filled him in on everything yesterday and he’s almost done.”
I just stood there. I didn’t want to sit on James’ bed. And not just because it was James’ bed. I had purposely not looked at Matt since walking into the room, but he was on the bed. I felt locked in place. James’ eyes on me. Matt’s eyes on me. “Then why the heck am I even here if it’s almost done? You said you needed my help.”
Rob laughed. “We just thought it would be fun to hang out for the night. Right, Matt?”
I finally mustered the courage to look over at him.
Matt was sitting on the bed, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. His hair was wet. He’d probably just showered after football practice. Or maybe he just showered because he was dirty from all the sex he was having with Isabella. Too bad you couldn’t scrub away an STD.
And even though I knew he was sleeping with Isabella, my heart still started racing when I saw him. I didn’t know what the term was for being a brother lover off the top of my head. All I could think of was pedophile. Was I worse than a pedophile?
“What are you wearing?” Matt asked.
Suddenly the jacket felt warm. The room was no longer cold. I was pretty sure they’d turned the heat up to 80 to make me sweat. “Can I borrow your phone?” I asked Rob. “I need to call my uncle to come get me.”
“Don’t be that way, Sanders,” Rob said. “Come on, we just want to get to know you better. Here, a drink will help.” He gestured over my shoulder.
Eric had just walked in holding a tray of glasses filled with amber liquid.
I thought he was supposed to be getting snacks. Not alcohol. Where were Rob’s parents?
Rob lifted up two of the glasses and held one out for me.
“No thank you.”
“Have you ever even tried bourbon? You might like it.”
Alcohol was not my friend. None of it. “I’m already grounded.”
“We’re not going to tell on you, Sanders.” He kept his hand outstretched. “We’re pretty great at keeping secrets.”
I was sure they weren’t. “Where are your parents?”
