I mean, theydo, annoyingly unfair as that is.
He’s also, like my dad, inreallygood shape. Better, actually, which is wild considering he’s in his late forties.
“How's school?”
I give him a wry smile. “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the show?”
He grins.
“Eh, it's fine,” I shrug.
He nods. “Doesfineinclude the obnoxiously handsome motherfucker who drove you all here?”
I swallow and look anywhere but his face.
“I was going to ask which of you he’s got his eye on before I murdered him,” Laz growls. But…” He pointedly clears his throat. “I think we have our answer.”
My face twists as I turn back to him. “Laz?—”
“I’m not gonna tell your dad, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he grunts.
A smile tugs at my lips. “You’re not?”
He barks a laugh. “Oh, not out of charity to you, my friend. But because much as I love Nero, he’s a fucking lunatic, and I happen to enjoy having my headattachedto my body, thank you. And you know what they say about messengers and getting shot.”
I grin despite myself. Laz sighs and levels a look at me.
“Seriously, though, Lena, what thefuckare you doing with Achilles Drakos?”
I don’t know.
I just know that he’s the only one I wanted when I needed help.
“Isit’s complicatedtoo cliche?”
“Painting too sordid a picture, more like,” he grunts, wrinkling his nose. “C’mon, kid. I don’t need that mental image.”
I roll my eyes. “I didn’t meanthat!”
“Right, because ‘it’s complicated’ meanssomany other things besides ‘we’re having sex but don’t know how to define our relationship’,” he grunts.
I hang my head.
“You’re a grown up, Lena.” He frowns. “Well, pretty much. But you’re old enough to date, and have sex, and…Christ, let’s change the subject,” he mutters.
“We’re done with that one?” I laugh quietly.
He makes a face. “Yeah, it suddenly hit me that I reallydon’tneed to have that conversation with you.”
I grin. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
He frowns. “He's good to you, though?” His eyes narrow. “I mean,really. Because if he’s not, forget your dad, I’ll fucking kill him myself.”
I grin and nod. “He is.”
“Great.”
We’re silent for a minute.