Ihaven’t been able to go back to my apartment for a week. Instead, everyone has been staying at the Lopez estate. I haven’t even been to class and, honestly, I know the drill. It’sfor my safety and all of that, but I’m going out of my damn mind being cooped up in this compound.
I know the family is still looking for whoever it is they’re after. They don’t know where they went, or what they’re going to do next. Emilio told me they brought one guy back from the house they breached, but the fucker didn’t know anything. I didn’t ask how they figured that out. I didn’t need those details.
My phone buzzes with a message, and I smile when I see Kevin’s name. I’ve been avoiding talking to him too much over the last week. I don’t know what to say to explain my absence.
Kevin:
Class is boring without you. Also, check out the hot new TA.
There’s a photo attached. I zoom in because, well, why the hell not? I’ve never seen the guy before. He’s kind of cute, I guess. I type out a quick reply.
Me:
Not my type. But he’s okay.
Kevin:
He’s Hispanic. I thought that was your type.
Me:
Nope, Emilio is my type.
Kevin:
Emilio is everyone’s type.
Me:
True.
My boyfriend is hot. Speaking of, I look around his room. He left about twenty minutes ago to get food. I wonder what’s holding him up.
I climb off the bed and slide on one of Emilio’s hoodies. It falls down to my mid-thigh, practically a dress, and it’s so damn cozy. There is no way he’s getting this one back. It also has that faint scent of his aftershave. Citrus. I bring the neckline to my nose and inhale as I walk out of the bedroom door.
“Ew, did you just sniff that?” Eliana asks me.
“I did.” I smile. “It smells like Emilio. Want a sniff?” I offer her the fabric.
“No, gross.” She shakes her head. “There is something seriously wrong with you two.”
“It’s called love,” I tell her in a sing-song voice.
“No, it’s called kissing cousins.” This comes from Esterio.
I roll my eyes. Thekissing-cousinsthing is getting real old.
“Don’t be salty. You’ll find some poor, unsuspecting woman to love you one day, Esterio.” I pat his chest as I walk past him.
“Don’t jinx me,” he calls to my back.
I make my way to the kitchen, stopping just outside the doorway that leads into the massive eating area. I can hear Emilio arguing with our fathers.
“We can’t keep her here forever. She needs to go to school,” Emilio says.
He’s talking about me. I complained to him about missing classes and how I’ll probably have to repeat the semester if I don’t go back soon. There is only so much I can do online.
“Wecankeep her here forever. It’s not safe for her to be out there yet,” my dad replies.