Page 30 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

Her impish grin drags a smile from me and she chuckles softly. “So, you can smile. I was starting to wonder.”

She drops down into the chair and points to the neighboring one.

“Fancy joining me?”

“Sure. Why not?”

I take the invitation and lean forward. My arms resting on my thighs and study her with a closed expression.

“Tell me about yourself.”

“What’s this, an interview?”

She leans back, her slender fingers gripping her phone, gazing at me with a similar blank expression to mine.

“Merely curious.”

“I’m guessing you are aware of how it works.”

“Kind of, but I want to hear your thoughts on that.”

“It sucks.” She grins and as the firelight illuminates her features, my interest in the forbidden grows.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love my life—my family, but it comes with certain restrictions.”

“Only if you’re a female in our world.”

“That’s what sucks.”

She considers me carefully. “You sayourworld, Luca. What do you mean by that?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

I lean back and reach for a packet of cigarettes in my pocket, offering her one.

“I don’t smoke. It’s a dirty habit.”

“I have many of those.” My answer drags a smile from her disapproving lips.

“I’m guessing you do.”

“Do you?” I arch my brow and she cocks her head to one side.

“What do you think?”

“Do you want any?”

She falls silent as I blow smoke rings into the atmosphere and then she responds with a low, “And you could provide those dirty habits I’m guessing.”

“If you like.”

Hitting on my host’s sister is probably not the best way to ingratiate myself into his group, but there is something about Summer Majerio that fascinates me. She is no fool, insanely beautiful and has a free spirit I admire, despite her circumstances.

“My brother would kill you for teaching me dirty habits.”

“I’m not afraid of death if it means I live my best life first.”

I lean forward and whisper huskily, “Some things are worth dying for, Summer.”

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