Page 47 of Crossing Lines

“Hi,” Evren says quietly.

“Hi,” I say, slumping into the chair. “What movie are we watching?”

“Only,” Zeki says, “the best movie ever:Mission Impossible.”

“Best movie, huh?” I ask. “Maybe if you’re stuck in the nineties. Were you even alive then?”

“Hey now,” Zeki says. “You’re younger than me.”

“Here,” Evren says, passing me a beer. “You’re going to need that to get through it.”

I take the beer and chug it. Evren chuckles and then passes me my favorite snack food—chocolate-covered pretzels.

“How did you know?” I ask, shocked. I haven’t eatenany in front of him, at least not that I’m aware of. I normally don’t buy them, hating to spend that much on something so frivolous.

“I pay attention,” Evren says simply.

“I pay attention, too,” Zeki says. “Like how could I not notice how beautiful you look tonight.”

I chuck a pretzel at him. “Shut up. I haven’t even showered today.”

“Sexy.” Zeki wiggles his eyebrows. “Is that something you regularly forget to do?”

“Yup,” I say, popping a pretzel into my mouth.

Zeki shudders and I grin. He tries to stick his hand in my pretzel bag, and I hide it behind me. “Hell no, get your dirty hands away from my food.”

“You’re no fun.” Zeki pouts.

“No,” I say, “you just can’t handle my kind of fun.”

“Ohhh,” Zeki says, “tell me more.”

Evren stares at me, as if also waiting for the answer and ready to take notes.

“Let’s just say,” I say, “it involves a lot of glitter and some questionable decisions.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Zeki says, “but I think that’s more up Evren’s alley.”

Evren chuckles softly and I swear I feel it skate across my skin as if it were a tangible thing. “Should I be concerned,” Evren says to Zeki, “that you know I prefer glitter?”

Zeki laughs and I glance at Evren, surprised he’splaying into the joke. Evren acts differently when it’s just us versus when his brother is around or if there are people from the team. He grows quieter the more people that are around, and I never thought it was the case, but I guess he’s an introvert? I just thought he was stoic and abrupt when I first met him, but I’m going to have to start rearranging the image I have of him. The pieces aren’t really fitting anymore.

The rest of the movie passes with us all making jokes and drinking. It’s fun, more fun than I thought it’d be.

By the time the movie ends, I’m tipsy and relaxed. It’s been nice to not have to think about anything important.

“I have an announcement.” I stand on my beanbag, or at least try to, to make my grand speech. Zeki claps in encouragement and Evren moves to stand close by. “The movie inspired me.” My legs shake and I giggle. “I want to learn some self-defense moves.” I kick with my right leg, but lose my balance when I forget that I’m still on the beanbag. My world tilts to the side as I fall, but Evren catches me before I can hit the ground.

“Easy,” he murmurs in my ear. “You okay?”

I giggle. Why the hell am I giggling like a schoolgirl? “I’m more than okay.” I clamp my lips shut. Now is not the time to let alcohol talk for me.

“I already offered to train you,” Evren says, frowning at me.

He did, but it’s not like we’ve met up and done anything of the sort. “I didn’t think you were serious.”

“Evren’s always serious.” Zeki laughs, like he just made a joke.

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