Page 23 of Lords of Misrule
“Not like that. Girlfriend and all. Just mean it’s empty right now, and no one will go in there. I’m obviously not taking anyone back to fuck in it. I can wake you up when I go to bed. It’ll probably be when the party’s over, and your couch is free again.”
A small smile flickers over her face once more, and she leans her head against my shoulder.
“You’re the one bright spot in this place, you know. You have a good heart. I don’t know why you run around with them.”
“They’ve been good friends to me.”
“I guess if you’re something more than a paycheck to them, it’s possible.”
“You’re more than a paycheck to them.”
She scoffs.
“You are. They’re just fucking pacing around each other trying not to piss the other one off.”
“Meaning what?” She frowns, not following my meaning.
“They both want to fuck you. But the whole blood is thicker than water thing.”
Another frown. “They’re not actual brothers.”
“The saying’s misinterpreted. The original saying was that the blood that was shed was thicker than the water of the womb. So forged bonds are closer than familial ones.” I’m rambling. I have no idea why I’m telling her this like a fucking weirdo. I talk too damn much for my own good, and it’s a particular problem around her.
“Huh.” Her brow unknits, and she takes another sip of her watered-down drink, shaking the ice to get the last of it. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah… And those two have been through a lot together. Don’t let anything come between them.”
“It’s not that serious. I just… had a minor crush on Finn, I guess. You know that person who’s always in your classes, but you never talk with them. But they’re always there, and you have this parasocial thing going because you’re both always occupying the same space and—”
She stops when she sees me raise my eyebrow. Apparently, she’s as weird and rambling as I am. At least when she’s had a little to drink.
“A minor crush, eh?”
“I’m over it.”
“You’re not over it.”
“I don’t think I have a choice.” She looks at Finn again as one of the girls whispers something in his ear, and he gives her a half smile.
I know him well enough to know he’s not interested, and I’ve watched him scan the room enough times to know that he’s either worried about where Rowan is or worried about where she is. More than likely it’s both.
She sighs. “All right. Well if you’re serious, I’m taking you up on that offer.”
“I’m serious. Go get some sleep.” I run my hand over the top of her head, scruffing it like she’s a little kid, and she rolls her eyes.
“You gonna stay out here and watch everyone else get paired up to fuck?” Her eyes flick to the glass bowl Rowan’s got out. The one where everyone’s dumped their names for some chaotic fun.
“Yeah. Might have some amusing results.”
She shakes her head again and runs her fingers over my shoulder, leaving goosebumps in their wake that she thankfully can’t see through my shirt.
“Getting some water and then off to bed. Goodnight, Hudson.”
“Night, Duchess.”
Her eyes narrow, but she smiles before she takes off down the stairs.
Thirteen
