Eden smirks. “Are you competitive with him or something?”
“What if I say that I am?”
“Then that makes you not only shallow but also insecure.”
His smile reaches his eyes as they stare at each other for several seconds. I know Eden well enough to see that she’s intrigued by him.
“Now I know you're my type,” Nero finally says.
It’s hard to look away from raw attraction on display, but I’m bearing more of the brunt of Hercules’s weight. Also, I’m having my own issues with animal magnetism.
I turn to Hercules to see what’s going on with him, and our eyes meet. My heart flutters as warmth spreads across my face.
“You're feisty. Beautiful and feisty. Will you marry me?” Nero says.
Eden laughs, and the sound seems to originate from her belly. Nero has worn down her defenses.
“Do I know you?” Hercules asks.
My lips part. I’m like a deer trapped in headlights. What if I tell him the truth? Then what? My gut says I shouldn’t reveal my true identity. Nothing has changed in terms of our families not liking each other. It’s also pretty exciting learning what it would be like to be new to Hercules Valentine. The night is young, even if he looks like he just might pass out sooner rather than later.
“I’ve been wondering the same thing,” Nero says.
I rip my focus off Hercules and set it on Nero. Will he be the one to figure out I’m the daughter of Xander and Heartly Grove?
“Tabs gets that a lot,” Eden says, flashing her white-toothed grin. “Plus, she never leaves the dorm, so I’m pretty sure you’ve never seen her.”
Suddenly, Nero claps his hands. “Herc, sit up. You’re going to crush Tabs, dude.”
It’s difficult to hear him refer to me by my fake name.
Eden grimaces at Hercules. “Don’t you think you should take him home?”
Nero flops a hand nonchalantly. “Nah, he’s fine.”
Her frown intensifies. “But he’s really smashed.”
“Yeah, well, he’s going to be this way for a while. So pay him no mind.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Sure it does. And I’d rather learn more about you than talk about Herc.” He refocuses his attention solely on Eden. “Where are you from?”
Eden studies Hercules and then raises her eyebrows at me. “Delaware,” she faintly says. She told him the truth.
“You mentioned the dorm. Are you in college?”
I turn to see what Hercules has just done to make Eden narrow her left eye even more.
“Yeah,” she whispers.
Hercules’s eyes are closed.
“Which one?” Nero asks.
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but you’re such a crappy friend, Nero.”
Nero points a hand at himself. “Me? I’m the best friend this guy has.”
