Ryke almost laughs. “Cobalt, is this your first time bowling?”
“In a public bowling alley, yes.” He begins to delete all of our names. “All the bowling I’ve done has been at someone’s house.”
Ryke’s grin transforms into a glare. “Fucking prick,” he mutters under his breath. Connor just smiles wider like he’s enjoying being called one.
When I finally finish tying my shoes, I sit up and my elbow knocks into Brett’s camera. “Can you give me some room?” I snap, on edge.
Connor and Ryke exchange a long look. Yeah, I get it. I haven’t been too kind to production this past week. On the ride here, Brett wanted the passenger seat so he could film me driving, and I told him that he either rides in the back or I’d throw him out of the car halfway down the road.
All the nice sentiments I had towards the camera crew died on the plane ride home three days ago. Scott played nasty in the Alps. He fucked with Lily again, handing her a Magic Mike DVD like it was an innocent gesture, but his actions had a clear motive. It was the same as him shoving Maker’s Mark into my chest.
And then later, Lily and I caught Ben leaving actual porn in our room.
We didn’t tell anyone. Lily threw the magazines in the trash on her own accord, overcoming a huge hurdle. And although Scott tried to make her relapse, we both considered the trip a success. We skied down the slopes. We laughed. We felt normal, even under the hot gaze of the camera lens.
I try not to let my frustration and anger towards Scott surface. Not when he’s back at the townhouse, editing footage from the trip. Which is fine by me. The less I see his goddamn face, the less I feel like ripping it off.
“Enough,” Rose snaps, physically pushing her way between Daisy and Julian, separating them. “I’m not rushing my sister off to the hospital for oxygen deprivation, thank you.”
Daisy tucks a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, shifting out of Julian’s arms, embarrassed. She claps her hands, acting more lighthearted than I think she truly is in this moment. “So who’s going first?” She plops down on an empty chair.
“Why don’t we let Julian go first?” I say with a half-smile. Just saying his full name out loud makes me grimace. He shouldn’t be allowed to share it with my favorite X-Men: Julian Keller. It’s fucking sacrilege.
“Works for me,” Julian says, standing next to Daisy’s chair. He motions for her to stand up so he can take the seat.
I’m pissed, but Ryke’s narrowed eyes flash hot, unquestionably murderous.
In France, Julian blatantly admitted to us that he was only with Daisy for the sex, but he’s waiting until she turns eighteen, legal. It was both moral and despicable all at once.
Daisy reluctantly rises to her feet and then hesitates, swaying on her heels as she realizes there aren’t any other open chairs left.
Julian ignores her as he speaks. “I hate to break it to all of you, but I’m an amazing bowler.” Awesome.
Ryke clears his throat like he’s trying to swallow an insult. “Excuse me,” he coughs into his hand. “I’m going to get something to drink. Dais, you can take my chair.” He rises, and Daisy walks towards his open seat.
“Thanks,” she whispers.
He nods stiffly, and she slumps down onto the chair.
“Make it a double,” I call out to him.
He gives me a sharp glare and the middle finger before leaving, passing Lily and Rose as they approach our lane.
Rose places the bowling ball in the return machine and holds out her hands like they’ve been infected with H1N1.
“Why didn’t you just buy a brand new ball?” Daisy asks as she swivels in the chair. “You already bought new shoes.”
“She tried,” Lily answers for Rose. “None of them fit her fingers.”
“This is just confirmation of what we already know,” I say, “Rose is a witch. Witch fingers are supposedly very skinny.”
Rose rakes me with a long yellow-green-eyed glare. “I hope you get athlete’s foot.”
Lily’s eyes widen. “Don’t curse him, Rose.”
I break out into a grin. There aren’t many times Lily sides with me over her sister. She likes to stay neutral for the most part. Rose, offended, turns on her sister, hands on her hips and her glare focused.
“I’m. Not. A. Witch,” Rose says slowly and distinctly.
Lily shakes her head and cringes. “Sorry. It slipped.” Funny thing is, I think if Rose were really a witch, Lily would love her even more.