Thrive (Addicted, #4)(29)

Ryke drinks a swig of water and wipes his mouth with his arm. “At least we have something in common then.”

Lo lets out a laugh, his scowl completely vanished. He’s happy that Ryke didn’t convince him of things he knows are true. Lo spent his childhood running away from people. Ryke competed in track and field. I don’t think either of them believes that Lo will gain the strength to beat his brother in a race.

I do though.

Lo has the will to speed right past the person who lifted him to his feet. I think, sometimes, we have more faith in each other than we do in ourselves.

Daisy shifts on the couch for the third or fourth time, restless. She starts braiding the fringe of a purple throw blanket. “Are you spending the night too?” she asks Ryke.

“If it’s okay with my brother.” Ryke turns his head towards Lo. “I can drive back to Philly if it’s not.”

“It’s almost midnight, so you should stay,” Lo says. “We can crack open a bottle of champagne, toast to the New Year, then switch to whiskey.” He tops it off with that now literally famous dry smile. Celebrity Crush even ranked his bitter half-smiles from best to worst. My favorite was the one during Halloween (ranked only #6). I thought he’d want to stay at home for his twenty-second birthday, especially since last year’s Halloween was so apocalyptic, but he drove everyone to a haunted house in northern Pennsylvania.

He was a pirate.

A sarcastic pirate.

A girl dressed as Pippi Longstocking took the picture of his half-smile when he wasn’t looking and posted it to Instagram. I almost wish I could thank her.

It’s one of my favorite photos of him—maybe also because he’s carrying me on his back. I was a mouse. I thought it’d be ironic since I’ve been so quiet, but Ryke thought I was a rat so…maybe it wasn’t the best costume choice.

“That’s fucking hilarious,” Ryke says to Lo, unamused.

“Haven’t you heard? I haven’t had a sip of alcohol since rehab,” Lo says. “I’m cured.” I don’t think he even believes that.

“And Connor isn’t a genius. Lily’s not a sex addict. Daisy’s not a supermodel. And I have fucking fantastic college buddies who ask me about anything other than three-ways.”

“I don’t know what world you’re living in,” Lo banters, “but that one sounds fucking weird.”

Ryke laughs, his eyes lightening.

“You can stay here as long as you want,” Lo professes, his voice filled with sincerity.

“Just the night,” Ryke says. “I love you and Lily, but I just can’t be around Connor for that long.”

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to withstand Rose for long either, but it’s going on ten months, and she hasn’t even killed me yet.” His arms fall to my legs, lifting me higher on his lap so our chests touch. It just happened out of the blue.

Flirting should be full of fearless advances like this.

Somewhere in our timeline together, fear has snuck in and invaded our peace. Hopefully that’ll change for good.

“Why don’t you like Connor?” Daisy asks Ryke, tearing my attention away from Loren Hale.

“He’s just annoying.”

I think we all know there’s more to the story.

“He’s cool,” Lo says easily. “I’m annoying, and somehow you like me more?”

“You’re not that fucking annoying.” He runs his hand through his hair, not explaining why Connor gets on his nerves so much.

“Is that it?” Lo wonders with pinched brows.

Ryke shakes his head. It takes him a moment to gather his thoughts. Then he says, “You let everyone see every part of you, and Connor offers a very small portion of himself. I don’t like watching you stand vulnerable in front of someone who wears more armor than you can ever have. It’s not fair, and it’s a fucking shitty thing for Connor to do to you.”

Lo lets his words sink in, and my stomach flips at the idea that Connor may hurt Lo. I never even considered it. Not once.

“I don’t mind it as much as you,” Lo tells his brother, though his forehead creases like Ryke has planted a seed. He’s never thought of it like that before. Neither have I.

“And I don’t fucking understand why that is.”

“You said that he wears armor, and I’m what—naked? I don’t think he’ll turn around and stab me…so I’m happy with our friendship.” Lo pauses and rubs his lips in contemplation, and he leaves it at that.

With the silence, I steal the remote from Lo and increase the volume of the New Year’s broadcast. “We’re here in Times Square…” the host announces cheerfully.

“Hey,” Ryke says, pelting popcorn at Daisy. A kernel hits her square in the eyeball. He doesn’t apologize. “What are you doing at your sister’s house?”

Daisy picks the popcorn out of her hair and crosses her legs. “I just decided to crash here.”

“It’s more than that,” Lo says, exchanging a concerned look with Ryke. As someone who’s been on the receiving end of their united brotherly force, it’s very hard not to succumb to their demands.

Daisy has no chance.

And while I should be all Girl Power, Team Calloway—I care about my sister too much to blindly side with her. I just hope that she won’t use the only ammunition she has against us. Lo and I had sex in the kitchen. That’s definitely something she can fling at Ryke to take the heat off her situation.