Owen smiles and hugs me once more rapidly. “Show me proper, please.”

I push him off me. “Go away. You’re smothering me.”

My brother leaves, and I drop my baggage into the bed room that’s mine. I rapidly soar within the bathe to wash my physique clear of something disgusting I might have are available in contact with on the airport. After getting dressed, I flop fortunately onto my mattress. It feels unbelievable in comparison with sleeping on the flight again from France.I textual content Vera rapidly and let her know she will come to the house each time.

I needs to be utilizing this time to unpack, however I’m exhausted. I actually hope Vera is okay with the film evening I instructed Owen we’d be having. I want a while to settle after the hecticness of the final week.

You additionally want to return to phrases with dwelling subsequent to Bash, my mind jogs my memory.

A part of me desires to understand how he feels about me dwelling right here. Truly, I don’t must surprise. Sebastian in all probability hates it as a result of he hates me. Possibly after having over a yr to chill off, he isn’t as mad at me as once I left?

I push the wishful thought out of my head. Sebastian positively hates me, but it surely’d be good if he didn’t. I’ll must show that I’m totally different in a great way now in comparison with the irrational, impulsive teenager I used to be earlier than I left. I’m conscious there’s not a shot in hell that we might return to how issues may need been earlier than our struggle, however I’d prefer to not be strolling on eggshells within the house I’m dwelling in.

I can solely hope for one of the best and put together for the worst.

CHAPTER TWO

Thalia

A KNOCK ON the entrance door has me rolling reluctantly off the bed. Film evening, pizza, and my childhood greatest pal, whom I haven’t seen in individual in a yr and a half, are all good causes to reply the door.

Would Vera thoughts if I took a nap throughout our film evening? It’s not like I’m leaving once more anytime quickly, so we’ll have loads of time to catch up.

“Vera, I’m—” I freeze, stunned by the three individuals standing in my doorway.

“Thalia!” Vera says, leaping ahead to throw her arms round me earlier than I can ask what’s occurring. “I missed you a lot!”

I believed it was solely Vera coming over? Owen didn’t point out Stacey and Jeremy, however I assume he did say I might have pals over. Possibly this was a deliberate shock?

“I missed you too.” I squeeze her again, getting over my preliminary shock. “I don’t know if Owen gave me sufficient cash to get pizza for all of us,” I joke, smiling at my pals. I’m glad to see them; I simply wasn’t anticipating them to be standing there.

“No worries. I introduced beer for my liquid eating regimen.” Jeremy grins broadly, and now I’m confused.

“Ignore him.” Stacey rolls her eyes at her boyfriend, stepping ahead to hug me briefly. “I’m glad you’re again.”

“Me too.” I snigger shortly, my cheeks flushing as I look down on the sweatpants and crop prime I’m carrying. It appeared like a good suggestion to put on after my bathe, however now I’m wishing I’d picked one thing totally different. “So are you prepared for a film evening? Should you drink sufficient of your beer, you would possibly really take pleasure in a rom-com, Jeremy,” I tease, letting them into the house.

“I had one thing a bit of totally different in thoughts for tonight,” Vera says, bumping me along with her hip.

“What?” I ask, laughing nervously.

“Vera promised there’d be a legendary rager tonight. I already unfold the phrase to the swim and basketball groups. Landon stated everybody will probably be right here in about an hour. The group chats are blowing up,” he says, pulling his cellphone out of his pocket to point out me. Vera? She promised Jeremy there can be a celebration?

No, this isn’t a good suggestion. Owen and Bash are going to kill me. “Guys, I’m undecided—” I begin to say, however Stacey slides onto one of many bar stools, interrupting me.

“A bunch of my pals on the sorority home are coming. I’ll inform them to carry booze,” she says, and my coronary heart stops in my chest. I do know that the model of myself earlier than I went to Paris can be all about this, but it surely’s my first day again. I’m jet lagged, and this isn’t what I used to be anticipating.

I look to Vera for assist, however she is leaning in opposition to the counter. Her lengthy midnight hair is sort of to her waist, for much longer than the final time I noticed her. My hair hangs to the center of my again, and I believed it was lengthy. I couldn’t think about having as a lot hair as Vera. “I couldn’t consider it when Owen instructed me that you just had been going to reside with him and Sebastian,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Yeah,” I agree quietly, attempting to wrap my head across the final 5 minutes. “Owen failed to say that Sebastian additionally lived right here in order that was enjoyable to seek out out on the airport.”

Stacey tilts her head to the aspect. “You didn’t know they lived collectively?”

I understand how silly it sounds now. I by no means put the items collectively that dwelling with Owen meant dwelling with Sebastian. “Clearly I do know they reside collectively, however I didn’t join the dots earlier than at this time that dwelling with my brother would additionally embody dwelling with Bash. In my protection, shifting from one continent to a different is tough.”

“Will you lastly inform us what that struggle at your occasion earlier than you left was about? Bash clammed up anytime somebody talked about you, and never understanding is killing me and Owen.”

Effectively, I assume that solutions my query earlier; Sebastian by no means instructed Owen what occurred.

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