Chasm lets out a sharp whistle and another expletive in his native language.
“Damn, did Tess even need that DNA test? You might suck at learning languages, but you sure have a pretty way with English words.”
I give a small, disbelieving laugh. I’ve always wanted to do something creative with my life, but I never felt like I had the proper outlet. Painting. Pottery. Digital art. Game design. Writing.
“I don’t think so but thank you anyway.”
“Don’t do that,” he says with a scoff, shaking his head in frustration. “Don’t diminish yourself like that.” Chasm turns so that his back is against the arm of the couch, stretching his long legs out just enough that his toes almost touch the side of my thighs. “Look, I’ll show you the wine cellar tomorrow if that’s what you want. But I’ve been in there recently, and I guarantee that Parrish isn’t there.”
I nod and move to stand up, but Chasm surprises me by poking my arm with a tattooed foot and drawing my attention back to him.
“You already know all my secrets anyway,” he says with a small sigh, reaching up to ruffle his hair. “Would it make you happy if I just admitted it?”
“Admitted what?” I ask, my heart leaping into my throat. He gives me a look that very clearly says come on, Little Sister, you’re smarter than that.
“Never mind. Get out of here and go to bed.” He turns onto his side to face the fireplace, pillowing his head on his hands like he’s half ready to fall asleep himself.
“Admit what? That you’re a virgin. Chasm, I’ve suspected that ever since that day at the lake.”
“I already told you: just because I don’t take advantage of drunk girls doesn’t mean I don’t have other shit going on.”
I snort and stand up, turning to face him and putting my hands on my hips.
“Right. With all that free time of yours, when you’re not going to your own tutoring sessions, tutoring me, spending time with Parrish, getting or giving tattoos, being student body president and valedictorian, and rescuing drunk girls, you have plenty of time for earthly conquests.” I wave my hands around dramatically to punctuate my words, and he gives me a sly look with those gorgeous amber eyes of his. “All I’m going to say is, saranghae.” I blow him a kiss as he shoots up into a sitting position on the couch.
“You have no idea what you just said!” he calls out to me, but I do.
At least … I think I do.
Chasm comes skidding into the hallway as I turn to face him. He’s so much taller than me that I have to crane my neck to look up at his face.
“What do you think it means?” he demands, parking his hands on his hips. I’ve never seen his face take on the cast that it has now, an odd mixture of tenderness and anger and … hope?
“Good night?” I query, and he just stares at me like I’ve lost my mind, letting out a long sigh.
“Yeah, sure, it means good night. Nado saranghae,” he replies, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Now.” Chasm braces his forearms on either side of the doorway and leans in close to me, close enough to kiss. You know, if it wouldn’t be a huge fucking betrayal and a slap in the face to Parrish. “Go to bed and stop watching so many goddamn K-dramas. If you’re going to learn Korean, I’ll teach it to you.”
Neither of us seems ready to leave just yet, but we can’t stand here all night and stare at each other. I’m the first to break away, but I swear, I hear Chasm murmur that phrase again as I’m walking away.
If it doesn’t mean good night … then what does it mean?
I decide not to look it up; some things are better left a mystery.
Day twelve of Parrish’s disappearance and we’re no closer to getting him back it seems.
“For every day that you take, I make a mark. Just one mark. But eventually, it’ll be too much for him. Your time limit is entirely dependent on this boy’s strength.”
Getting a long slash down one’s chest every day for twelve days would be a lot for anyone to handle, even someone as young and healthy and strong as Parrish Vanguard. I consider begging Tess to let me stay home today—it’s Friday, after all, and I did have an ‘accident’ this week—but then, school gives me access to Mr. Volli, who’s obviously deeply involved in all of this.
It also gives me access to Lumen and Danyella.
There’s no guarantee that either of them know a damn thing. Lumen’s violence could very well just be the result of the fire I set in the theater, but I don’t believe that. I don’t know why, but I don’t.
