Chapter 13

I sat at the table with my boyfriend, eating the dinner I had prepared for us. The house was empty, apart from the two of us. It was much smaller and more modest than Felix's place—my family wasn't as wealthy as his—but we always had enough. My parents often took overtime when they could, saving for vacations or for a rainy day. Life could change in an instant, so they believed in always being prepared for the worst.

I lifted my eyes from my plate, feeling the weight of his gaze. Felix was resting his cheek on his hand, staring at me like I was a painting come to life.

"Why aren't you eating? Don't you like the dinner I made?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.

He smiled at me from the corner of his mouth."Everything's delicious. I just like looking at you. The way you eat is… strangely charming."

I swallowed my food, cheeks flushing at his words. We'd been together for a while now, yet he still had the power to make me blush like it was our first date.

"What do you think is going on between Eve and Mike?" I asked, needing a quick change of subject. "They've been getting awfully close lately." I took another bite to mask my curiosity.

"I don't want to talk about them," he replied. "I want to talk about us."

Us?My heart jumped slightly. What did he mean? Was something wrong?

"What do you mean?" I asked, my tone shifting ever so slightly with concern. He caught it instantly and offered me a reassuring smile.

"There's a school trip coming up soon. All year groups can join. I want us to go together."

Relief flooded me. For a second, I had feared something more serious. Something heavier. I really needed to stop spiraling so quickly.

"I'd love that," I said with a soft smile. "But I'll have to talk to my parents first."

He nodded and reached for my hand where it rested on the tabletop. The look he gave me was so full of affection that I couldn't help but wonder how I'd ever think he might grow tired of me.

And yet… that fear lingered. The thought that one day I might annoy him, bore him, or just stop being enough. There were so many girls at school who would kill to take my place. What if one of them finally managed to turn his head?

Each day, I fell for him a little more—and I couldn't imagine losing him.

"I'll clean up, then we can sit in the living room," I said, gathering the plates. Felix stood and helped me carry them to the sink. I turned off the tap, soaked the sponge in dish soap, and began scrubbing when I felt him behind me.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"I like you, Selena," he murmured, his voice soft and warm enough to send a shiver down my spine.

Did that mean I could finally stop worrying? That I wouldn't lose him so easily?

I turned in his embrace, leaning back against the kitchen cabinet. His eyes were on mine, deep and unguarded.

"I like you too, Felix," I whispered.

He cradled my face in his hands and leaned in, kissing me gently. That simple sentence he had spoken made my entire body hum. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and he kissed me more boldly, sensing that I was melting into him.

In that moment, I didn't feel like myself anymore. I didn't care about the unwashed dishes. I jumped into his arms, wrapped my legs around his waist, and let the feeling take over.

We made it to the living room. He laid me gently on the couch and hovered above me, his eyes locked onto mine. He kissed my forehead, my nose, my cheeks—and finally my lips.

"You're my drug, Selena," he whispered, fingers brushing through my hair. "Every day I get more addicted to you. I love you madly."

Maybe I should have been startled by how intense those words were—but I wasn't. I was happy. Because in his eyes, I could see the truth of what he felt. No one was going to take him away from me.

This time, I kissed him first. I pulled him close, craving more. My body buzzed with excitement, hormones bubbling under my skin. Felix was everything to me, and tonight… I was ready to go further.

I slid my hand beneath his shirt—but then he pulled back slightly and shook his head.

"We'll wait until you're really ready," he whispered, brushing a kiss to my forehead. "I never want to hurt you."

In that moment, I realized just how lucky I was. I had a boyfriend who cared more about me than about his own desires.

He lay beside me, wrapping himself around me tightly, as if we had all the time in the world.

"Let's lie like this for a while," he murmured.

"I have to wash the dishes," I said with a soft laugh.

"Take it easy," he replied, eyes closed, a peaceful smile on his lips. "We still have plenty of time before your parents come back. Just let me be close to you for an hour. I don't need anything else."

And honestly?I didn't need anything else, either.His presence felt like something out of a fairytale—a quiet, perfect moment that wrapped itself around my heart like a warm blanket.

I loved everything about it. Everything about him.He was perfect. And supposedly, perfection didn't exist.

Well… maybe it didn't.But he came awfully close.

*

I sat on the bench, waiting for the next lesson. My cheek rested on my hand as I watched my best friend shamelessly plop herself onto Sebastian's lap. The poor guy looked like he was on the verge of tears from sheer helplessness.

"Give me a break, you perverted woman," he groaned, clearly fed up with Eve, who—as usual—had no idea when to stop.

"I'll give you peace of mind if you promise to go on the school trip."

"No way. Not if you're going. You'll turn that trip into hell."

"Are you kidding me? A trip aside, a beautiful woman is paradise. I'll make you fly straight to heaven."

I felt like smacking my forehead with my palm. I couldn't even blame the kid in our class who faked illness to avoid coming to school. If Eve was after you, you had every right to run.

Eve was the most perverted and shameless girl in school. And just so happened to be my best friend.

Funny how life works.

"You're heavy. My legs are suffering. Get off me," Sebastian complained, but she wasn't listening.

"I'm not coming down until you promise to go."

"Okay, okay, I promise!" he shouted, desperate to get her off. "Now will you leave me alone?"

Eve grinned triumphantly.

"Remember, if you're lying and don't go, I'll actually turn your life into hell," she warned, wagging a finger in front of his face. "I'll eat you against your will. Lock you in a basement and devour you whole."

The class burst into quiet laughter. Everyone was used to her antics by now.

"Don't ignore her, Sebastian," I added. Only then did he look truly scared. "She really might kidnap you."

"If I go missing, everyone here can be a witness!" he cried, half-panicked.

"Kitten," she cooed, stroking his chin, "by the time they find you, I'll have already devoured you."

Finally, she got off his lap and went back to her seat. I shook my head at her, trying to signal she'd gone too far—again.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you won't win him over like this?"

"I'm like a wild animal," she replied without missing a beat. "I like to capture my prey by force. That sheep is mine, and there's no escape."

Sometimes, I really thought she was getting more unhinged with age.

"So, what did you and Mike do yesterday? I don't believe for a second you just sat in McDonald's."

A mysterious smile appeared on her face.

"Oh, we were here and there. Your brother-in-law opened up to me. Told me about a girl he likes but can't do anything about because she's completely unattainable."

"Mike likes a girl?" I blinked. "Interesting. Felix probably knows who it is."

"Nope. Nobody does—except me. Not even Felix," she said quickly. "So don't mention it to him. It's a secret."

"A secret? That's weird. I thought he told Felix everything." I couldn't hide my surprise. Mike confided in Eve, but not his best friend? "What kind of girl would he have to keep a secret? Wait… maybe it's a guy."

"Oh, stop it. You're getting carried away," Eve muttered.

"Is it you? Is that why he told you?" I leaned closer, trying to read her face.

She burst into laughter.

"Are you insane? I'm a total catch—tons of guys want me—but not him. I told you, Mike's my soulmate, but there's zero sexual attraction."

I furrowed my brows, now even more curious.

"So who is it?"

"I'm not telling you, because you'll go blab to Felix, and then he'll definitely kill him."

"Then why bring it up at all?" I snapped.

"Because you asked!" she huffed. "Focus on your own guy and stop poking into other people's sex lives." She opened her notebook, but I didn't take my eyes off her.

"You could always tell me about yours," she added with a smirk. "What exactly did you and Felix do last night?"

I stared at her, offended.

"You're too immature to hear about it," I snapped. "Worry about your own sex life."

"Being with that Australian of yours has really sharpened your claws. One day you'll scratch me with them."

I grabbed her head and tousled her hair playfully just as the teacher walked into the classroom. Eve looked like she'd walked through a wind tunnel.

"Wait until class ends. Your boyfriend won't recognize you," I teased.

"At least I have a boyfriend," I said, sticking my tongue out. She looked like she was about to launch an attack, but the teacher's presence held her back.

"Don't worry," I added with a grin. "I still love you."

She flipped me off with a smirk.

That's our sisterly love.