Page 81 of You + Me – Against the World

“The good news is that he isn’t the one taking pictures of us. The bad news is that it’s not exactly ethical, a coach and a student…”

“Since when do you care about ethics?”

Vadim shoots me a wink and taps the tip of my nose. I push his hand away before he can do it again.

“Hey, I didn’t do anything!”

“It’s your fault we followed him!”

“And it’s thanks to me that we discovered this crucial piece of information! If you ask me, it explains a lot!”

“Oh yeah, like what?”

“Well, for starters, that Basile can’t stand you being true to yourself and speaking up when he can’t do the same.”

“He could, if he trusted us.”

“Alma, that will come, eventually. It can’t be easy for him.”

“He must feel lonely.”

“Doesn’t look like it right now,” Vadim sniggers.

I look at the two guys again, unable to stop staring. They’re still kissing. And it’s getting more… physical.

“So, that’s why Basile is always hanging out with the basketball players,” I mutter.

“Chances are, he thinks they’re just as stupid as I do.”

“So, you two are going to become best buddies now?”

“Him and me? Never! But you two… Think about it, Alma. A brother and sister, each tangled up in an impossible love story. That would make a great romance movie!”

“Yeah, and it’ll make a great family drama too, complete with tears, screaming, disappointed looks, and long silences: everything we do best in the Lancaster household.”

“Well, your perfect, ordered little life had to get complicated at some point. No reason it should always be the same people taking the hit!” Vadim laughs, then leans over and kisses my neck.

“So, you got your revenge. Happy now?” I whisper.

“No, I would have preferred to break one of Timothy Wallace’s legs. Or both of them.”

“You have to promise me not to say anything about Basile. Not even to Felix. No one can know.”

“With all the secrets you have on me, I wouldn’t risk it.”

“Still, Zach Powell… He must be almost thirty!”

“And half the girls on this campus have a crush on him, right?”

“My brother has good taste.” Finally, I smile. “Let me remind you that the other half of those girls have a crush on you, Arcadi. So maybe don’t get too—”

He grabs me around the waist, and I end up on his lap. Vadim looks straight into my eyes and gives me his most irresistible smirk.

“For once, we’re going to follow your brother’s example.”

His mouth presses against mine, his tongue slips between my lips, and already I hear myself moan, completely wrapped up in him.

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