Red Thorns (Thorns Duet 1)

“Thanks,” I say awkwardly, lowering my head as I make my way to the door.

“Nao-chan?” she calls after me in an affectionate tone that she hasn’t used since I was young.

I stare at her over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“Come home early. I need to tell you something.”

I pause at the vulnerability in her voice and the way she grabs the cigarette pack and fingers it, but then I whisper, “Okay.”

I’ve been wanting her to talk to me for a long time, but why do I have a feeling that this might not be what I bargained for?

At all.

29

Naomi

I’m still thinking about the weird encounter with those two men during my morning classes.

It’s impossible not to, considering all the facts that line up.

They knew Mom’s old name.

They’re Japanese.

They drive a black van.

Oh, and one of them was so pleased to meet me that he called me a different name altogether.

I hope I’m just being paranoid and that whatever Mom will tell me doesn’t have anything to do with them.

The moment I dismiss any thoughts of them, they rush back in. Especially Ren.

There’s something about Ren.

But what?

“Nao! Are you listening?” Lucy waves a hand in front of my face.

“Oh, sorry.” I grimace as I shove my books into my bag after the professor leaves. I’m ready to get to lunch and lose myself in Sebastian. “What did you say?”

Lucy rolls her eyes. “I was asking if you were too busy boning to answer my text.”

“Luce!” I cast a glance at our surroundings before I murmur, “Who even says boning anymore?”

“I do. Besides, everyone knows you and Sebastian are…a thing.”

“We’re not a thing.”

“What are you then?”

I weigh my words as we step out of the lecture hall. Really, what are we? Mom called him my boyfriend and Lucy implied we’re a thing. Is that what we are? A couple?

We might not have started under traditional circumstances, but we started. We’re…there. Or here, or whatever.

Our relationship is no longer only sexual. Maybe it has never been only sexual from the beginning.

“We’re just us,” I tell Lucy with a grin.