And yet, when would I get this chance again? When would I ever get flowers? When would someone look at me with this kind of fervor? I decided to take the plunge.

“Sure,” I said. “Let’s go out again.”

CHAPTER 8

GOING OUT AGAIN didn’t really happen until the weekend. Brayden and I were both over-achieving enough to manage weeknight outings and still finish homework—but neither of us liked to do it if we could avoid it. Besides, my weeknights usually had some other conflict with the gang, be it a feeding or the experiments. Eddie had given his blood this week, and I’d made a point to not be around when it happened, lest Sonya try to pitch to me again.

Brayden had wanted to go out Saturday, but that was the day I’d promised to drive Adrian to San Diego. Brayden compromised on breakfast, catching me before I hit the road, and we went out to a restaurant adjacent to one of Palm Springs’ many lush golf resorts. Although I had long since offered to pull my share, Brayden continued picking up the bills and doing all the driving. As he pulled up in front of my dorm to drop me off afterward, I saw a surprising and not entirely welcome sight awaiting me: Adrian sitting outside on a bench, looking bored.

“Oh geez,” I said.

“What?” asked Brayden.

“That’s my brother.” I knew there was no avoiding this. The inevitable had happened. Adrian would probably cling to Brayden’s bumper until he got an introduction. “Come on, you can meet him.”

Brayden left the car idling and stepped out, casting an anxious glance at the NO PARKING sign. Adrian jumped up from his seat, a look of supreme satisfaction on his face.

“Wasn’t I supposed to pick you up?” I asked.

“Sonya had some errands to run and offered to drop me here while she was out,” he explained. “Figured we’d save you some trouble.” Adrian had known what I was doing this morning, so I wasn’t entirely sure his motives had been all that selfless.

“This is Brayden,” I told him. “Brayden, Adrian.”

Adrian shook his hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.” I didn’t doubt that but wondered who exactly he’d heard it from.

Brayden gave a friendly smile back. “I’ve actually never heard of you. I didn’t even know Sydney had another brother.”

“You never mentioned me?” Adrian shot me a look of mock hurt.

“It never came up,” I said.

“You’re still in high school, right?” asked Adrian. He nodded toward the Mustang. “You must have a side job to make those car payments, though. Unless you’re one of those slackers who just tries to get money off of their parents.”

Brayden looked indignant. “Of course not. I work almost every day at a coffee shop.”

“A coffee shop,” repeated Adrian, managing to convey a million shades of disapproval in his tone. “I see.” He glanced over at me. “I suppose it could be worse.”