Instantly, Cruz's expression tightens with concern.

Craving comfort, I want to hurl myself into his arms and share everything that's bothering me all at once, but I have to suppress this tide of emotions, I can't give into my instincts, since we're not at home, alone, in the safety of my room. I'm a bomb that's about to explode. Yet, in front of all these people, I have to defuse myself. I have to simmer down and act like I'm no one special to Cruz. That he's no one special to me. 

A pained protest throbs in my heart. The chaos nearly bleeds out. I kill it before the emotions can escape.

He presses quietly, "What's wrong?"

As I struggle to find the right answer for right now, I see, from my peripheral vision, Jonathon approaching us.

Really?

Of all people?

"Dude, you disappeared on us," Jonathon chides Cruz in a good-natured way. "I've been looking for a few more guys from the team for King's Cup. You in, Recker?"

My crap mood dips even lower as I study Suzie's brother with discomfort. Jonathon looks friendly enough. His black hair is spiked up in a preppy sort of way. He has warm brown eyes. He appears outgoing. Laid back. Fun-loving. He doesn't exude an ounce of his sister's hostile attitude.

Is he really a good guy?

I don't know what to make of him yet. First impressions aren't always right. Looks can be deceiving. Once upon a time, I thought Brody was an okay guy as well. Joke's on me.

Cruz briefly side-eyes me before answering, "Sorry, man, I'm kinda busy right—"

"Busy, huh?" Jonathon interrupts with a knowing squint.

He suddenly turns to me, raising his eyebrows with interest, "Hey. Your name's Athena, right?"

"Yeah, I'm Athena."

His gaze darts between Cruz and me. "You two have been hanging out a lot lately. What's going on between you and Cruz?"

My eyes round out. "Um..."

Cruz coughs. "Uh..."

Jonathan's nosiness shouldn't catch me off guard. I was expecting people to pepper me with these kinds of questions, but my brain blanks for a second. I wasn't prepared for Jonathon to bring it up right away.

Luckily, Cruz is somewhat more on top of things. He answers for us, "It's a long story."

Jonathan grins. "I got time. Spill. This tea sounds hot."

"So, um, Athena's aunt recently got engaged to my dad," Cruz explains with a ridiculously calm expression. "They moved in with us a while back."

Oh, gosh.

Cruz told him.

He really told Jonathon.

Jonathon will probably tell the whole soccer team now.

"Holy shit," Jonathon gasps, turning to me for verification. He demands, "Is this for real?"

I gulp slightly.

No going back now.

"Yeah," I mumble. "This is why Cruz started driving me to school and stuff."

"Wait, wait, wait," Jonathan exclaims, half in disbelief, half in fascination, "are you telling me that you guys are gonna be, like, what? Step siblings? Or step cousins?"

"Something like that, yeah," Cruz mutters.

Jonathan chuckles in amusement, shooting me a not-so-innocent leer. "Are you planning to get your ass stuck in Cruz's washer, Athena?"

I scowl. "What?"

In a breathy, high-pitched voice, he squeals, "What are you doing, stepbro?"

"Ew, don't be gross!" I groan with an eye roll.

Glaring daggers at Jonathon, Cruz snaps, "Watch it."

"Chill, Recker," he returns with a laugh. "Can't you take a joke? It's just a fucking meme."

Cruz warns again, "Do I look like I'm laughing?"

"Actually," Jonathon observes, "you look like you wanna punch me in the dick."

"Talk to Athena like that again, and I will punch you in the dick."

"Okay, okay, I got it! Jeez. Somebody's already jumping into overprotective bro mode," Jonathon grumbles in annoyance. "Anyway, congrats, I guess, on your dad's engagement. Looks like you guys are gonna be one big happy fam."

"Thanks," Cruz answers coolly.

The vibe of the party rages happily around us, but the vibe between the three of us feels a bit awkward now. I glance down and shuffle my feet.

Jonathon clears his throat. "Um, I suppose I'll leave you guys to it, then, if you're not interested in King's Cup?"

Cruz dismisses him. "See ya."

Jonathon turns to go. "Later, man. Bye, Athena."

"Wait," I call after him. "Do you know where Suzie went?"

Jonathon's face tightens a little. "You mean, my sister?"

"Uh-huh."

Jonathon demands, "Why do you wanna know?"

Cruz is watching our exchange closely, but he doesn't butt in or anything.

"No reason," I fib with a shrug. "I don't really know anyone here other than Cruz. Just trying to make a new friend, I guess."

He looks surprised. "You wanna be friends with Suzie?"

I hum, "Kinda, yeah."

Surprise also stretches across Cruz's face.

"You sure about that?" Jonathon counters with an incredulous laugh. "Suzie may be my older sister, I love her and all, but I'll be the first to admit that she can be a bit difficult at times."

I scoff at his remark. "Is 'difficult' is the right word for her? Suzie just seems misunderstood to me."

Jonathon sighs. "Whatever. You do you. Don't say I didn't warn you, though. Anyway, Suzie probably took off somewhere."

"You know where she went?"

"Not really. All I know is that she doesn't like to stay home whenever I have friends over."

I probe cautiously, hoping that he might shed some more light on his sister, "How come?"

A troubled gleam passes through Jonathon's brown eyes. "I mean, Suzie was always a little weird. A classic introvert, you know? But she really became a real hermit this past year. She doesn't even talk to our parents or me anymore. Not sure why but other humans have basically become her kryptonite. I'm hoping it's just a phase. Or hormones."

A flurry of questions shoot through my head like bullets.

Just a phase?

I wonder if her hermit-like phase has something to do with Brody?

Dismay and uncertainty settle into me. "So, she's not coming back tonight?"

"Probably not."

I wheedle, "Do you think you could give me her phone number?"

To my side, I notice Cruz's eyes widen considerably at my desperate tone.

Jonathon grimaces. "Sorry, but no, Suzie would bury me if I passed on her number to a stranger. No offense, Athena."

My expression falls. "I see."

Damn, this sucks. But I'm lowkey happy that Jonathon, at least, has the sense to look out for Suzie in this way. To protect his sister from randos at a party, like me, angling for her digits.

My mind races to find another solution. If I can't talk to Suzie tonight, or hit her up later on the phone, then maybe Jonathon is actually the next best choice for me to gather some intel. For now. The Chu siblings don't seem to have the best relationship, but, at the end of the day, they're still siblings, so Jonathon must have a few scraps of insider info about Suzie and Brody.

Right?

An obsessive doggedness pushes me to keep picking at Jonathon's brain about Suzie and Brody. To make another attempt to pry Suzie's number from him.

Jonathon tries to dip on us again, "Guess I'll see you guys around. Enjoy the party."

Oh, hell, no.

He's not getting away from me that easily!

Abruptly, I blurt out, "You know what, Jonathon? I'm suddenly in the mood for some King's Cup!"

Both Jonathon and Cruz exclaim, "Really?"

"Yeah," I reply.

Cruz stares at me like I'm crazy. "I thought you were about to tell me something?"

"We can talk later," I insist. "It's not that important."

Lies.

Doubt crosses his face. "You sure?"

"Uh-huh." I offer him a pair of pleading puppy dog eyes. "Can we go play? Please? I think it might be fun."

Cruz looks perplexed as hell, but he gives in, "I mean, sure, if that's what you wanna do."

Anxiously, I grip the bottle in my hand. Lately, I only drink from new, unopened bottles of water when I'm out and about. Drinking games no longer sound fun to me. In fact, King's Cup sounds downright horrible. My pulse races uneasily. The last thing I want is to get drunk tonight. I'm still traumatized by my last cup of punch from Sam's party.

Before I lose my nerve, I rush to say, "Yep."

Because getting Jonathon tipsy will be the fastest way to get him to open up.

Cruz's gaze flits towards me. He looks pretty worried. I know he's trying to figure out what the hell I'm getting up to right now. Yet, like the best, most loyal boyfriend ever, Cruz blindly supports my crazy plans even while he remains clueless about them.

He sighs and says, "I won't drink, then. I don't wanna be hungover for the game tomorrow, and I should stay sober for the drive home."

My heart flutters in gratitude. I feel better now about joining this game of King's Cup, knowing that Cruz will there. Sober. That he'll have my back if I lose control over the situation. Like last time.

At this point, Jonathon appears pretty done with me. Can't say I blame him. I'm 100% acting like a weirdo from his POV.

But he's polite enough to say, "Uh, okay, that's cool. I guess. Sounds like you wanna play, Athena?"

I flash him a sheepish smile and nod.

He arches an eyebrow at Cruz. "And you just wanna sit on the sidelines and watch the rest of us act like idiots, right, Recker?"

Without shame, my guy confirms, "Right."

Jonathon mutters, "Come with me, then. The cards and drinks are set up in the living room."