Chapter Three

Nora's P.O.V

I told him one night, after he found the bruises and didn’t let it go. Made me promise I wouldn’t keep secrets like that from him again.

So yeah—he knew I could handle myself.

I padded downstairs, the wood cool under my bare feet, the sound of voices pulling me toward the kitchen.

Nick and our parents. Laughing about something.

He didn’t hear me coming.

Amateur.

I slipped behind him, fast and silent, then locked my arm around his neck in a headlock, yanking him back with a grin.

“Still think I’m the little sister?” I growled into his ear.

He choked out a laugh, trying to pry my arm off. “Okay—okay—truce!”

“Say it.”

“Alright! You’re terrifying!”

Our parents barely reacted—Dad just shook his head with a small smile, Mom stirring something on the stove like this was routine.

“Kids, it’s graduation day,” she said, like I didn’t have my twin brother in a chokehold. “Try not to kill each other before the bonfire.”

I let Nick go with a shove. He staggered, coughing dramatically.

“I was relaxed before you showed up,” he said, smoothing his hair.

I leaned against the counter, smirking. “Then I guess I’m just keeping you sharp.”

His eyes narrowed, but he was grinning too. “You’re lucky Leo’s driving. Otherwise, I’d leave you here.”

I rolled my eyes, heart skipping just once at the sound of his name.

A horn cut through the kitchen—Leo.

Nick shoved me like we were five again. “Shotgun!” he yelled, already sprinting for the door.

“Oh hell no.”

I kicked on my shoes, the rubber slapping against my heels, and took off after him.

Down the hallway, past the stairs, full sprint.

“Outta the way!” he shouted over his shoulder, laughing like this was life or death.

It kind of was.

I launched forward, grabbed the back of his shirt just as he reached the door, yanked.

He stumbled, slammed a hand against the frame to catch himself, and whipped around. “You’re insane!”

I grinned, breathless. “You started it.”

The front door swung open.

And there he was.

Leo.

Without thinking, I launched myself onto Nick’s back, arms around his neck in another chokehold.

He yelped, stumbling forward. “What the hell, Nora!”

I laughed, holding tight as he flailed, trying not to drop me or crash into the doorframe. “You thought you were getting shotgun.”

Leo stood there, watching the chaos unfold.

Nick dropped to his knees with me still hanging off him, groaning dramatically. He slapped at my arm twice. “Alright, alright—you win!”

I let him go, stepping back with a grin as he gasped for breath on the floor.

“I told you not to fuck with me, Nick.”

He coughed, still kneeling, eyes wide like I’d just knocked the wind out of him. “Noted. Jesus.”

Leo looked at us—no, looked at me. Eyes narrowed, lips twitching like he wasn’t sure if he should laugh or be concerned.

Nick huffed from the floor. “Never get on her bad side.”

I smiled, slow and satisfied. “He knows better now.”

Leo tilted his head, eyes dragging down and back up like he was reassessing everything. “How can someone that tiny take you down, Nick? She’s half your size.”

Nick pushed to his feet, rubbing the back of his neck, then shot Leo a look. “You have no idea.”

Leo glanced at me again, this time longer.

Something shifted in his expression.

I smiled. “Yeah… you’ve got no idea.”

Leo didn’t let it go. His eyes narrowed slightly, the smirk fading into something more curious. “What don’t I know?”

Nick glanced at him, then at me—hesitating.

The air shifted. Just a little.

Like he wasn’t sure if he should say it.

I crossed my arms, still grinning. “Tell him, Nick.”

Nick let out a breath, shaking his head. “She’s been boxing for years. Private trainer. She could drop you flat if she wanted.”

Leo looked back at me. Slower this time. Something unreadable flickering behind those eyes.

“…Seriously?”

I just shrugged. “Told you. You had no idea.”

I opened the passenger door to his beast of a ride—matte black, all muscle, low growl still humming from the engine. It looked like it could eat lesser cars for breakfast. It fit him.

I climbed in, the leather warm against my skin.

And then his scent hit me.

Something dark and woodsy, with a hint of smoke. It wrapped around me before the door even shut.

Like him. Subtle at first. Then everywhere.

I settled into the seat, heart thudding a little too fast.

Nick climbed in behind me, still grumbling under his breath, and slammed the back door shut.

Leo slid into the driver’s seat. One hand on the wheel, the other pushing his hair back from his eyes.

He didn’t look at me—

Not right away.

But I felt it.

The shift in the air. The awareness. The weight of him sitting just inches away.

I pulled out my phone, thumb scrolling through the endless stream of posts.

And of course—my entire feed was already lit up.

The bonfire.

Flames, red cups, people grinding against truck beds and dirt, music blaring in every story.

Then I saw her.

Amelia.

In her bra and barely-there short shorts, dancing barefoot on top of someone’s car like she was the damn party. Drink in one hand, hair wild, mouth open mid-laugh.

I couldn’t help it.

“Omg,” I laughed, holding up my phone so Nick could see. “Look at this maniac.”

He leaned forward, groaned. “Of course she’s already drunk. We haven’t even left the driveway.”

I laughed, still watching the video. “She looks like she’s having the time of her life.”

Nick groaned again from the back seat. “She’s going to break her neck before midnight.”

I turned in my seat, facing Nick with a slow, teasing smile.

“Sounds like someone cares,” I said, voice light but loaded.

Nick rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t get stuck. “Don’t start.”

I raised an eyebrow. “She is your type.”

He scoffed. “No, she’s chaos wrapped in glitter.”

“Exactly,” I said, leaning back with a grin. “Your favorite.”

Leo chuckled under his breath, hands steady on the wheel.

Nick muttered something that sounded suspiciously like shut up, and I knew I’d hit a nerve.

“If you want her, Nick just go up to her and tell her. I’m sure she feels the same.”

His jaw tightened.

Leo glanced at him through the mirror, smirking. “She’s bold. She’d respect it.”

Nick ran a hand through his hair, muttering, “Yeah, until she laughs in my face.”

I snorted. “Amelia? Laugh at you? Please. She’d probably drag you into the woods and make out with you before you finished your sentence.”

Nick didn’t answer. But his ears were red.

Nick tried flipping it on me, voice full of smug. “Well, who do you like? Maybe you should tell them.”

I froze.

Just for a second.

Like my lungs forgot what they were supposed to do.