Chapter 41

Silvia Alpha Sherman took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his golden hair, eyes avoiding mine. "It's not a big deal," he finally said. "You might actually laugh when I tell you the real reason." I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. The vulnerability he'd just shown telling me about his mother made this sudden deflection seem odd. "If it's not a big deal," I said softly but firmly, "then you should have no problem telling me." He gave a small, reluctant smile, and I could sense something shifting in him—like watching a wall slowly crumble. "Tell me." I pressed gently. "Because growing up, every single time I admitted to liking something—" his jaw tightened "—Zack would somehow find out, and then he'd take it." My eyes widened slightly. This wasn't what I expected. "My favorite shoes, my car, even my shirts." His brow furrowed at the memories. "Once I mentioned liking a particular water bottle, and the next day, it was gone from my room, in Zack's backpack." I'd expected s