An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 17

" I agree."

My answer surprised Titus because his eyes flickered over to mine.

" I'm tired of hiding, I've lost weeks of wages and I don't know if I can support my family like this any longer." I said.

" Okay." Titus's voice is almost a whisper and for the first time, there's nothing flirtatious in his eyes.

Why do I miss it? Ever since Dante came, it was like I didn't exist in his eyes. I casted away the thoughts.

With that the door slammed for the final time and Jack just stared.

" Okay, if you guys are going to be coming around just for medical attention. You need to pay Sia because medical supplies aren't cheap."

Dante's eyes flicked to me in curiosity.

" Jack. He's twenty." I said.

" Well hello." Dante purred, he attempted to sit up but winched and touched his side.

Jack doesn't return the sediment because he marched over to me and attempted to take me away, probably to talk to me about the abundance of sweetliars in our home.

I jerk away from his touch, I had enough of the Krill brothers dragging me around.

Surprisingly, Dante looked even more amused.
He eyed me carefully, " I'm sorry. I didn't know that was your boyfriend."

I could only stare at Dante, irritation pricked my nerves.

" He's not." My voice came out sharp and I don't know why I'm so irritated at him.

" Oh then it must be that kid that you left with a few minutes ago." His grin grew larger.

Why was he trying to provoke me?

" No, why are you so interested in my life?"

" I'm just making conversation, there's no need to get defensive. And if you're thinking it's because I'm interested in you, I'm not. You're really not my type."

Now I really wished I had a hose in my hand, maybe hosing him down would spray some sense into his head. I genuinely considered it.

I exhaled sharply, " Trust me, I wasn't thinking about anything like that."

A hose turned to the highest function would be very nice.

**

Titus and Dante left a little while later, Dante pressed against him as they wobbled outside.

Titus didn't even turn to say goodbye.

" Sia we need carrot chunks not paste." Jack exclaimed, stopping me before I could continue my violent assault on the rest of the vegetables.

" Why are you tense? Did Titus not give you enough attention?" He took the knife from me and cleanly diced the remaining vegetables.

I stepped aside, it was a friendly jab but somehow it stung more than it should have.

When I didn't answer Jack glanced over at me slightly concerned.

" Did something happen between you two?"

" Nothing happened."

Nothing did happen, I was upset over nothing. It wasn't like Titus and I were friends or anything more than that. We agreed to team up to clear our names, I shouldn't have thought anything more of it. Even if his hands were soft against mine or that the warmth radiating off his skin was somehow comforting.

I finished up the stir fry and scooped the noodles into the different plates.

" Lin kissed me and I don't know what to do." I said abruptly.

Jack's whipped around so fast, his eyes wide with surprise.

I told him everything from the beginning and ended where Titus found us. When I finished, he looked traumatized.

" I did not need to hear you talk about kissing my brother." Jack shuddered as he placed the table.

I grabbed the other end of the tablecloth,
" Trust me, I didn't want to experience it."

He called for dinner and the rest of the siblings quickly made it to the table.

Lin didn't meet my eyes as he sat down. Jack watched this and sent me a look in which I shrugged. I would talk to Lin later but he probably wanted some time alone.

" I think Dante's cute." Gilda said, spinning her noodles with a fork.

I stopped mid bite and Jack looked like he just was told his bakery was burned down.

" I think he's more interested in Titus than he is in you." Harley said, frowning.

At that, Gilda made a face that somewhere between bewildered and embarrassment.

Jack cleared his throat, " You're not allowed to date until you are eighteen."

Gilda glared at him, " I'm not interested in Dante and besides Titus looks at Sia like she's the only person in the room. So it's not like I have a chance."

I choked and immediately grabbed my cup of water to hide my flushed face.

Lin finally glanced up, his eyes dark with uncontrolled emotions.

" I'm done." He muttered and pushed his chair out so harshly, it threatened to tip over if Harley didn't reach out to steady it.

" So-" I began but of course was cut off by Harley.

" I don't think he's looking at Sia anymore." She said softly.

" What do you mean? Titus is like obsessed with Sia. I caught them playing the piano together." Gilda said

This made my eyes flicker to hers. The night that Titus played the piano, Gilda was out with her friends. There was no way she saw us, unless she watched us creepily outside.

" He looks at Dante the same way he used to look at Sia."

" Guys, we really shouldn't-" I started

" Sia, tell Harley that Titus likes you." Gilda said.

I opened my mouth then closed it, " I know you both love Titus but he's a sweetliar, he trained his whole life to read emotions and become the person you want. He doesn't like me, he's just doing his job."

There was a misconception about sweetliars. Many believed they were outrageously flirtatious but in reality most of them weren't They became what people wanted and some people wanted a person who could love them but most of them just wanted a friend, someone to understand them. And I was foolish enough to believe underneath his flirty remarks and soft smirks, there was something more.

The girls didn't say anything more but I could see in their expressions they didn't believe me.

" Oat pastries anyone?" Jack said awkwardly.