Part-266

  Unfortunately for him, his sister Lily had other pns.

  “Hey, Romeo,” Lily’s voice called out from the couch, catg him off guard. He looked up to see her sprawled across the cushions, her eyes ser-focused on him like a hawk eying its prey. There was something in her expression, a mix of curiosity and accusation, that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

  “Uh, hey,” James responded cautiously, trying to sound nont. He was always wary when Lily used that particur to usually meant she was about to interrogate him over something he’d rather not discuss.

  “You went on a date, didn’t you?” Lily’s words were more of a statement than a question. Her arms were crossed, and she tilted her head slightly as if daring him to deny it.

  “What? No! It was just a hangout,” James quickly denied, waving his hands in front of him. His mind raced for an expnation that wouldn’t lead to more probing questions.

  Lily’s eyebrow shot up, clearly unimpressed with his answer. “A hangout with who?” she asked, her voice dripping with skepticism. “A birl?”

  “Of course, it was a guy,” James muttered, feeling a strange heat creep up his neck by telling this lie. Why was this versation already making him unfortable? He hadn’t done anything wrong, teically. Besides, it wasn’t like he and Toya had gone on a *real* date. It was just a charade, part of the whole messy situation with Rakib. Nothing romantiothing serious.

  Lily, however, wasn’t about to let him off the hook that easily.

  She stood up from the couch, taking slow, deliberate steps toward him, her eyes never leaving his face. James instinctively backed away, feeling a little unnerved by her intense gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked, trying to sound annoyed but failing to mask the slight unease in his voice.

  “Because,” she said, stepping closer until she was right in front of him, “you’re hiding something.”

  Before he could react, Lily grabbed the colr of his shirt and pulled it forward slightly, iing something just above his shoulder. James blinked, pletely bewildered, w what oh she to.

  “What are you—?”

  “There,” she interrupted, holding up a long strand of hair that she had plucked from his shirt. She twirled it between her fingers and gave him a knowing look. “I didn’t know you had guy friends with long hair…”

  James’ mouth fell open. How had she noticed that? And when had that even gotten on him?

  Lily wasn’t done. She brought the strand of hair to her nose and s, a mischievous smile creeping onto her face. “And who (boy) use girly shampoo... Hmm, very iing,” she mused aloud. “Yuy friend' uses women’s shampoo. Wait, does this mean he’s gay? And are *you* gay too?”

  “Sister!” James groahrowing his hands up in frustration. “Stop messing around!” He snatched the hair from her hand, esg toward his bedroom and shutting the door behind him with a loud *thud*. His sister's ughter echoed through the hallway, clearly enjoying herself far too much.