The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 580

“No, skip this one,” I murmur a little later when I’m curled up next to Jesse in the nook, freshly showered and finally eating my dinner. “It’s too sad, when they break up –“

“But there are so many good jokes in this one,” Jesse protests, casting a hand out towards the tiny DVD player in his lap. “We can’t –“

“We can,” I insist, leaning over and pressing the skip button. “And we’re going to!”

“Tyrant,” he mutters, slipping a few more of my cookies out from their packet and popping one into his mouth. I just smirk, not denying the accusation and leaning close against my cousin’s arm as the Besties theme song starts on the screen. I take another bite of my dinner, feeling super cozy.

As the theme rolls on, Jesse fully concentrating on it, I take a second to glance down at the little stuffed tiger pressed between us, and the portable DVD player with its collection of DVDs spread out at the bottom of the bed, and a pair of Jackson’s boots tucked neatly beneath my desk where they won’t be in the way. In my dresser, I know, are a few perfectly folded sets of his uniform as well.

A little smile crosses my lips as I realize that Jackson is fully at home here despite Rafe’s initial insistence that he only sleeps here and would not be moving in. But little by little, Jackson did precisely that. I sigh with happiness, finishing my sandwich, loving that fact as I glance over at Jacks and Rafe, still working intently on his bed.

“What’s with all your happy sighs,” Jesse murmurs, flicking his eyes over at me. “For someone who had just as traumatic a day as me, you’re awfully chipper about it.”

“How can I be sad or worried when I’ve got my big cousin to hang out with me,” I say, turning my head to him and reaching up to ruffle his hair. “How could a single worry even come into my head?”

“True I am…anathema to all worries,” Jesse murmurs, smirking a bit.

“Except your own, I think,” I say quietly, my face becoming more serious as I study the unusually dour expression I’m not even sure he’s aware that he’s wearing. Beyond that, it’s really not like Jesse to seclude himself away – he’s a very social creature. If he is disappearing into the nook to be alone and binge eat all of my cookies, something’s up.

“You okay, Jesse?”

He sighs and glances over at me, and then at Rafe and Jacks, who I intuit he doesn’t want to hear. “It’s just so weird, Ari,” he murmurs. “That like…I’ve apparently met my mate and have no memory of it. Like, what the hell does that mean?”