And I could feel myself slipping more with every second that passed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ARINA
Daze and I got several curious looks at the pizza place we chose for dinner, but I hardly noticed. I was too distracted by the way my skin heated every time his eyes lingered on me.
I shouldn’t have cared.
Ireallyshouldn’t have cared.
Not only was he in some fucked-up relationship with one of the circus headliners—whose salted-pretzel scent was burned into my brain, along with his cold, malicious gaze—but I was pretty sure Daze wasn’t interested in my anatomy. Even if he was, I was the last person he should get involved with.
An omega on the run? Yeah, I wasn’t suitable for anyone, much less a beta like Daze.
So, I simply stared at him across the table while we ate and listened to him ramble on about past performances and troupe culture. He rattled off too many names for me to remember, but I caught some of them. Syxx, Sevyn, Legacy, Avra…
I almost wanted to ask if there was someone else named Kedabra, but I decided to save it for later. If I stuck around, I’d learn them eventually.
Hopefully.
I had to survive this weekend’s shows and prove I could be a valuable asset to the circus before I learned my true fate. If I did terribly, there was a chance Hallow could still leave me behind, and then I’d be back to square one.
“Arina?”
I blinked and realized Daze was waiting for a response.
Somewhere between me admiring his sharp jawline and rich brown eyes, I’d missed his question.
Shit.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized, my cheeks heating. “What did you say?”
A gentle smile graced his face, but I could almost sense his disappointment. Did he think I wasn’t paying attention on purpose? Did he think I was bored?
“We can head back whenever you’re ready,” he assured me, still smiling. “You had a big day. I’m sure you’re tired.”
I scoffed a laugh. “So says the man who just did an entire aerial routine. If anyone should be tired, it’s you.”
“A little.” He lifted a single shoulder in a shrug. “But I’m used to it now. Been doing it for years.”
I pursed my lips, unconvinced, but quickly let it go. Truthfully, I wasn’t ready to head back to the clown bus where Zero would be waiting. I was nervous how his scent would affect me in close quarters and trying not to think about it. I was alsoenjoyingmyself and didn’t want to ruin the moment.
I liked spending time with Daze.
He was kind, extremely handsome, understanding?—
“Do you want to go somewhere after this?” he asked, shattering my thoughts.
I shifted in the booth and picked up a piece of pizza crust to nibble the edge. “Maybe. What did you have in mind?”
He hesitated, and I wondered if he had a plan at all. Did he not want the moment to end either? Did he want to spend more time with me?
I swallowed down the little bubble of optimism threatening to form. I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Not when every emotion churning through me was pointless.
Daze and I were nothing, and we could never be anything more than friends.
“We could hit a nightclub,” he offered.
