“Tabby and Phoebe have to get back to Portland, but I do have someone I want to get to know better. In fact, I’d like to talk to him now. I’ll catch you inside?”
Father kissed me on the cheek and turned to make his way back inside the academy. I searched for Alex and found him standing near the front of the crowd. Someone had just walked away from congratulating him, so I took my chance to get him alone while I still could.
“I can’t believe I let you beat me,” I teased as I came up behind him.
He turned to face me and grinned. “It’s kind of amazing.”
“Is your family leaving?”
“No. We plan on going into Wandstown tonight and celebrating. Apparently there’s a good steakhouse there?”
I nodded. “The best. Actually, we’ll be at the bistro just a couple of blocks away. Do you want to meet up after dinner and hang out? Now that the pressure is off, I’d love to show you the town.”
Discomfort flashed across Alex’s face. “Errr. As much as I want to get to know people at the school, it’s like I said Diana, I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Just as friends,” I assured him.
Alex’s anxiety vanished. “Alright, then. That sounds fun. I’d love a local’s take on the area.”
My stomach flipped. Even if we were just hanging out as friends, I’d take any chance to get to know one another better.
Chapter Sixteen
The bistro in Wandstown was small, but it had many of the luxuries you would find in a larger city: escargot, bruschetta, grass-fed steaks, and even a few exquisite vegetarian dishes. The owner, Claudia, took pride in revamping her menu four times a year and serving in a farm-to-table fashion—or at least as much as one could in the wilds of Maine. And yet, despite the finery the bistro projected, the owner always hugged patrons when they walked in the door. And tonight Claudia hugged me extra hard.
The news of my acceptance into Spellcasters had already spread throughout the village of Wandstown. And while that was cool, after a few courses I was ready to crawl out of the limelight and celebrate a little more quietly.
Alex was at the steakhouse down the street. After he was done with his meal, we’d planned to walk around the town. I’d show him the old cemetery were some of the ex-spymasters of Spellcasters had been buried and even a spot in the park where a unique type of faerie circle was located—closed, obviously. I wasn’t sure what we’d do after that, but truthfully, it didn’t matter to me. I just wanted to hang out with him.
Some would say I was on the rebound from Jackson. And perhaps they were right, but what eighteen-year-old girl didn’t want an innocent fling every now and then? Especially with the most distinguished bachelor in our incoming class. And if that fling grew into something more? I was cool with that too.
The waiter dropped the check at our table and Father placed his card inside the leather folder without even glancing at it. After the waiter whisked it away, Father turned to me and gave me a purple-lipped smile, courtesy of the bottle of wine he and Mother had shared. “So, you’re seeing that Wardwell boy after this?”
I nodded and told him what I had planned for the evening. Mother had been slightly tense all night, but when Father brought up Alex, she smiled warmly, apparently pleased with my choice of companion—which was really saying something. When I’d told her I wanted to date Jackson, it had taken four long weeks to garner her approval.
“Just be back by ten,” Father said. “I know you’re eighteen and tonight is a night for celebrating, but—”
“I know, I know, as long as I live under your roof, I abide by your rules.” I was actually fine with the curfew. After three days of exams, I was pretty tired. Plus I figured that Alex was too much of a gentleman to keep me out that late—even as just friends.
“That and I’m still concerned about the hole you found. And my loose doorknob.” Mother’s eyebrows knitted together. “Having you home early would ease my nerves until I can get those matters sorted out.”
Father gave her an exasperated look, and understanding dawned on me. So that was why she’d been strained during dinner. I suspected that Father had asked her not to bring up her worries because this was my night.
Personally, I thought Mother was being a little paranoid, but I guess it made sense. She had already been on edge after what happened to Father. Add in a couple more strange occurrences and her spy training and suspicious nature was bound to kick in.
Once our bill was settled we made our way out of the bistro, full and happy. I parted with my parents and walked down the street to wait outside the steakhouse. Unlike most teens, I didn’t have a cell phone and couldn’t text Alex. The devices were forbidden for Spellcasters students, and as someone who grew up within the academy walls, I’d inherited that stipulation. Luckily, it was a nice night and I didn’t mind a little quiet after all the excitement of the past three days.
Twenty minutes later the Wardwells walked out the door. Once Alex saw me he immediately began apologizing for keeping me waiting.
I waved him off. “It’s fine. The night is beautiful and you deserve to celebrate with your family too.”
Alex shot me a grateful smile and turned to his parents. “I didn’t bring my phone, but you guys are just going to the tavern, right? Diana and I are gonna walk around the town. Should we meet back at the tavern at a certain time? We’ll need a ride back.”
If I had had any real hopes that this night was going to be romantic, they would have been squashed right then and there. A ride home with the parents was totally a romance killer.
We made plans to meet back at the tavern at 9:30 and split off to stroll the idyllic streets of Wandstown. Lanterns were lit outside shops and restaurants. Occasionally we passed residents and each of them smiled and waved. I’d just shown Alex the cemetery and we were about to enter the park to find the faerie circle when I heard a noise that made my blood freeze.
“Is that—” Alex paused and his eyebrows furrowed together as he took in the strange sound. “What the heckisthat?”
