Lol. “I very much doubt it. It beats me why they got married. They don’t even seem to like each other.”
Shoe shopping takes only one stop. These girls are the easiest shopping experience I’ve ever had. Good thing it hasn’t taken toolong because Max is grumbling about food, and I’ve got to admit I’m starving too.
Ever since getting out of the white realm, my appetite has been off the hook. I text Wes and Cosmo, telling them we’re heading for La Casa Picante.
I’m feeling margaritas.
The four of us find a table at the restaurant, and I immediately flag down a waiter to order a pitcher of mezcal margaritas.
Wes is radio silent. “He'll show,” I say, more to myself than to anyone else. Fuck. Why did I let him go off alone?
“You know how he gets in a camera store,” Theo adds, trying to reassure me. But I can tell she’s equally worried. “He's probably just knee-deep in a shutter-speed conversation.”
I smile, but it’s forced. I hate that; my girl deserves genuine smiles only. I give myself a mental slap and decide to get the party started. Perfect timing, as the cocktails arrive. "Come on,señoritas, now who loves a salty rim?"
“Yum, I love rims,” Max grins.
Willow grimaces. “Gross. Don’t put me off my guac, thank you very much.”
I start making a joke about rocking the guac, but it’s lost as Cosmo walks in.
His face is a picture of misery. Like the most famous artist in the world couldn’t have painted a sadder face. He slams his phone on the table and sighs.
Max opens his mouth, but Cosmo cuts him off. “Don’t ask.”
“Don’t ask what?” A grin spreads across Max’s face. "Whether Jordan needed your opinion on her waxing? What do you go for—Brazilian or Frenchie?”
“That’s not a fucking joke. She made me hold her hand while they did it, too.” Cosmo makes a gagging noise. “At least there was a sheet, so I didn’t have to see anything.”
He runs a hand over his chin. “I was in that spa for two hours. Two. Fucking. Hours. And the whole time, I had to listen to her complain about the lack of good technicians in Havengard City. Not tactful while one of those ‘below-par’ technicians is stripping her asshole.”
“Wait, was the technicianbelow parbecause she wasn’t very good, or does Jordan call her vag ‘Par’ so then the waxer was ‘below par’?”
I put my hand out for a high five, but Cosmo swats it away and picks up the nearest glass. “I usually don’t touch this abomination of a drink, but needs must.” He downs it in one.
“Have a chip,” Willow says, pushing a basket toward him. Theo’s friend is hilarious. I expect Cosmo to snap at her, but he doesn’t, just nods and says thanks. I guess, when you’ve had a morning with someone like Jordan, you can appreciate people who aren't complete twats.
My phone buzzes, and I get a stomach flip when I see the message.
WES:Getting a ride back, don’t wait for me
DONOVAN:How?
WES:….
The dots appear, then disappear again. Fuck.
I know my face is worried, because Theo is looking at me with the serious eyes she only uses when something is actually serious. “What happened?” she asks.
“Wes. He says he’s going to make his own way back to the academy. It makes me nervous as all fuck, to be all honest.”
Cosmo’s eyes narrow on me. “Who’s he getting a ride with?”
I have no answer for him.
Shit.
A massive plate of Enchiladas is placed in front of me, and I decide to eat my feelings. It’s the only way.
