"Mine, too," Fritz answers.
I'm sure he's nice enough. He's gotta be for someone like Bel to put up with him, but every time he opens his mouth, I want to punch him in the face.
I glance down at my own mobile device, and sure enough, no fucking service.
How is it possible that in a city this large, withthismany cell towers, we couldpossiblylose service?SomethingI managed to set up on a literal island in the middle of the ocean.
"That's okay," Isla shrugs, determined to keepupa positive attitude, even when every-fucking-thing has gone awry since yesterday. "Everyone I need to reach is right here."
I might be imagining it, but I think her eyes land on me for a split second before darting away again when she says it.
Warmth bloomsin my chestat the idea that I might be someone she needs. I agreed not to tell anyonewe'resleeping together, but Cashanded Fritz a 50 from his wallet within 30 seconds of them finding us in the lobby last night. Fritz had chuckled, stuffing it into his pocket before the girlsseparatedfrom their squealing, sobbing embrace. He avoided eye contact with me during the entire exchange, only proving what the bet was.
Buthopefully,they're smart enough to let Isla be the one to tell Bel about it. I don't think Cas or Fritz would ruin it for them, but if they assume she already knows, it could sever their bond even further. With everything they've already been through, they need the normalcy of their friendship for as long as possible.
Don't say a fucking thing,Ihad warned both Caspian and Fritz.
Cas just nodded, not needing to be told.
Duh.Fritz rolled his eyes.Do you think I'm an idiot? Wait-no, don't answer that.
I do, in fact, think he's an idiot.
I think only an idiot would put BelandIsla in the position he did rather than let them just be fucking mad at him for a little while.
"How can we order an uber if there's no cell service?"Isla asks, bringing me back to the present,turning her phone off to restart it.
"Taxi," I tell her. "We have to do it the old fashioned way."
Leading them out of our hotel, I flag down a cab. Fortunately, my size makesmeimpossible for them to miss. Unfortunately, it also makes it impossible forall ofus to fit into one car.
"Me and the girls will fit in one," Fritz offers, and the idea of him alone with them makes fear crawl under my skin, but I don't want to separate Bel and Isla any more than I have to.
Igroan,the incoming ridea tortureI might not survive from."Let Caspian go with them. You'll come with me." If something goes wrong, I trust Cas to keep them safe at any cost.I reallyjustcan't say the same about Fritz.
"Ooh, okay!" he beams, opening the door of the first taxi and shepherding the girls in, letting Cas crawl into the yellow car behind them. He shuts the door, wiggling his fingers to say goodbye.
The car takes off, and I flag down another, praying this car ride is a short one. We only need to go about three miles to get to Mike and Charlie's venue.
Fritz crawls into the next car, already speaking before we've even managed to start moving, "It's weird how everything today just keeps going wrong."
Imhmm, trying to ignore him. I figure things going wrong is just part of living in the fucking city.That's why I don't spend any more timethan necessarythis close to others.
"The phones. The car crash. The hotel." He listsall the things offon his fingers, "And now this."
"Now what?" I tell the driver our destination,butthen Fritz corrects me, telling the driver an entirely new address over 10 miles further into the city. The car starts rolling forward, andI wish I had a fucking drink, looking at him suspiciously. "Where are we going?"
"This!" he gestures one hand toward thedriveras if that was the answer. "The last minute change in venue because the original one was having technical issues. Thankfully, Mike and Charlie's building had a last-minute cancellation in their event space and gave it to them for half the price since it was already set up for a huge party."
Allofthose things happeningisa strange coincidence, and all the more reason to get through today and get Isla on the earliest flight back home safe and sound tomorrow and not take my eyes off of her any time between now and then.
How hard could it be? I never take my eyes off of her as it is. Can't, no matter how hard I try.Evenjustbeingapart from her for this car ride makes my skin crawl.It's sickening to think of just how important she's become. Since losing Arthur, I've beenreallygood at keeping my attachments to a minimum. That's the way I've liked it. Even those who've known me thelongest, namely Kyle, havejustbeen people I know. And I can't help but wonder why Isla is so different. It couldn't just be the proximity. It's not the first time I've lived closelywithanother mortal. I've had roommates and neighborsover the yearswhile I found my footing in this world. But other mortals just... aren't her.
Her fire,her drive, herfierce loyalty even in the face of certain death. Everything about her feelsmonumental—like the earthitselfmight stop revolving once she leaves it.
I know this thing we've been doing is temporary for her. A scratch to itch until shegoes backto having an abundance of humans to choose from. She could have anyone shewants,sowhy limit herself to someone who can never give her a future of any kind?
I shake the jealousy daring to niggle into my mind, clouding my enjoyment of the present with fears of the future.
