“Doing what, exactly? I promise I won’t distract you from your urns and crucibles and elixirs.”
He frowns. “Are you… referring to alchemy?”
I wave my hand. “You won’t even realize I’m there, I promise. Just leave me at whatever rental you have while you go stir your vat of mercury.”
His mouth twitches.
Gotcha. I go in for the kill. Take a step closer. Push my shoulders back, flip my hair over my shoulder.
His eyes shoot down.
Annie, Sister Annie warns.
Ugh. Fine.
“I need to do this for May,” I tell him. “I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk. I’ll rein it in. This wedding means everything to her. I fucked up her engagement party. I’m doing this for her. Please.”
Nico blows out a slow breath, pushing the hair back from his face. It doesn’t listen to him and flops back down in a way that has me looking around for movie cameras. “How are you still ruining my life?”
Bullseye. I grin. “Ditto, Nico. It’s like we’re soulmates or something.”
“If by soulmates you mean we’re meant to eat each other’s souls.”
I agree. “Soulmates in hell.”
The open air of the beach consolidates into a small dome around us. We search each other’s eyes, and I’m acutely aware of my pulse beating in my neck. I glance back at May and swallow.
“Please, Nico.”
He bites the inside of his cheek and looks up at the sky as if someone there will help him. “If we die in a fiery accident, I’ll kill you,” he finally says.
“Done.”
He sucks his teeth. Shakes his head. “I’ll pick you up on Thursday.”
From: [email protected]
I had to rein her in. Ali went a little feral, and humanity had enough of her. But seriously, how dare you deprive humanity of years of regular access to what you’re packing?
I think we’ve reached that point in any normal, functioning relationship (not that either of us would know, clearly) where we get to the good stuff. So yeah. Yes, Chef. Give it to me. Fuck me up.
Here’s mine.
1. I think you should be proud of your job, because it’s cool and hot as fuck.
2. So hot, in fact, that I [Redacted for Work Email] to every one of your videos.
3. I’ve had several fulfilling and non-toxic relationships with amicable and respectful break-ups.
FIVE
Nico
“Just don’t, Annie.”I scrub my face.
She just stares, an inscrutable look on her face.
