“Good morning to you, too.” Up close, I was mistaken. Dark circles ring the space under her eyes. “Remember, you’re supposed to be learning etiquette and how we initiate an interaction sets the tone.” Her voice crawls slightly, as if she’s exhausted.
“How’d you sleep?” I ask, chastened at the reminder that I’m a student, not a waterfowl or a beast, and would do well to behave myself.
Everly stands by the chair and then gestures to it.
I hop to my feet, belatedly remembering to pull it out for her like a gentleman.
She drops heavily into it. “I’m convinced the manor is haunted.”
After the server brings us each coffee, I refute the possibility with stone-cold logic.
“And there I thought you were a ghost.” She points to my napkin. “Remember to put that in your lap.”
“Then I’d know all about the ghosts, wouldn’t I?” I tease.
“In that case, you’d also be aware that ghosts have manners.”
“Is haunting people considered proper?”
“Victorian ghosts were part of polite society.”
I lift my eyebrows, not sure whether she’s joking, considering she said she minored in that era of history during college.
She shimmies a little in her seat and lengthens her spine. “Also, sit up straight. Napkin in your lap. Come on, I don’t want to fail you. By now, we should be making progress.”
“I’ll never forget why I’m in this class, but I’ll keep trying to wipe that memory from my mind.”
“You’re so surly.”
“You’re bossy,” I reply.
“I’m your coach. You’re supposed to listen to me.” She yawns.
The server appears and I’m relieved for the interruption so we can place our breakfast order. Also, it provides the opportunity to get back on track. I thought I’d returned to the rails, but it’s proving difficult to reconcile my inner changes with my outward manner.
The server says, “I was just informed that there is a meeting in the front salon.”
“Right now?” Everly asks, scrambling for her purse to check the itinerary.
The server nods.
“Oops. I didn’t realize.” She jumps to her feet and starts toward the door.
Before I catch up, my phone beeps. It’s an update from Ted. We’re still waiting, sending a bolt of uncertainty through me. Custody in the courts isn’t something I can muscle my way through. I can’t sit down and talk sense into my ex because no one knows where she is. Until last month, I didn’t know where Sonny was. I push these thoughts out of my mind because there’s nothing I can do about them now.
But trust me, I’d like to blame someone and bring down Lightning and Thunder on them—or their windows, doors, walls, anything punchable.
We meet the headmistress, the other coaches, and Declan, Wolf, and Chase in a room that looks too delicate for the likes of us.
Declan got lucky because his coach happens to be his high school best friend. From what I’ve gathered, they’ve had a slow simmering thing for years. Can’t imagine how that’ll turn out.
Cateline is giving Wolf a run for his money, which, as far as I’m concerned, is a good use of resources. He’s one of my best friends, but I’ve only ever seen Hammer put him in his place, and the guy needs an attitude adjustment.
Then there’s Chase, who is a charmer. By the way his coach looks at him with those big brown eyes, she’s under his spell.
The guys and I exchange our usual greetings, involving fist bumps and hushed locker room language, as if we anticipate a scolding from Coach Hammer.
I drop into a vacant spot on the couch. Chase tosses me a frilly decorative pillow, I huck it at Wolf.
