He loomed over me, his amber eye sparkling with curiosity. "What d'you mean?"
I suddenly remembered Pascal had experience at the fountain, too. Had he met Devereaux too and simply never brought it up?
"Pascal, when you went to the fountain as a kid, was anybody there?" I asked.
"Well, yeah. There's always people at the fountain, either making wishes or just hanging out in the public courtyard."
"No, I mean... someone peculiar."
Pascal tilted his head. "In what way?"
I closed my eyes and remembered Devereaux's face. Just imagining it made me smile.
"I met a man at the fountain," I said. "After making a wish—"
"Wait, you made a wish?" Pascal interrupted excitedly. "See? Wasn't it great? What did you wish for? Wait, don't tell me, it won't come true."
Right. The wish. I'd been so delighted about my encounter with Devereaux that I'd forgotten about that. It was the whole reason I'd gone all the way to the fountain in the first place.
"I did make a wish. But I'm not telling it to you," I teased.
He grinned. "Good, I don't wanna hear it."
"But you really don't remember a strange man there?"
"Not really. It was a long time ago. What did he look like?"
Then he hadn't met Devereaux. Devereaux was so unique and striking. It was impossible to see a man like him, a tall ghostly figure draped in silky black, and not remember him.
"Never mind. He's impossible to forget. You must not have seen him."
Pascal leaned closer. "Wait, slow down. You met a guy?"
It was late—way past the time we should've both been asleep—but my mind was wide awake. My thoughts were bouncing around like rubber balls. I wouldn't be able to sleep right now anyway. Besides, Pascal never gave up when he was curious about something.
"It was strange," I began. "When I made my wish, the courtyard was empty. I was completely alone."
"Okay, go on."
"Then... something weird happened. I left the courtyard, but you know how it is with my legs."
Pascal frowned in sympathy and nodded.
"By the time I was leaving, it was dark and visitors were no longer allowed," I went on. "I was worried I'd be kicked out by force. That's when I tripped."
"Oh no!" Pascal cried. "Are you okay?"
I smiled. "I'm okay. I didn't fall. Someone caught me."
"Was it that man you keep talking about?" Pascal asked, putting the pieces together.
"Yes. His name is Devereaux."
Pascal observed my wistful expression before breaking out into a snarky grin. "Ooh,Devereaux. What a fancy name. Was he handsome, too?"
It wasn't until Pascal asked that I realized how I felt about his appearance. My cheeks turned warm. "Yes. Very handsome."
Pascal kicked his legs like an excited kid. "Youlikehim! You like this Devereaux guy, don't you, Florian?"
