“Thank you,” I say softly. “That means a lot.”
His hold on me tightens, and he whispers, “It would be an honor, Poppy. I mean that. And I hope you believe it too.”
Chapter 46
Aric
I’M STARTING TO LOSE TRACK of the days. I drag myself to class and to practice, inhale meals without tasting them, then spend every other moment I have in my dorm room, reading and studying until my eyes are so dry that I can’t see straight anymore.
The days are getting shorter and darker, and that’s not helping either. I wake up in the dark and go to sleep in the dark, and even now, as I glance up from my textbook and toward the small window, all I see is my own reflection, the sky on the other side a swatch of black.
And I look... rough. My hair’s still a mess from practice, my eyes have bags under them, and—
I glance down at the necklace I’m wearing, the one with Ma’s ring strung onto it.
And the ring isn’t glowing anymore. The subtle shine that’s kept me company for the past couple months has finally gone out, and for some reason, it makes me want to crumble and put my head in my hands.
But I don’t have time for that. I need to study.
With a sigh, I turn the page in my textbook. At the same time, there’s a rustling behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to see a piece of parchment come sliding under the dorm room door.
Intrigued—and in desperate need of a short break—I push out of my desk chair and cross the small room to pick up the parchment.
And when my gaze sweeps across it, I realize what an ass I am.
It’s an invitation to the Blue Moon Ball. And I’m only now remembering that I told Poppy I’d help her pass these out. She must’ve thought I didn’t want to help anymore, because she didn’t bring it up.
Fuck.
Is she out there right now? On the other side of my door?
The thought of wrapping my arms around her and burying my face in her soft lavender hair makes tears want to spring to my eyes. In one stride, I’m at the door, and I yank it open, hoping to see Poppy on the other side.
But . . .
It’s Maeve.
And she doesnotlook happy with me.
“H-hey, sis.”
Maeve crosses her arms, her dark purple eyes narrowing at me. Her gaze sweeps up and down me slowly in an assessment that makes me take a step back from her.
“What?” I ask.
“I was checking to see if you’re still alive,” she says, voice sharp and cold.
“Huh?”
She arches a brow at me. “With the way Poppy’s been moping around, I thought maybe you’d died and no one told me. But I see you’re fine. Just being a dick.”
That insult lands true. “You’re in a mood today.”
She steps forward, and I take another two steps back, but that doesn’t deter her, and she stalks after me, crossing the threshold into my dorm room. It gives me flashbacks of how intimidating she was as a child. Even though I was bigger and older, she was a way scarier child than I was. And actually, I’m pretty sure that’s followed us into adulthood.
“Poppy isn’t herself. I’ve never seen her so gloomy, so I know it has something to do with you. What did you do?”
“I...” I hold my hands up in surrender. “I told her she doesn’t need to tutor me anymore.”
