I BARELY SLEPT LAST NIGHT thanks to how nervous I am for today, and when Ididdream, it was about giant cookies coming to life and dancing around me with smiling chocolate-chip faces, which I’m pretty sureisn’tgoing to happen today. My dreams always mean something, but this is probably one of the funny ones that just means I’ll eat a cookie or see someone dancing on my way through town.
There’s a little mirror hanging on the wall by the dormitory door, and I briefly glance into it after pulling my boots on. I’m wearing my hair down today, and Alina insisted that I let her do my makeup, and I’m pleasantly surprised by what she did. My eyelids sparkle with an iridescent powder, and she dusted a bit of glitter onto my cheekbones. “To help your natural beauty shine,” she said, which I laughed at, but I really do like how it looks. I feel... pretty. And I could use a bit of a confidence booster.
I can’t believe I’m going on a date with Aric Vandermere.
“Have fun!” Alina says as I reach for the door handle.
“Yeah,” Lyra adds as she leans her head against Alina’s shoulder, “just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
The thought of doing something Lyrawouldn’tis downright terrifying.
“I won’t,” I say. “I promise.”
Maeve isn’t here—I think she’s at the bathhouse—which I’m actually grateful for. I’ve not yet had the chance to talk to her privately and ask how she feels about me going on a date with her stepbrother. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but...
I just like him so much.
The butterflies that’ve been in my stomach since Aric asked me to go to Sweet Crumbs flutter around like a whirlwind, and I take a steadying breath.
“You’re going to have an amazing time,” Alina says. She steps away from Lyra and takes me by the shoulders. “Just be you. You’re more lovable than anyone has any right to be.”
I roll my eyes, and she grins before pulling me in for a tight hug.
“Okay, I should go.” I take another breath, then actually grab the door handle and pull it open.No turning back now.
“Oh, can you bring me a cookie?” Lyra calls as I step into the hall. “And Juniper too?”
I smile. “Yeah, of course.” Then I close the door on Lyra’s and Alina’s smiling faces.
Raelan is leaning against the opposite wall, where he usually is, and he smiles when he sees me. “Want me to walk you down?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. But thank you.”
He nods. “Have a good time.”
“I will.” I start down the stairs, heart beating with every step. Right before I turn the spiral and step out of view, Raelan calls out to me.
“And, Poppy?”
I turn. “Hmm?”
“For what it’s worth...” He tips his head and furrows his brow a bit, looking serious. “I think Aric’s a good guy. I don’t really know him, but... I’ve got a good feeling.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask.
But Raelan just smiles and shakes his head. “Call it instinct.”
And I’ve learned that in Raelan’s language, that means he’s not going to tell me. So, instead of pressing him, I lift a hand. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. See you later.”
All the way down the stairs, I have to fight back my rising panic. Sure, I see Aric in class every week—he even partnered with me again in cooking class yesterday, though our pumpkin soup didn’t turn out nearly as well as our apple-cinnamon cake did—and have met up with him a handful of times for tutoring, but this is different. This is a date. A real one.
I think . . .
A whirlwind of anxiety goes through me. Have I somehow misunderstood the entire situation? Is this afrienddate and Aric’s just being the friendly guy I know him to be?
Now I’m second-guessing the makeup Alina did for me. Will it make it look like I’m trying too hard? Will he pity me for misunderstanding, or—
I step into the grand entrance hall, and there Aric is, standing in a patch of colored sunlight streaming through a stained glass window depicting a witch in a flowing blue robe. He doesn’t notice me at first, and I watch him, taking in the thoughtful crease in his brow, the casual confidence he exudes as he stands with his hands in his trouser pockets, a lightweight autumn cloak draped around his shoulders.
