“Got it. Regular clothes, no dancing shoes.” I stand and offer her my hand to help her up. “Anything else I should know?”
She takes my hand and lets me pull her to her feet. “Just that... we’re staying at an inn called the Golden Lantern. Professor Silvermoon is arranging everything. I think we’ll be able to get separate rooms, and...” Her voice seems to get stuck in her throat, and she’s back to not looking at me again.
“Ah,” I say, seeing where her mind is going. “I’m not expecting anything. We’re going on a trip together, that’s all. Whatever you’re comfortable with is what we’ll do.”
The very thought of being alone in a room with Poppy makes my athletics shorts feel tight, and I banish the image as quickly as I can.
She nods, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “Okay. That sounds good.”
We stand there for a moment, and I’m acutely aware of how close she is, how the setting sun makes her hair glow, how her hand is still in mine.
“I should probably go take a bath,” I say reluctantly, gesturing to my sweat-soaked tunic. “I’m kind of disgusting right now.”
“You’re not disgusting,” she says quickly, then seems to realize what she said and flushes. “I mean, you’re fine. You’re... You look fine.”
I can’t help but grin. Everything she does makes my heart want to implode. “Thanks, Brains.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “I should get back to the dorm anyway. The girls are probably dying to know what you said.”
“Tell them I said yes because I’m considerate and adventurous and—”
She laughs, the sound light and airy, and I decide right then that making Poppy laugh is one of my new favorite things.
“I’ll see you Friday,” she says, starting to back away slowly, though I’ve not yet released her hand.
Before she can pull away, I take one step forward, closing the distance between us. Then I bend to press a kiss to Poppy’s cool cheek. She freezes, and I almost imagine I can hear the rapid beating of her heart. As I straighten up, I say, “I’ll be there.”
She gives me one last shy smile, her cheeks truly flaming now, then turns and starts walking back toward the castle. I watch her go, and she glances back once to wave at me before disappearing around the corner of the athletics building.
A weekend in Faunwood. With Poppy.
Holy shit.
Leo appears at my side, making me jump. “Dude, was that Poppy?”
“Yeah,” I say, still staring at the spot where she disappeared.
“And you’re just standing here grinning like an idiot?”
I turn to glare at him, but I can’t quite wipe the smile off my face. “Shut up.”
“You’ve got it bad, man,” Leo says, shaking his head. “Really bad.”
For once, I think he’s right. But it’d physically pain me to tell him that, so I just keep my mouth shut.
I grab my bag and head toward the locker room, already mentally planning what to pack for the trip while Leo trails along, his usual running commentary going into one of my ears and out the other.
A whole weekend with Poppy. Just the two of us.
I can’t remember the last time I was so excited for something.
As long as I can keep it in my pants—which I absolutelymustdo—this should go great.
Chapter 23
Aric
BY THE TIME I REACH the entrance hall on Friday evening, I’m breathing hard, and my heart is beating fast. I keep telling myself it’s because I nearly jogged over here, wanting to get here before her, but I know that’s not true.
