“Oh my god,” I whisper. Then I shout, “Oh my god!”
Joanne pokes her head out of her office, gray braided hair done up atop her head. “Are you okay?”
Before I can answer, Matthias pushes the door to the back open so fast he nearly knocks himself down with the momentum. “Is it Kit?” Matthias asks excitedly.
“Who’s Kit?” Joanne questions.
“No and no one,” I say, ignoring the stabbing in my chest at the mention of his name. I quickly explain about the contest entry. “They want to meet in person.”
Joanne smiles. “That’s great, hon. Well, if you need to move your shift around, let me know.” She retreats back into her office and closes the door.
Matthias stares at me. “Well? Are you going to call them back?”
“Oh!” I say, forgetting about that part. “Right.” I tap the number on the screen and ignore the increased rate of my heart as the phone rings, once, twice,thrice?—
“Hello, Stephanie Tate’s office. This is Nickie speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, this is Lacy Gordon returning a call I missed from you. I need to schedule a meeting with Ms. Tate?”
“Right, of course. Give me one sec.” I hear quick clicking on a computer keyboard. “Are you available Wednesday?”
“This Wednesday? As in tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
I look at Matthias, and he nods vigorously. “Yes,” I say. “I have the best availability in the afternoon.” I could do whatever time, I just want it to sound like I have a life.
“Great. Let’s say three p.m., then. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?”
“Should I bring anything?”
“Like what?”
“…I don’t know?”
“Yourself, then. I have your email. I will send you the address and arrival instructions. Have a nice day.” She hangs up before I can respond.
I spin to Matthias and give a little shriek as I hug him. I actually have a chance at this. I make a mental note to call Meggie once I’m off work, then I go back to my day, distracted entirely by the question of what I’ll wear and how I will manage to operate like a normal human being.
I wish I could tell Kit about this.
thirty-nine
. . .
My train pullsinto Grand Central at 2:27 p.m., giving me more time than necessary to walk the ten minutes to the office. Nothing wrong with being early, I suppose. I’d go get a coffee somewhere to kill time, but one, I don’t want to have coffee breath, and two, I’m already sweating and caffeine will make me sweat more.
I bustle out through the train doors with everyone else, getting immediately engulfed by the speed-walking crowd that leads me up a ramp and out into the crowded main concourse. Ensuring I don’t trip over any of the large number of suitcases being pulled behind and beside people, I weave in and out of tourists taking photos, commuters rushing around in no discernable direction, and other people weaving as I am. I’d like to get to the street and then look up my path to the office, the crowds in the station sending nervous trills through me.
I make it out of the main concourse, moving closer to anexit, when I hear someone shout my name. I whirl around, searching for the source of that voice.
It’s like the crowds clear when I zero in on the tall man with raven-dark hair rushing my way. His eyes light up at the sight of me, and as I always do when I see his eyes, I know instantly it’s Kit. I haven’t seen him in a month.
I shouldn’t be happy; it’s not like my spell worked. He’s still a demon. He’s still in a body that is not his. Nothing has changed. But my heart is singing at the sight.
“Kit?” I whisper, crossing my arms to keep from throwing myself at him and his human host.
He grins widely and holds his arms out like he’s presenting himself. “What do you think?”
