And that’s no good, because I like it when she’s a noisy rebel. Instead, she nods and soaks up information. No matter how I try to encourage her wild side to come out, she’s retreated somewhere, put up walls that I haven’t seen before.
“Come onnnnnnn,” I prod her, walking down yet another marble hallway. Fat cherubs look down on me from the corners, seeming disappointed in me. “It’s just a swimming pool. You don’t need a suit…”
She stops in her tracks, whirling to face me. “What is your deal, Stellan?”
I pause, my mind turning over the possibilities of what she could mean. “My deal?”
“Hot or cold? Hmm? Which one do you want to be today? The friendly guy who teases me about skinny dipping in the palace pool? Or are you the jerk who likes rubbing my nose in the fact that I’m not royal?” She cocks her hip, fury written all over her face. “If you could just let me know, that would be great. It’s nice to have some idea of when I should be strait-laced and when I should cut loose.”
One corner of my mouth curls up. “I would love to see you cut loose. Is that an option?”
Her eyes narrow. “You know what? Hold that thought. Let’s go somewhere that you don’t have the home turf advantage.”
I squint. “The what?”
She holds up a finger and stalks away, putting her phone out and fiddling with it.
And that’s when it hits me. This big, huge wave of warmth, of happiness, of pleasure.
Oh god.
I like Margot.
I like her even more when she’s a little bit cruel to me.
Ilikeher when she’s mean.
How did this happen to me?
She puts the phone to her ear, speaking softly into it. And all I can think is how fucked I am if she finds out how I feel. It’s hard enough right now as it is…
Margot spins, her eyes lighting up. She hangs up the phone, practically bristling with excitement. “Get your coat. We’re going out.”
And I just nod like an idiot, trying to smash my feelings down into a hole deep inside. I can’t act on them. So why does being with Margot make me so… well,happyisn’t quite the right word, is it? I turn back toward where I left my coat, swallowing against the knot forming in my throat.
Chapter Seventeen
Stellan
As Margot leads the way past the bouncer and into the loud, crowded club, she looks back at me. The lights flash, illuminating streaks that splash across her glitter-covered face. I tug on the dark hooded sweatshirt she made me change into. She grins, reaching back and pulling my hood up a little further to better hide my distinctive features.
I grab her hand and frown. I lean close to her to make myself heard over the loud music. “Where are we?”
She pins me with her gaze. “Somewhere you won’t be expected to be. Come on.”
Turning, she leads me into the bar area. The bar top is made of thick plastic and lit up neon green. It casts a sickly light over all the patrons crowded around, waiting for their turn to order drinks. Ahead of us, I can see people pushing their way into what I assume is the main dance floor. The DJ booth is in the far corner; rock music plays so loudly that it reverberates through my bones.
This atmosphere is familiar to me. Grungy,underground, yet exceedingly packed with people. Just like New York, although maybe this club is a little bit cleaner.
A very little bit.
As we line up at the bar to wait for service, I brushes up against her. I leans down to her ear.
“Have you been here before?” I ask.
She shakes her head, looking up at me with a crooked smile. “Nope.”
“And why are we here again?”
