CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
I grabbed the headrest of the seat in front of me and leaned forward, peering over Poppy to the woman sitting across the aisle. She waved at me, and then went back to viewing her newly manicured nails, probably checking for chipped paint. I gradually sat back and tilted to the left, pressing my mouth against Poppy’s ear, and whispering, “What the hell is Mina doing here?”
Mina was dressed in a skirt and blowy silk top. There were even heels on her feet, while I was dressed in black cargo pants, a black t-shirt, and my ass kicking boots. The rest of the occupants were CA soldiers, all wearing their black uniforms. So the woman across from us looked like a white rose in a bunch of black tar.
Poppy turned her head in my direction, and her gaze met mine. Her brown eyes were haunted and frigid, a deadly combination. She shook her head and whispered just as quietly, “She told Finn she wanted to ride along, so she’s…riding along. I told her if she was going just to coddle me, she would only be in the way. She swore that isn’t why she’s here. So I have no fucking clue.”
Rune and Finn were on another train, heading to the building where my father currently was. All the CA’s forces were spreading out over the city, each train going to a different destination. Father owned nearly thirty crooked businesses, and they were all going down tonight.
I raised a brow. “Maybe she really is lonely.”
“I can understand that. There aren’t very many women around here who are mates, and it gets tedious lying all the time to people.” She nodded slowly. “I’ll start up my training sessions again with her tomorrow. See if that helps. And I wouldn’t mind some female company, either.”
“After I get settled at Rune’s place, I can swing by too. Us girls, we can all hang out.”
Poppy attempted a smile. She almost did it. “Come by anytime. Kick my ass out of bed if I’m still in it too. I’m trying to cut that out, but some days are better than others.”
My lips thinned. “I’ll kick your ass clear outside to the water and dunk you. How about that?”
She snorted. “I’ll like having you around.” Her head tilted, and she quit whispering, speaking in her usual tone. “Are you going to try for a CA position again once your father is taken care of?”
“Um…no.”
“You’ll stay bartending then? I bet you have fun there.”
“It is fun, but I’m going to switch jobs. Do something that makes me happier.”
“What is it?” Her red brows rose in interest.
My mouth opened, and then snapped shut. I was certain others wouldn’t understand my interest.
Mina leaned over the arm of her chair and stuck her nose where it didn’t belong. “So it’s true? You’re getting a new job at Sparkle World?”
Poppy blinked. “Isn’t that an amusement park?”
I thumped the back of my head against the headrest. “Who told you, Mina?”
“Finn did. He said Rune told him you were getting a job at Sparkle World, and that you wanted to be a princess there and spend your time cheering kids up.”
I waited for it. Just waited for it.
The jubilation of Poppy’s laughter filled the entire train cabin.
My cheeks flamed red, perspiration settling on my forehead. I grumbled, “Thanks, Mina.”
Mina tittered, a smidge devious. “She’s laughing at you, isn’t she? So hush.”
Poppy waved both of her hands in front of her face, blowing air on her cheeks to cool herself down. The woman kept laughing until tears were rolling down her cheeks. Her tiny hand patted my knee several times during her mirth. She shook her head and babbled, “Tell me when you start, Megan. I’ll go just to take pictures of you hugging little kids while prancing around in a fairy tale dress.”
I flicked her forehead. “Don’t tease me about it. I’m actually really excited.”
Mina sat back on her chair, mumbling, “I give it two weeks.”
“I say a month.” Poppy eyed my features. “She looks like she wants it bad.”
My eyes narrowed. “You two are horrible. I’ll be there for a long time.”
Both snickered quietly.
