She tugged her hand away. “I need to go to the office.”
Bren gave her a searching look. “You’re acting weird. You know that, right?”
She gave a weak nod.
“Why?” The hurt in his voice made her wince. “It’s me.”
“I know. I just…”
“Just what? Talk to me.”
How could she tell him there was a ticking clock on their relationship, that they weren’t going to last?
“Sorry, I’m really stressed over work.”
“Of course.” Bren threw his hands up in surrender. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard this excuse. He tried switching to a brighter tone. “Just don’t forget about the dinner tonight with my folks. I was thinking I’d come by at seven. The reservation is at seven thirty.”
Her heart sank. She’d forgotten that his parents were in town from Florida for the week. It was their first time visiting Bren since he and Semele had started dating, and she knew he was excited to introduce her. She couldn’t fathom the idea of spending an evening with them now.
“Bren, I’m too tied up with this deadline to make the dinner.”
A range of expressions played across his face. “You’re kidding. My parents have been looking forward to meeting you for months.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I really am, but it’s a bad time.”
Bren stormed into the bedroom and came back with his shirt. He dressed rapidly and grabbed his wallet and keys off the table.
“Don’t be mad,” she pleaded.
“Don’t be mad? What the hell, Sem?”
Her eyes welled with tears. God, she hated this. The truth was that even if she hadn’t seen his future without her in it, she and Bren would still be standing at opposite ends of the room, a gulf between them.
“Did you meet someone in Switzerland?” he demanded. “Is that what’s going on here?”
Semele hesitated. Theo wasn’t the reason.
“Because ever since you came back it’s like you’re a different person.”
“Like I said”—Semele crossed her arms—“I’m stressed over work. I don’t want to fight.”
Bren shook his head, completely bewildered. “You seriously can’t go tonight?”
She nodded, avoiding his eyes, and made a big deal out of packing up her computer. She needed to go to the lab and check the manuscript. “I’m sorry. I know it’s lame.”
Bren let out a pained sigh of resignation. “I guess we’ll have to do it next time. I’ll tell them things are really crazy on your end.”
She wondered what he would say if she confessed that a two-thousand-year-old manuscript was talking to her. Crazy didn’t come close.
Queen of Swords
Semele got off the elevator on the eleventh floor, purposefully avoiding the twelfth, where she might run into Mikhail or Raina.
She found Cabe at the humidifier chamber again. “Still busy with Georgie?”
He muttered, “Our first president is high maintenance.” He glanced over to her and smiled. “You’re looking rad-trashed.”
She grimaced. “Thanks. I need to ask a favor. Has Fritz inventoried the Bossard Collection?”
