“Consider him on his way,” I say. “I’ll be down in ten.”
I arrow out of the bedroom that I converted into a home gym, because who needs four bedrooms when they live alone?
I’ve never truly contemplated getting a roommate, but there are moments when the idea of company sounds appealing. Unfortunately, I’d want it to be a friend, and given that Calanthe is all but hitched, my applicant pool is nil.
After grabbing a shower, I pull on a pair of black jeans and a black tank top, then stab my feet into my short boots. I’m still perspiring by the time I plow through the air-conditioned lobby, tossing out a quick hello to Liz, who’s signing for some packages.
“This one’s for you.” She points to a big box.
Weird since I didn’t order anything. “Can you leave it in front of my door?”
“Absolutely, Miss Elle. You have yourself a blessed afternoon now.”
“You too, Liz.” I resume my jog, nearly choking on the humidity outside. The air is so stifling it feels like I’ve gone from freezer to sauna in a single stride.
I dive into Calanthe’s forest-green sports SUV, which is blissfully cool. Though there’s noBloom’s Bloomsdecal on the panels, the paint matches the shop’s branding.
“This heat,” I gripe to Diego and Calanthe.
“I know.” Calanthe fans her fingers over the air vents. “How about we head back to my place for a pool party after shopping?” She turns in her seat to look at me. “You can invite Cillian if you want.”
I purse my lips because I’m back to not knowing what I want.
“I’ll drag Dorian to Home Depot. We’ve been needing to go for some time.” Diego peers at me through the rearview mirror, like he’s waiting to see if his offer to keep my brother away will sway me.
“Thanks, but…I’m sure Cillian’s busy.”
“Ask him,” Calanthe says. “So you can beextrasure.”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, spill,” she says. “I thought your date went well! I also thought you’d been holed up with him for the last three days, and that’s why you didn’t answer any of my texts.”
It’s so steamy out that the sidewalk seems to ripple. “The date was nice.”
“But…?” Diego asks, clearly invested.
“But Mal keeps telling me that Cillian has some hidden agenda, and…”
“Don’t listen to him.” Calanthe lowers the volume of the music pumping through the vehicle. “He’s a full-on grump these days.”
“Why? Trouble in paradise between him and Ines?” My lid spasms. “Oh, wait, they’re notactuallytogether, so that can’t be why.”
Even though Calanthe’s eyes are hidden behind big-ass sunglasses, they fail to conceal her widening eyes.
“Why wouldn’t you tell me?” I ask.
She bites down on her lip. “I was going to, but a couple nights ago, I had this dream, which was weird as fuck?—”
“For a change?” Diego quips.
Calanthe tips him a smile. “Yeah. Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Which is why I didn’t tell you right away.”
I blink, not expecting that she’d held back the truth because of a dream. Then again, premonitory dreams are Calanthe’sthing—the extra gift Gaea granted her along with her additional runes.
I scoot to the literal edge of my seat. “Well, now youhaveto tell me.”
“Cillian was in Atlantis with us. I think it was for my wedding—except I wasn’t wearing a dress, so maybe it wasn’t that. Either way, he was there. And since we don’t allow just anyone onto the island, seeing him there made me assume he’s meant to become someone…important.”
