“Thank you,” I whisper.
“They were only pretending to respect you,” Rook says, letting me hold the curve of his elbow as we continue walking. “Don’t waste your time on small men.”
I glance up at him. He’s smiling at someone waving at us, his attention stolen from me.
Considering he’s a man with no memories, I continue to be in awe at the confidence he seems to pull out of nothing.
We’re nearly to the drink table when three women, all in dresses of varying shades of purple, cut us off. It’s clear from the onset that they’re less interested in me and my murdering a witch and more interested in Rook.
They ask him where he’ll go from here, if he plans to stay.
We have yet to discuss any of this. After tonight, I plan on leaving to see the wizard.
“Kansas and I will be departing tomorrow for the Emerald City,” he tells them.
My gaze cuts to him.
“Oh, but you must stay!” one woman says as she reaches out for his other arm. “You’ll fit right in here in the Hollow!”
He’s coming with me?
“While I’m flattered,” he says, his attention still trained on the women, “I much prefer staying by Kansas’s side.”
“I thought your name was Dorothy?” the blond woman asks.
All three women turn to me. They’ve barely acknowledged me until now.
“It is Dorothy. Kansas is a nickname.”
“But you’re from Kansas?” the third woman asks.
“Yes.”
They all laugh together. “What an odd nickname! Imagine if everyone called me Hollow?”
They dissolve into more laughter.
“Imagine if your nickname was Insufferable?”
The women go immediately silent.
“Rook,” I say. “It’s okay.”
“If you’ll excuse us,” he tells the women. “I promised Kansas”—he puts extra emphasis on my nickname—“a dance.”
Heat escalates up my throat. “Are you serious?”
He draws me away. “Yes.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I’m a very good dancer. I think.”
“But… if we’re trying to make a show or something, we really don’t have to. I’m not bothered by those women making fun of my nickname. In fact, I think I’ve come to love it. It’s like an inside joke we have between us and—”
“Kansas.” He stops me on the edge of the dance floor.
“What?”
