I haven’t the faintest idea why she’s looking at me that way; it’s unusual for me to lose focus on a conversation like this. When I don’t respond, she huffs, then stomps the rest of the way to her room.
The door clicks shut, and Alexis’s gaze lingers on it as she approaches. “Rude.” Then she turns to me, resting her fingers on my arm. “Don’t let her get to you. Some people just thrive on misery.”
I close my eyes, rubbing circles into my temple. “I think I’ll head to bed. I’m having a hard time keeping up.”
“Are you sure?” A frown crinkles her face. “We told Reid we’d go by The Duck.”
“You can go. I feel like staying in tonight.”
She eyes me for a moment, then shrugs. “If you’re sure. Guess I should start getting ready.”
There’s a tug in my chest as I watch her disappear into her room—a nagging feeling that I’ll be missing out if I stay. But my head hurts, and a warm bath calls to me.
I can go to The Duck another night.
Chapter 13
Caeo
Reid and I sit at the corner of the bar in The Buttoned-Up Duck, sipping our drinks. It’s fairly empty, thanks to the ball tomorrow. The third-year Academy students start decorating the grounds well before dawn, so they’re all trying to get what little sleep they can, and everyone else wants to avoid hangovers for the festivities. I’vetechnicallygone the last three years, but ended up spending most of my time in my dates’ dorms. Now that I’m allowed to attend on my own, it’ll be nice to see what the fuss is all about.
But tonight’s about Reid. These past few weeks, he’s been kind-of-sort-of seeing Emmrich—the guy with shitty taste in drinks—as part of some weird competition with Alexis. He’s hoping to invite him to the ball, and asked me along for moral support. So here we are, waiting around in a quiet, poorly lit tavern that smells like nobody’s cleaned the floor in ages.
Emmrich announces his arrival by sliding his fingers along Reid’s back, making him cough as he chokes on his ale.
“If it isn’t one of my favorite people in all of Haven,” he says, plopping onto the stool beside Reid. He’s got a roguish sort of charm, but isn’t the type I’d have ever expected to catch Reid’s eye. Even with his blond hair tied in a knot, it’s obviously far longer than socially acceptable, and his loose shirt hangs open in the front, his neck only covered by a carelessly wrapped scarf. The total opposite of Reid’s well-maintained appearance.
Meanwhile, Reid seems to have missed the opening Emmrich very clearly set up, so I take it for him.
“If that’s true, you should join him at the ball tomorrow.”There we go.Easy.
Reid burns me with a glare. I shrug it off and take another sip of ale. That’s what he wanted.
Emmrich winces, tapping the bar. “Tempting, but I unfortunately must decline.”
I almost breathe down my drink.
Well, fuck.Guess I messed that up. Could’ve sworn he was interested.
Reid exhales, closing his eyes as his palm hits his face. I’m definitely getting an earful about this later.
But then Emmrich squeezes his shoulder. “Nothing against you. I just have no desire to go anywhere near that much incanting. However…” He leans close, whispering some rather salacious suggestions into Reid’s ear. Reid bolts upright, his face flushing bright pink.
I stop listening as he hisses something back, satisfied that I was right after all. The ball may not have worked out like he’d hoped, but based on their proximity as they trade barbs back and forth, I’d say the odds are pretty good Reid won’t be spending the night alone.
That excuse was pretty weird, though. Sure, it’s a lot of incanting, but they’re usually done by the time people show up. There’s no reason to worry about your clothes fading.
Not wanting to be a third wheel, I hurry to finish my ale. Despite my rush, by the time I swallow the last dregs, not one but two girls have approached, inviting me to the ball while demonstrating incredibly liberal views on what’s considered acceptable physical contact between strangers. The second makes eyes at Emmrich as she leaves, drawing Reid’s attention.
“They’re getting bold, aren’t they?” he says, and Emmrich chuckles in response.
My tankard clanks as I slam it down. “I can’t wait until this stupid ball is over so everyone and their mother will stop asking me to take them.”
“Just tell them to get lost—you’re already taken.”
“It’s not that easy.” My throat always twists painfully when I lie, and people notice.
“Whatever, man.”
