“Wow.Congratulations,” I said, this time really meaning it.“What is it about?”I wondered if Chrissy had been telling the truth—that the contents of the book involved me.
Maddox arched an eyebrow.“I guess you’ll find out when it’s published,” he said mysteriously.“I’m heading down to Sternfeld Press after this, so wait for good news.”
I smiled, growing uncomfortable at the words I wanted to say.I’d never properly apologized for our fight in Witch Village, and I figured now was as good a time as any.I drew in a breath.“Maddox.I’m sorry for not taking you seriously.That was rude of me.”
Maddox shrugged.“I don’t blame you.I’m the captain’s spoiled son to most people and I slip into that role easily enough.Some days I don’t even takemyselfseriously.”He looked at me for a moment.“But for some reason, I wanted you to see past that.”
His experience wasn’t unlike mine.I’d never been a romantic interest to anyone—most boys saw me as a friend, someone to fight and banter with.I had fallen into that role just as easily.Yet somehow, I wanted Maddox to see pastthatwithout giving him a reason to.
I had been half annoyed at him this entire time because of theincidentthat happened last winter.His apparent rejection of me.
But Maddox had become more than just a casual friend lately.He had become a source of reassurance and steady companionship.My biggest supporter, next to Christabella.When I thought back to our last interaction in Witch Village, I dared to think that his rejection hadn’t been a rejection at all.
He began to gather his new clothes back into its bundle, whistling a cheerful, though off-key, tune.I suddenly didn’t want him to leave, but I didn’t know what to say to make him stay.I grabbed his wrist instead, his skin warm and surprisingly smooth beneath my fingers.“Maddox.About the...incident.”
He blinked owlishly at my hand, as if surprised I had touched him out of my own free will.“What incident?”
“You know.”The words stuck in my throat like a lump of sticky rice.“During the tour.There was music and food.We...um.You know.”
Maddox furrowed his brows.“What are you talking about?”
I took a deep breath.“Do you remember going to a tavern in Alevine during the winter tour?”
He nodded slowly.“Yeah.The potatoes were fantastic.And they had free drink refills.”
“Well I came a little after,” I said.
Maddox blinked.“You were there too?”
“You don’t remember?”
He shook his head.“There were free drink refills.”
I let go of his wrist and sat back.“Are you saying you don’t rememberanything?”
Maddox laughed.“I don’t even remember how I got back to the opera house the next morning.”
Horsefeathers.He didn’t evenrememberour kiss.Relief crashed over me like a wave, leaving me as limp as a strand of seaweed.All this time, I thought that moment had made things strange between us.
“Wait.Did I...”Maddox trailed off, his eyes meeting mine.I tensed again.“Did I vomit on you?”
I cracked a smile.“Something like that.”
The sunlight filtering through the doorway illuminated his eyes just so, alighting the stormy grey of his irises to a pale quartz.
Just do it, Gigi,I told myself.
I stood from my stool and grabbed the back of Maddox’s neck, pulling him toward me.Our mouths met, causing heady warmth to burst from the top of my head down to my toes.He made a startled noise.I only hoped Kiara wasn’t watching.
Maddox broke away first, gazing at me with a mixture of shock and satisfaction.“Finally,” he breathed.
I flicked his forehead.
“Ow!”He rubbed at the spot with his fingers.“What was that for?”
“Do you seriously not remember the last time we did this?”
Maddox frowned.“The last time you flicked my forehead?”
“No,” I said, grabbing the front of his shirt.“This.” I kissed him again.
He tipped his head back, his eyes half-lidded.“Huh,” he said with a contemplative air.“So thatwasn’ta dream?”
