I shove Magma away, slide off the basin, and shoulder my way through all three of them without making eye contact with a single one.
“Carla…wait…” Robyn calls after me.
Then she’s jogging, and she catches up, even though I’m walking as fast as my heels will allow.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell her. “I ruined your wedding. I ruined everything.”
She laughs. “You didn’t ruin anything.”
“I did. I?—”
“Babe, you didn’t. I swear.”
We walk back up the hallway and out into the main venue, where the music is still going, and nobody seems to have noticed that my entire life just imploded in a bathroom.
“Follow me.” She pulls me through a nearby door, and then we’re outside in the cool night air. Strings of lights glow along the edge of the terrace. She turns to face me. “You and Magma?” She lifts her brows. “Since when? I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry, but what was that?” She points at the door.
“No. There is no me and Magma.” I wave the idea away with both hands.
“What was that, then? You guys were…getting pretty hot and heavy for two people who are not together.”
I sigh. There’s no point pretending. Not with Robyn. “We had sex on Mistveil. There! It’s out.” I roll my eyes.
“What?” Her eyes go round as saucers. “Really? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it was just sex. It was intense on that island and it just kind of happened…a couple of times. We agreed to forget about it and move on, which we both have.”
“That did not look like moving on.” She looks entirely too amused.
“His dragon is protective of me. He has literally killed for me. When I ran off the dance floor like that, it sparked something in him. It triggered a reaction because of what happened on Mistveil. That’s all it was.” I push the picture of Magma and Brook wrapped around each other on that dance floor out of my mind. “Magma is with Brook now.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m very sure. The kiss was an accident. That’s all. And poor Brook. Poor you. God. I’m so sorry, I?—”
“You can stop apologizing. It’s fine. I told you, you didn’t ruin anything.” She takes my hand and squeezes it. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Malachite said you weren’t feeling well. He looked shaken. We were worried, so we came after you. You should close the door next time.”
“That was unplanned and a mistake. Yes, I wasn’t feeling well. I downed my Cosmo after having all of that rich sauce at dinner. My body isn’t used to it anymore. I got queasy. I’m all good now.” Then the rest of what she said catches up with me. “Oh no. Malachite. Poor guy. Shit! Magma got quite aggressive with him.”
“Because he’s jealous?” Robyn asks, lifting her brows again.
“Because he’s protective of me, like a…” I want to say sister, but that would be all kinds of wrong. “We’re friends.” All wrong too, but whatever.
She makes a humming sound that says she doesn’t buy a single word of it.
“I need to get back in there.” I point at the door.
“Are you staying?” She looks hopeful.
“Of course I am. Just pretend you didn’t see that. It meant absolutely nothing, I swear.”
“Okay. It’s not my business.” She holds up both hands. “I’m here if you need me.”
“You’re the best.” I hug Robyn tight, and then I go inside to find Malachite.
