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They did that half-hug that men always do, the one that ends with a light thud between the shoulder blades.
“I guess we just missed you guys,” Kai said.
“Yeah, just heading out,” I said.
“That’s too bad,” Callie said.
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, we’ll let you get seated.” Damian looked at the door.
“We’re just grabbing coffee.” Kai nodded at the counter. He didn’t move for a second. His eyes went from me, to Damian, to the exact space between us, like he was measuring the distance. A milk steamer shrieked behind the counter. Somewhere a gull went off like an alarm.
“Good seeing you guys,” Kai said.
“Yeah, I’ll catch you later,” Damian said.
I spent the car ride home asking the same questions over and over: Did Kai suspect Damian? Did Damian know whether Kai suspected? Did Kai know that Callie now doubted him? Did Callie know if Kai knew?
Apparently reading my mind, Damian said:
“He doesn’t know anything. Yet.”
“How can you tell?”
“I know Kai better than he knows himself.”
It didn’t reassure me as much as I wanted it to.
We rode in silence for a few minutes, until Damian spoke up.
“I know I keep telling you I can’t help you destroy the Bridegroom. But there’s something I can do that’ll make the whole thing a lot easier.”
“What’s that?”
“When you’re in that old house, and it’s actually happening, your body is going to do everything it can to get you to stop. You’ll want to run, open your eyes, break the circle. Leave the room. If you do that, it’s over. It won’t work if you can’t make yourself stay.”
“And you can help me with that?”
“Yes, but only if there’s something to push against. It has to be in a place where your body is certain you’re going to die, and I teach you how to stay anyway. And then you find out if you can.”
I laughed, despite myself, because it was one of those moments when you either laughed or put your head in your hands.
“You’re going to take me to some place where I’m going to feel like I’m about to die? I didn’t think you could top dragging me into the freezing ocean to cleanse my jewelry of malintent.”
“Never underestimate my ability to take you on terrible dates.”
“So how is this going to work? You’re going to leave me alone in a cave?”
He hesitated, his eyes on the red light at an intersection. “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
“Damian.”
