He looked at me, his gaze gone all fuzzy like he might try to kiss me again. But just as he started, I glimpsed something shiny, something dazzling, something spectacular and fleeting, shooting clear across the sky.
And as I turned my head to get a better look, Dacian moved in for the kiss, resulting in two noses that smacked hard together as I said, “Look, a shooting … star …”
We stepped away from each other, gasping in shock and embarrassment that soon gave way to an uncontrollable fit of giggles. The two of us falling all over each other, falling all over ourselves, hands carefully cupped to our faces, checking for damage, the sight of which only fueled a whole new set of giggles that completely consumed us.
Our laughter halted by the sound of someone saying, “Hi. Uh, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you might be able to help me?”
I turned, my hand instantly dropping from my nose to my side as I took in the stranger before me. My eyes grazing over his longish flop of brown hair that swooped over his brow before falling into a remarkable pair of green eyes framed by a thick set of lashes. Working my way all the way down a set of very strange, entirely unfamiliar clothes that clearly marked him as a foreigner—including a pair of shoes that were big and clumsy and miles away from the strappy leather sandals all the other males wore. And when I worked my way back up, I saw that he chewed some sort of odd green object lodged in the side of his mouth, which just made him look even more strange than he already did. Everything about him was weird—and yet, somehow I found that I couldn’t turn away no matter how hard I tried.
Dacian moved before me, as though to protect me—a move I found rather sweet, if not also a tad bit unnecessary. “And just what is it you need help with?” He gave the stranger a once-over almost as thorough as mine.
“I’m trying to locate a … friend.” The stranger’s voice was cautious, careful. “I’m afraid I’m responsible for her, and I’m wondering if either of you might’ve seen her. She’s blond, blue-eyed, and at twelve years old she’s a bit on the small side. Goes by the name of—”
I slipped back to Dacian’s side, my eyes meeting the stranger’s, unsure what to make of the unmistakable way he was looking at me.
With shock.
And disbelief.
As though he wasn’t just looking at me, but also through me, beyond me—and while I had no idea what he saw, there was no denying his interest was piqued.
“Riley?” His voice croaked as the straw fell from his mouth and landed at his feet. He stepped forward, his gait tentative, a bit shaky, stopping when Dacian raised a hand between them, flashing his palm in warning.
“I’m going to have to stop you right there,” Dacian said, the threat implied in his tone. “Clearly you have the wrong party, so it’s best you move on.”
If the stranger heard, he chose to ignore it. And though he made no further move in my direction, that didn’t stop him from staring in complete and utter fascination when he said, “Riley? Riley Bloom? Tell me, does that name mean anything to you?”
Heat rose to my cheeks, as a familiar feeling blossomed inside me—and though I knew I should look away, I just couldn’t, I was frozen in place
“It’s like I said.” Dacian took another step toward him. “You have the wrong party. There is no … Riley Bloom here.” He stumbled over the name. “It’s time for you to move on.”
The stranger glanced between us, his gaze landing on mine, holding the look for so long I couldn’t help but squirm under the weight of it.
Aware of Dacian’s body tensing, his fingers curling into fists, refusing to relax even after the stranger said, “No worries, I’m leaving.” He turned, stepped away, glancing over his shoulder to add, “At least for now anyway.”
15
Messalina and I stayed up late into the night, picking at a tray of leftover sweets, braiding each other’s hair, and swapping tales that we swore into the strictest confidence, requiring a solemn vow of secrecy before they were told. And after I’d listened to her gush on and on about he
r top secret romance with Theocoles, it was my turn to relate every last detail of the moment Dacian kissed me.
“He did not!” Messalina plopped a sweet into her mouth and leaned toward me as her eyes grew wide with surprise.
“He did, indeed.” I smiled at the memory. “Not much of a gentleman to be sure, but still, I decided not to call him on it. In fact, I even let him do it again!”
“No!” Messalina laughed and shook her head, lounging on a large pile of pillows she’d arranged at her back.
“Oh yes.” I nodded. “Though, to be honest, it didn’t quite go as planned. Rather than actually kissing, we had a little accident and ended up smacking noses instead!” I covered my face with my hands, seeing the embarrassing moment so clearly it was as though it was happening all over again. “And before we could give it another try, a stranger interrupted us … and … well, the moment was lost.” I shrugged. “But then later, by the fountain, he—”
“Stranger? What stranger?” Messalina bolted upright, her voice so edgy, face so alarmed, I immediately regretted having mentioned it.
“It’s nothing,” I told her, quick to wave it away, wanting to get back to my story—the second brief kiss Dacian had given me. “He left fairly quickly, it is nothing for you to worry about.”
“But he must’ve wanted something—won’t you tell me what that is?” She leaned toward me, her fingers reaching for my brow, pushing my hair away from my face.
“He was looking for someone named Riley.” My gaze locked on hers. “Riley Bloom, I think he said.”
“And what did you tell him?” She leaned closer, staring intently.