“Anywaaay,” Sloane said, dragging out the word. “Are you guys up for it? Where’s Mica? Can he send out a mass text about the rules for tonight?”
“Hell yeah. I’ll give him the deets.” Shiner clapped his hands excitedly and rushed off through the common-room door.
“So,” Cade mused as he took a seat beside me. Sloane’s feet were on both of our laps now, which she didn’t even seem to notice. “What color are you wearing?”
The guilt was back just thinking about going to the claiming tonight to have fun. My chest ached with regret, and the uncertainties of Sister Mary missing made my throat close. Is it my fault?
“Don’t do that,” he whispered, bringing his face closer to mine. His arm rested behind my head, and his fingers fell to my hair. “There is nothing you can do.”
“It doesn't feel right to just...”
“To what?” he asked, interrupting me. “Not stay in your room all night with your bodyguard?”
A laugh slipped from me. “Is that what you’re calling yourself now? My bodyguard?”
His dimple appeared, and I locked onto it, feeling the cold make way for the warmth.
“Listen,” he suddenly grew serious. “Isaiah is calling in a favor to his older brother, who’s in the FBI. He’s gonna look into Sister Mary and try to connect some dots for you. He’s going to see if he can find anything out about you.”
I perked up a little. “How? My identity is…vacant. I’m Journey Smith. That’s all anyone knows.”
Cade’s hand fell to the back of my head, and he brought our foreheads together, and it was as if he and I were the only two that existed. St. Mary’s no longer breathed, there was no one else in the room, and neither the past nor the future broke through the moment. It was just us. “There is nothing either of us can do right now other than just be.”
A shaky breath left me, and I nodded against him only to pull back at the sound of Tobias’ scoff from his sister’s question. “It doesn’t matter what color I’m wearing. No one here is worth my time.”
Sloane grumbled under her breath. “As if anyone would want to crawl in bed with you.” Then, she turned on her lively voice. “I’m gonna wear black. I’m feeling a little edgy tonight.”
“Oh, shit!” Shiner bellowed as he walked back in the room. “It’s on, baby!”
Everyone laughed as I snuggled into Cade’s side, still wondering where Sister Mary was.