“You look hot as fuck,” Tavish promised from the doorway. “Come on, Aven could be back any minute. We don’t want to miss her.”
When Legend spun to face his roommate, he froze. “Shit, you look good too. I’ve never seen you wear all that before.”
“It’s a traditional kilt. Much more formal.” A white tuxedo shirt and black bowtie was covered by a vest, then by a Prince Charlie jacket with six silver buttons on the body and another three on the lower half of each sleeve. A chain draped around Tavish’s waist left a fur sporran to draw Legend’s eyes to the front center of the blue-and-black tartan, another piece of which was pinned over Tavish’s left shoulder. It draped down his back like a plaid cape. A small knife tucked in the top of his matching hose seemed rather appropriate and matched his shiny black leather shoes. His hair was neat and slicked into a man bun that Legend fantasized about grabbing hold of while they were making out.
Tavish grinned as he noticed the bulge in Legend’s dress pants. They hid nothing.
If they didn’t leave right then, they were going to screw up their hard work and carefully laid plains. They’d spent the past two hours that Aven had been flying setting everything else into motion with the help of their friends.
“What if it’s not enough?” Tavish asked. “What if she doesn’t believe that I’m trying my best and that my reaction had nothing to do with her and everything to do with me?”
“We’ll figure it out if it comes to that, but I think it might help if you promise her you’ll start going to therapy like she does. I swear she’s made more progress in a week than you have since…the incident.”
Tavish grunted. “Yeah. Okay. I want that for myself too, you know?”
“I think that will matter a lot. It does to me.” Legend hugged Tavish, proud of him for admitting his flaws and seeking help, no matter how long it had taken. It wasn’t often they embraced without intent to do more but he hoped maybe they could form a new, healthier habit.
They left the apartment together, headed for Karolena’s next door, which she’d only slept in once, that first night. He hoped she wouldn’t ever again either because he’d gotten used having her in his bed. Legend rapped on the door, a bit louder than he’d intended.
From inside he heard a curse then a crack.
“Karolena? Everything okay?” He called, prepared to kick down the door if she didn’t provide him reassurance.
Instead, the thing was whipped open. She didn’t step aside to let them in, leveling a hostile stare in their direction as she clutched her poor mop, now split in two. She must have been putting all her weight on it as she scrubbed furiously to have it fail her like that.
“Of course it’s not.” She flailed with the broken mop, making him take a step back to avoid getting whacked. She tried to peer around them, but they blocked the entire doorway and then some. “Where’s Levin?Howis he?”
“He’s still working with Jordan and Ruby on transferring intel. He’s fine, though. Jordan offered him a break to sleep but he knows our time is limited so he’s trying to communicate as much as possible while he can speak openly.”
Karolena nodded. “I told you he was decent. Relatively.”
“We should have believed you.” It was only one of many mistakes they’d made, which he intended to correct. It was then she seemed to notice their clothes.
“Where are you going?” Karolena asked as she checked them over, not at all subtly. Her hungry assessment gave him some hope that she might not send them away without hearing them out.
“On a date.” Legend fiddled with his bowtie again.
“Oh.” Her face fell and she began to shut the door. Did she think they’d lied about seeing other people too? Damn it.
Legend slapped his palm on it and elbowed Tavish, who sputtered. “With you, Karolena. We hope.”
She stopped forcing the door closed, then narrowed her eyes at them for a few moments.
“I’d say I don’t want to go anywhere with you, but we both know that’s a lie even if it makes me stupid.” She tossed the halves of the broken mop onto the floor, disgusted.
“You’re not dumb.” He grasped her hand, hoping to reassure both of them. “We’d like a chance to make up for earlier, even if we don’t deserve it.”
“I’m prepared to grovel.” Tavish drew a cross over his heart.
She looked at the splintered pieces at their feet and the sparkling though stark apartment surrounding her, then down at her uniform. “I’m in no state to go out. Besides, I doubt Jordan or Levin would let me anyway.”
“None of that matters where we’re headed.” Legend raised her so he could kiss her fingers. “You can come as you are. If you want, we’ve arranged something fancy for you to wear too.”
“You have?” Despite her residual ire, she perked up a bit at that.
Legend had the urge to chuckle, but knew better.
On the other hand, Tavish didn’t. “Yeah. Let us spoil you tonight, please?”