“Maybe if you would quit gabbing and let me focus on what I’m doing, you wouldn’t be suffering,” I snap.
Finn laughs at me. “And here I thought you would be ‘miss cool and collected’ after getting such special treatment.”
My eyes narrow as I glare at him.“Rough day,” I grumble before explaining to Finn how we had flag football and I took an elbow to the face. When I get to the part about almost passing out, I hesitate to tell him. I’m not sure why I don’t, but this moment doesn’t feel right for it.
“I can imagine that being unpleasant.” He lets me off the hook and leads me from the dance floor to a bench. “Sounds like you could use a break.”
We sit in silence, watching the girls and their escorts move gracefully around the floor. Essos is dancing with Tiffany, their movements perfunctory. Whereas most of the other girls have continued to grow closer to Essos, Tiffany still has him at arm's length. He’s tried night after night to break through to her, but I haven’t seen him make any progress. This furthers my belief that she’s here only to support Zara and play along with the game.
As the night winds down, I snag Cat and tell her about the game of pong we’re going to play with Essos. She’s excited about the prospect, and we slip away to set up, with Sybil’s help.
Sybil manages to magic up a table that fits the size regulations. Cups are set in their spots, empty of liquid courage. We keep getting distracted, watching the end of the glittering night inside. Finn steps out, holding bottles of champagne with a grin.
“Did someone say drinking games?” he asks, placing a bottle on one side and walking over to Cat on the other to help her set up. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her close, kissing the top of her head. “We need to wreck them. Do you have that in you?”
Cat affirms with a nod.
Essos emerges with Sybil behind him. Right away, Sybil sits in a chair against the house and crosses their legs, ready to watch. Time moves in slow motion as Essos takes off his jacket and tosses it onto the railing. His hands deftly roll up his sleeves, exposing his muscular arms, and my breath catches. If I wasn’t already hot for this man, this would have made me want to jump him. When he gets on his knees before me, I go totally still, unsure what he’s planning. I can’t stop thinking about having his face between my thighs, and more. I want his featherlight touch to skate up my legs the way they did in my dream. My heart can’t take much more of this teasing relationship between us. The fact that he’s getting bolder in how he touches me makes my soul trill in delight with each graze. He’s careful, slipping off my heels and tossing them to the side.
“If we’re going to win, I want you on steady feet. So, tell me more about this…pong,” Essos says, shaking me out of the waking wet dream I’m having.
“Get ready to be schooled, old man,” Finn says, pouring champagne into the red cups. Sybil magics up our other needs, including a ball and paddles, as instructed by Cat. Finn casts aside his jacket and rolls his shoulders, ready to go. Briefly, we explain the rules to our partners, showing them how to volley. I appreciate that Finn chose Cat as his partner, giving me a chance to partner with Essos.
“So, you’re going to want to sink this ball into one of those cups. If you do, the other team has to drink the whole cup. If we hit a cup, they have to drink half of it. When we serve, the ball has to bounce on our side and then their side. During a volley, it should only bounce on their side, or ideally, we sink it. We need to keep the ball shoulder height or higher.”
Essos nods, confirming his understanding.“And the paddles?” he asks, holding up his paddle, which is missing the handle. I palm my own paddle with my fingertips, gripping the edges.
Cat and I volley a few times, demonstrating how to play. Finn has one arm crossed over his chest while his other hand is lifted to his mouth as he studies our movements. I glance up and catch Essos watching me, and my cheeks flush.
Cat is wearing a strapless navy blue dress that flares at the knees. I suspect both of us are going to struggle in these gowns, which will level the playing field. When Cat realizes that I’m barefoot, she kicks off her own heels and asks the boys if they’re ready to play.
We fall into an easy cadence, Essos and I easily playing off each other. He moves out of my way as if knowing when I’m coming, and I do the same, almost predicting his movements before he makes them. Finn and Cat, on the other hand, keep colliding and laughing as they alternate trading drinks. They celebrate by hip-checking each other every time they make a sink or a hit.
“You know, I know that you were lying earlier. That’s okay—you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I am here for you.”
I’m holding a cup after Finn sank it, not looking at Essos when he says the words. I look up, and that cagey feeling I had when I first got here is gone. I want to open up to him, tell him what’s been going on.
I’m silent, contemplating.
“You’re a worrier.” I drain my cup and stack it neatly with our other empties.
“You’re right. I am.” He reaches out to take the ball from my hand. One small brush of his fingers against my palm, and I’m practically panting. Is this what it was like to be courted without modern dating and sexting? “I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I need to protect you. Things may not be what they seem.” When he says that, I think of the dreams I’ve been having and how Essos is now at the center of them. I wonder if the dreams are not quite what they seem, either. Sybil’s reaction earlier today warned me off mentioning them for sure. Was Cat onto something, and they’re actually the memories of another soul? I’m dying to ask, but the threat of repercussions falling on Cat means I can’t.
“I just got overwhelmed, probably tired from being early the one time. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
From across the table, Finn gives me an odd look, and I wonder if he can hear us. Essos serves, letting me put the conversation to rest. The first game finishes, and to be fair to Cat, we switch partners. I team up with Finn, and the results are spectacularly bad. Essos and Cat are not as in sync as Essos and I were, but Finn is all over the place, making throw saves in an attempt to try to keep the game going.
“What lie did you just tell?” Finn asks when we’re teamed up.
“What?”
“I told you, I can smell the lie you told Essos. It was tart.”
“He asked me about today.” Without prompting, Finn sets his paddle on top of the cups, effectively pausing the game.
“What about today?”
I glance at Cat and Essos, who start chatting. I think Cat’s giving him pointers on serving. Still, I lower my voice, not wanting him to overhear. The urge to confide in Finn is strong, and while earlier didn’t feel right to tell him, now I feel like there isn’t a choice. “I don’t know—something weird happened. I felt like I was dying, and then it was over as quickly as it began. Cat has a theory that I’m not compatible with Solarem and the Underworld, or maybe I’m too compatible and I’m feeling something from a soul.”