“It was a good pizza,” Heidi added, “and yes, we’ve been studying for hours. On a weekend too. How was Lasinda’s? Are you set for the ball?” she asked as she began to pack up.
“It was work. Oskar had nothing to contribute but his dislike of almost everything. We settled on a compromise, in the end,” she told her.
“I’m sure you will be captivating on the night. All eyes will surely be on you and the eldest Halvorsen,” Heidi replied.
“Are you prepared?” Selene asked, pulling me down to the couch beside her as she sat casually.
“I’ve left it rather late, like yourself, but I have some ideas, and I’m booked in with my stylist tomorrow. I should be ready. Worst case, I’m wearing something off the rack. It doesn’t particularly matter; no one will be looking at me when you arrive, hot hunk in arm, cameras flashing.”
Selene waved her hand. “Stop trying to flatter me, Coactus. I’m immune to your charm.”
“No one is completely immune to my charms, Selene; I’ll grow on you, Princess,” Heidi teased as she swung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door. “I’ll see you later, study buddy,” she said, waving and opening the door.
“Bye, Heidi,” I waved back as she left.
“Did you know Heidi was going to come over?” I asked when we were alone.
“Hmm, I knew when she arrived in the building. She would not have made it to the door without my permission,” she told me, pushing my hair behind my ear.
“Do you like her?” I asked.
“I think we could become good acquaintances. I do not believe she has ill intentions towards you,” she answered.
“Acquaintances, not friends?”
“There are few I class as friends,” she told me.
“I think she could be a good friend for you,” I said.
“Why?” she asked and pressed her nose to my head.
“She’s not afraid to speak her mind, and you think she’s funny.”
“I do find the mind reader amusing at times,” she admitted.
“You were with Lord Halvorsen today,” I said.
“I was,” she replied.
“Do you like him?” I asked her, trying not to sound bitter. I thought she did. She sure looked like she did when kissing him, holding onto his arm, and generally in his company.
Her hand on my jaw turned my face to her.
“It is irrelevant whether I like him or not,” she told me. “Yet, he has not grown on me.” I was happy she didn’t like him. I wasn’t sure how much I believed it, or if I’d be able to remember that she didn’t really like him the next time I saw them together. Her arm around my waist pulled me closer to her side, and she grinned down at me. “You could try not to look too happy, pet. It’s not you that has to marry him.”
“Do you have no choice?” I asked her.
“No good choices,” she answered.
I thought about what she had said, the tone of her voice; she sounded almost defeated.
“I wish you did like him,” I told her. I hated him. But if I had to marry someone I didn’t love, I’d at least want to like them in some capacity. “You deserve to marry someone you love. But if that isn’t possible, at least someone you like.”
“We are wholeheartedly different people, you and I,” she told me. “I do not think I could wish the same for you if circumstances were reversed.” She leaned down to kiss me slowly.
14. Dancing is Intimate
Persephone Flores