Part 14 (1/2)
”Audra went on your dates?”
I can't help smiling as I remember some of my most infamous dating disasters. ”Let's just say she took her job very seriously.”
”Oh.” Solana sweeps back her hair and adjusts her dress, making her cleavage pop out even more. ”That's good, I guess. I always thought it was strange that the Gales chose her as your guardian. I mean, isn't she our age?”
”She is.”
I'm about to say more when I realize that the frown on Solana's face looks a lot like jealousy. And the last thing I need is any AudraSolana drama.
A really really really really really really really really long, uncomfortable silence follows. I'm reaching the point of wanting to scream into a pillow when Solana finally says, ”So . . .”
She hovers near the edge of the bed, like she's debating about whether she should sit next to me. I scoot over and she sits.
It's hard to ignore the part of my brain screaming, PRETTY GIRL ON MY BED!!!!!!! Especially when she turns to me and asks, ”So, you really don't want to sleep with me?”
I can't help blus.h.i.+ng. ”I don't know.”
”You need to sleep, right?”
I really do-and it's a pretty sweet bonus that her little dream trick also helps me bring back more memories.
I clear my throat. ”I guess we could try it. But I'm not up for every night.”
”Don't worry. I have to sleep sometimes too.”
”Oh, right. Wait-were you awake last night?”
She nods and I can't decide if that's embarra.s.sing or creepy-but I'm guessing it's both because I feel almost violated.
Especially when she adds, ”You mumble sometimes.”
My face seriously feels like it's going to burst into flames at this point. ”Do I want to know what I said?”
”Probably not.”
”Oh, G.o.d.”
”Relax, I'm kidding. I honestly couldn't understand most of it. The only word I caught was 'stay'.”
”Stay,” I repeat.
”Yeah. When we brought you home. Your mom was arguing with the Gales and I wasn't sure if I should be here, since you'd been so angry earlier. But when I tried to pull my hand away your grip tightened and you mumbled, 'Stay'. So I did.”
Her cheeks flush and she stares at her right wrist, twisting the golden cuff again.
She must've thought I meant that for her.
”Is that bracelet from your parents?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
”Actually the Gales gave it to me.” Several seconds pa.s.s before she mumbles, ”It's what we call a link. Most people wear them on their left wrist to symbolize their bond, but they gave me this to represent . . .”
She doesn't finish. But when she holds it out to me I can see the letters S and V etched into the center of a carving of the sun.
”Well,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. ”Guess you don't have to wear that anymore.”
”Yeah. True.”
And yet, she doesn't take it off.
I have a feeling I know what that means.
”Morning, sleepyhead,” my mom calls from the doorway- because apparently the universe decided this moment needed to be even more awkward. ”Did you have a good night?”
She grins at me and I'm pretty sure it's proof that my mom's been body s.n.a.t.c.hed. Especially when she turns to Solana and says, ”Thank you so much for doing this.”
”Of course.”
I'm relieved to hear the slight squeak in Solana's voice. At least she realizes how weird this is.
My mom hands her a pale yellow satchel. ”I had the Gales bring over your things so you can shower and change. You'll want to use my bathroom. Vane hasn't cleaned his in so long it's probably a public health hazard.”
”I've had a few things going on,” I grumble.
”The bathroom's just through my bedroom,” my mom tells Solana, pointing down the hallway. ”Clean towels are on the counter and help yourself to anything else you want. You know how to work a shower, right?”
”She's a sylph not an alien, Mom,” I interrupt as Solana slips past my mom and disappears down the hall.
My mom blushes. ”Right.” She waits until Solana closes the bathroom door. Then turns to me and says, ”So, interesting night.”
”Yeah, no kidding-and since when are you okay with letting a hot girl sleep in my room?”
I glance back at the bed, not sure how to get rid of the image of Solana stretched out in there. I think I'll need to have Audra help me replace it . . .
”Oh, please, Vane. I knew you two were only sleeping-and I was happy to see you finally get some rest.”
”Okay, who are you and what have you done with my mother?”
My mom laughs. ”Stop being so weird and go get cleaned up. I'm making breakfast.”
I'm being weird?
Me?
I stomp to the bathroom and jump in the shower.The water falls like a trickle and I realize Solana's stealing all the water pressure- which is a bad thing to think about because suddenly I'm imagining her all wet and steamy and- Why does she have to be hot?
Couldn't the Gales have betrothed me to some hook-nosed hunchback with warts and a snaggletooth?
Or couldn't she at least be as uninterested in me as I am in her?
I think about the sadness in her eyes when she told me I was all she's had to hold on to.