Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(80)

Ivy picked up the bag by her side and walked to the couch. “We’re going to have a slumber party. I can sleep in Bryn’s spare bed, and Clint will sleep on the couch.”

“Wasn’t that your knight we saw leaving?” Clint asked.

Bryn jumped in before Zavien said anything negative about Valmont. After all, she was indebted to the knight for moving Zavien to action. She couldn’t wait to tell Ivy the big news. “He stopped by to visit.”

Her stomach growled.

Zavien raised an eyebrow. “Did they forget to feed you?”

“They offered. I slept through dinner.”

“That has to be a first,” Clint teased.

“What do you want to eat?” Zavien asked.

Her stomach growled again. “Anything is fine.”

“I’ll grab something from the café downstairs.” He touched her cheek before walking out the door.

As soon as the door closed, Bryn turned to Ivy and jumped up and down. “He kissed me.”

Ivy zipped across the room and hugged her. “Tell me everything.”

“You can’t tell anyone,” Bryn insisted. “It has to stay a secret.”

Ivy held her hand over her heart. “We promise.”

“Valmont made Zavien jealous. Zavien kissed me.”

Ivy did a happy dance.

Clint snorted. “It’s about time he got his head out of his ass.”

Bryn gaped. “You knew?”

“Just because he’s clueless doesn’t mean all guys are.”

“There’s one major problem.” She hated saying the other woman’s name. “His intended is Nola.”

Ivy cringed. “That sucks.”

“He said they’re friends.” Bryn took a seat on the couch. “Nola doesn’t like his hair or his tattoos.”

“That’s good.” Ivy sat next to her. “How are you going to handle this?”

“We can’t be together in public. I don’t like it, but I’d rather have that than nothing at all.”

Ivy pointed at the workout dummy in the corner. “Whenever you get frustrated, wail on the Slam Man.”

As soon as Zavien walked in the door, the conversation stopped. He looked at Clint. “How many seconds was I gone before she told Ivy?”

“Maybe two.”

Bryn met Zavien halfway across the room and took the white plastic bag he carried. “I won’t tell anyone else.”

In the bag, she found several submarine sandwiches and bags of chips. She chose one of each and set the rest on the coffee table.

Clint snagged a sandwich. “Do we have anything to drink?”

Zavien jerked his thumb toward the door. “Vending machines are down the hall.”

Ivy stood. “I’ll go with you. I want a candy bar.”

Chocolate sounded good. Since her mouth was full, Bryn raised her hand.

“I understand,” Clint said. “Soda and an assortment of candy bars, coming up.”

Zavien chose a sandwich and sat on the floor.

She wished he’d sit on the couch with her. Good Lord, she was clingy already.

“There’s something you should know,” he said. “Nola camps with us.”

“Bummer. I suppose we’ll have to act normal.”

He grinned. “You never act normal.”

Bryn balled up her napkin and threw it at his head. He caught it and spread it out on his lap. “Thanks. I needed a napkin.”

Ivy and Clint returned with armloads of soda and candy bars. “We need a cooler for your room,” Clint said.

Bryn surveyed the room for a suitable container and decided the plastic bag from the café should work as a temporary cooler. She opened it and exhaled chunks of ice until the bag was half full. “Ask and you shall receive.”

Clint and Ivy stared.

“My mom is a Blue,” she reminded them.

“You never told us you could breathe ice.” Clint looked offended. “You’ve been holding out on us.”

“I didn’t want to freak you out. Since the poisoning, I figure you’re up for anything.”

Ivy placed the extra sodas in the plastic bag to keep them cold. “You’re handy to have around. Any other tricks we should know about?”

“I change my hair color by visualizing it. Mr. Stanton thinks I’m using Quintessence.”

Clint’s soda landed on the coffee table with a thunk. “Get out.”

“Watch.” She closed her eyes and pictured her hair a deep blue green to match her eyes.

Ivy gaped. “I’m jealous. Teach me how you do that.”

“I’m not sure how it works.” Bryn focused on her sandwich.

“Too bad.”

Ivy and Clint chatted about classes. Bryn listened. She felt Zavien’s gaze and turned. His expression wasn’t what she’d expected.

“What’s wrong?”

“I wonder if I should tell Nola about us.”

Clint and Ivy stopped speaking.

Even though her heart was about to beat out of her chest, Bryn played it cool. “Why tell her? You’re not doing anything wrong. You both agreed to see other people.”

“We did.” Zavien sighed. “I’d hate for her to hear that we’re more than friends from someone else.”