Echo (The Soul Seekers #2)(73)
I glance at Xotichl, surprised to find her leaning toward me, just as hungry for the details as Lita. Then I slide my eyes shut and allow myself to remember. Allow myself to travel to a time before Dace. Though it seems like there was never really a time before Dace. It feels like he’s always been with me.
“You know, originally I was so angry about that tabloid story and the way he betrayed me, I promised myself if anyone asked, I’d claim that he was totally overrated. But the truth is, he was a really good kisser.” I slide my feet across the duvet, bringing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms loosely around them. “But then, he should be. He’s had a lot of practice, both in real life and movies.”
Lita presses one hand over her heart while fanning herself with the other. Swooning onto my chair so dramatically, I can’t help but laugh in a way I haven’t indulged in for a while. And it feels so good to have this moment with my friends, I go on to say, “But—you know who’s a terrible kisser?”
Xotichl perks up as Lita slides to the edge of her seat, lips parted in anticipation.
“Will Harner.”
“No!” Lita cries, face lit with the kind of delight only the juiciest scandal can bring. “But didn’t he win an MTV award for Best Kiss?”
“Trust me, he’s the absolute worst—all spit, teeth, and crazy/floppy tongue. It’s like sitting in the splash zone at Sea World or going through a car wash with the top down—you end up drenched. The actress who played opposite him is truly gifted.” I cringe at the saliva-filled memory.
“So disappointing.” Lita sighs. “Still, I totally envy you. Even if it was a sucky, sloppy kiss, the fact is you still got to kiss him, while I’ve been stuck with the same group of boys my entire life. How can you stand it here? I mean, yeah, granted, I used to think this place was the greatest. Heck, I used to think I was the greatest—like Cade and I were the king and queen of Milagro High.”
“Um, that’s because you were Milagro royalty,” Xotichl says, causing Lita to roll her eyes and groan at the not-so-distant memory.
“I guess so,” she admits. “Still, it’s so weird how I no longer care about that stuff. It’s like I spent my whole life working to maintain my position as top dog—or top bitch as most people would say—but now all I can think about is ditching this place as soon as high school is over. I can’t get out of here soon enough.”
Her gaze drifts, as though searching for the exact moment when her opinion of Enchantment changed. Having no idea it happened on the Day of the Dead. The night a chunk of her soul was restored—released from those undead Richters and returned to her.
She’s no longer under their spell. No longer seeing this place the way they once manipulated her to see it. For the time being, they’re unable to touch her, unable to tweak her perception. And if it’s up to me, they’ll never be able to reach her again.
“This town is the epitome of dull,” she says. “Truly. I don’t know how you guys stand it.”
“It’s really not that boring.” A smile plays at the corners of Xotichl’s lips as she tilts her head toward mine. “It just seems that way at first.”
Lita quirks her brow, not at all in agreement. But then, she doesn’t know about the hotbed of supernatural activity brewing just under the surface. And with any luck, it’ll stay that way.
“Up until now, I’ve never had a place to call home. And while it may not be the kind of place I dreamed about, still, it’s not all bad,” I say, my mood turning serious again as the full truth of my words descends upon me. As bleak as this town undoubtedly is, there’s no denying the fact that some of my most treasured moments have taken place here. I’ll do whatever I can to defend it. I just hope I’m successful. I pull a pillow onto my lap and hug it tightly to my chest.
“You say that because you’re in love.” Lita glances between me and Xotichl. “Everything looks better when you’ve fallen hard for someone. It’s only when the magic wears off—and trust me, it always does—when you can finally look back and say: What the heck was I thinking?” She picks at a loose string on the hem of her tight V-neck sweater. “Or maybe that’s just me.” She sighs, allowing her hands to fall to her lap. “Maybe I’m just jaded after wasting my entire youth on Cade Richter.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve got a whole lot of youth left in you.” Xotichl laughs. “You’re not officially old until you’re twenty-five, right?” She leans toward me, seeking confirmation.
“Actually, I hear that forty is the new twenty-five. So, if that’s the case, Lita’s got loads of youthful years to look forward to.”
“Great.” Lita groans. “Decades of bad dates unfolding before me—oh, joy.” She fills her palm with a chunk of her hair and hunts for split ends. “It’s easy for you guys to laugh since obviously you’ll never have to worry about that. Have you seen the way Auden looks at Xotichl?” She releases the strands, slumps low in her seat. “It’s pretty much the epitome of what every girl dreams of. And clearly there must be more to Dace than meets the eye.” She shoots me a guilty look and quickly corrects herself. “Well, obviously there is. Objectively speaking, if I’d never met his creep of a twin, I might be willing to admit that he’s cute. Maybe even hot. Heck, everyone else seems to think so, so there must be something to it. Still, the evil specter of Cade trumps everything. So, in the end, I’ll just have to take your word for it.”