Toxic (Denazen #2)(57)

“They’re perfect,” I said with a grin. “So, Curd?”

“We spoke at the party. He asked me if he could have Jade.”

I snickered. That was so Curd. “And what did you say?”

He looked kind of puzzled. “I told him of course. As soon as I was done with her.”

I should have been mad, but really, he had no clue what he’d said. “I’ll bet my right arm you’ve earned the respect of Parkview’s most renowned letch.”

“He did seem pleased.” He held out his hand, and I saw he was wearing black gloves. “You look really nice.”

“You, too.”

“Curd told me to say that, too.” He frowned again. “But I don’t like his way of saying it.”

“Oh?”

With his free hand, he brushed a gloved finger across my cheek. The satiny material was cool and smooth against my skin, and it made me ache for the warm, calloused touch of his bare hand. “Beautiful. You look beautiful.”

“I like your way better.”

His frown disappeared, blooming into a very satisfied smile. “Good.”

And just like that, all the Jade-tension melted away. How could I second-guess his feelings? The no-touching thing was no big deal. It was temporary. Trivial. Something like that couldn’t come between us. Especially not with him looking at me like he was. Like I was the only bit of light in a world full of dark.

There was another knock on the door. Against my will, I let go of Kale’s hand and pulled it open. Standing there, looking amazing in a strapless, shimmering green gown complete with dangerous slit, was my least favorite person on earth.

“Is Kale here?” She smiled and batted her overdone eyes. Red hair swept into a loose up-do with tiny tendrils artfully escaping, Jade looked like she belonged on a runway in Paris rather than the streets of Parkview. I looked good, but necessity had me stepping out in something way more conservative than usual. She had me beat in the drool-worthy department.

“Where else would he be?”

“He was supposed to meet me in the lobby five minutes ago.” She leaned around me as Kale came to the door. “Ready?” She beamed at him.

I whirled so fast that my head spun a little. “What does she mean, ready?”

Jade answered for him. “Reservations? The reason I’m wearing this killer dress?” Then, as an afterthought, she said, “Yours is cute, too. Sleeves are safer, huh?”

Then it hit me. “You’re bringing another girl on our first official date?”

For a second, Kale looked confused. Then he frowned. “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

I understood why Jade was tagging along. Really, I did. In fact, I should have seen it coming even before she showed up. It would be disastrous for Kale to go without her. All it would take was an accidental brush or a simple misstep, and someone’s life could easily be over. Still, even knowing that, I was annoyed.

I took his hand and pulled him out the door. “Let’s just say it won’t win you Boyfriend of the Year.”

The car ride was weird. Like something out a junior high first-date nightmare. Rosie drove us to the restaurant in her minivan. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Jade made a big stink about seating. She stated—in an annoyingly rational manner—that I should take the front seat. I didn’t want to start building up my resistance to her aura before the dance. It was safer that way.

Yeah. Her safety, maybe. Before the night was over, there was a very real chance I’d kill her and bury the body behind the restaurant.

We entered Flavour to find the place packed. Couples were crammed on the dance floor, swaying to the soft music of the band at the front of the room. Elegant, but not exactly my idea of a party.

I gave our name to the hostess, and she led us through the crowd, heading for the back of the room where Kiernan was already sitting.

She saw us and stood. “Hey, can I talk to you for two seconds?”

I glanced back at Kale and Jade, who’d already settled at the table. Next to each other. “I guess,” I grumbled.

Kiernan led me to the corner. Her face was flushed, and she looked ready to freak. “I have a favor to ask.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re not about to ask for help moving furniture down a narrow set of steps?”

“I met this guy a few days ago on campus. We kinda flirted and, well, he was shy, so I asked him out.”

“So this is why you’ve been scarce lately, you little vixen!” At least that explained her ditching me. It didn’t help that she hadn’t told me, but at least there’d been a reason. “So you asked him out… Out as in here, tonight, out?”

“Yeah. Since Ginger invited me to your little homecoming stand-in, I thought I’d use it as a dry run. Hope that’s okay?”

“That’s great! Where is he? Is he hot?”

“He ran to the bathroom just before you guys came in. Should be back any second now.”

“So what’s the favor?”

“Just try to make him feel comfy? I think I really like him. We’ve talked on the phone for hours, and we have a ton in common. This is, like, one of the best things that’s happened since…”

Since we’d convinced her to leave her home and everything she’d ever known. A pang of guilt washed over me. Kiernan was a little rough around the edges, so we all sometimes forgot how hard all this was on her. The one thing I’d learned fast was that she kept a lot hidden. She wasn’t an emotional sharer, so for her to be coming to me about this guy like this, it had to be pretty big.