Lucky Caller(54)

No one made us.

But whose fault was it?

A complicated series of emotions had passed over my mom’s face, and then she replied: It doesn’t have to be someone’s fault. Sometimes you can do everything right and it just isn’t meant to be.

I looked at Jamie’s prone form on the ground and then back up at Sidney. “No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

I swallowed. “What about true love’s kiss?”

Sidney shook her head. “That’s fake.”

“At least let me try.” I blinked at her, my heart pounding in my chest. “It always worked before.”

“Hapless already forgot you.”

“This could help him remember.”

I glanced down at Jamie, but he was still lying motionless, eyes shut. He had always been the best pretender when we played Kingdom—I knew he wouldn’t break. At least, I desperately hoped that this time he wouldn’t.

He stayed completely still as I knelt down on the ground next to him. His hair was plastered down against his head, little drops of water beaded up on his face. Before I could do anything, Sidney burst out: “Wait!”

I froze.

“Hapless only wakes up if he really loves you. That’s the only way. He can stay alive as long as his love for Aurelie is real. But if not…” She shook her head. “He’s a goner.”

I swallowed, then leaned in, rested my fingers over Jamie’s lips, and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. A beat longer than I would normally, and unnecessarily gently, considering Jamie couldn’t even feel it. But I hoped, stupidly, that he got the message.

I pulled back, and Jamie blinked up at me.

“Noooo,” Sidney wailed. “Come on, it should at least be more dramatic than that!”

Jamie’s eyes were everything.

“At least cough or, like, gasp for air or something,” Sidney continued.

Jamie just looked at me for one moment more, and then moved to sit up. I sat back on my heels.

“I think we should probably call it here,” he said, getting to his feet. “It’s been … a good game, right?”

“That’s it?” Sidney said. “That’s all? You’re not even gonna thank us for saving your life? Restoring your memories? Are they even restored?”

Jamie thought for a moment, and then nodded. “I remember everything.”

“You don’t sound happy enough to be a person who just got the memory of mac and cheese back,” Sidney said.

That teased a smile from Jamie. “You’re right.” He dropped down to one knee in front of Sidney, bowed his head.

“Thank you, travelers, for your assistance. I will forever be grateful. I hope your next adventure brings you riches and happiness and … good things.” His eyes flicked up toward me, and then away. “All good things.”

Then he stood, and with an awkward nod at Sidney and Rose, headed out, boots squishing with each step.

By the time we got into the hall, there was a trail of wet footprints leading to the elevator, and he was already gone.





51.


THERE WAS A WEDDING ON Saturday night. The ceremony was in the atrium, the reception in the Papa Bear ballroom. I worked my way through the meal mechanically, bringing salads and filling cups and clearing dishes. I was topping off water glasses when the speeches started. One of the women at the head table, clad in a royal blue dress, stood and turned to the two brides in the center.

“Andrea,” she said, and one of the brides brought a hand up to her face. “Oh my god, don’t cry yet, I haven’t even started.”

Gentle laughter rippled through the crowd.

“Okay. Keep it together or I won’t be able to—okay. Andrea, you’ve always been my best friend. You’ve been like a sister to me—stop it, I mean it! Don’t cry, oh my god.” She dabbed her eyes with a napkin before continuing: “You’ve always looked out for other people, you’ve always put others before yourself. You’re the most selfless person I’ve ever met. There’s no one I’d trust more in this world than you, and honestly, truly, there’s no one I’d want you to trust your heart to more than Yvonne. I know she’ll take care of you, the same way you’ve always taken care of so many of us here.”

It was sweet, too sweet for me to bear, somehow. Too much. The air in the room felt too close. I moved to the side, set my water jug down on one of the tray stands, and then ducked into the lobby, out the door, down the small flight of steps, and out into the night.

I leaned up against the brick of the building. The windows of the ballroom faced onto the parking lot, and although the shades were drawn during events, I could hear the murmur of voices inside.

I didn’t have my jacket, so I just stuck my hands in the pocket of my apron, let out a breath and watched it billow up in front of me. It was a cold April so far—nothing had bloomed yet.

I looked out over the parking lot, the bare branches of the trees swaying a little in the wind. The sacred glen, I thought absently.

Where was Aurelie now? Baking or hustling people at magic pool. Maybe she had her shit together in some capacity. Maybe her magic powers had helped her somehow in that way.

And what of Prince Hapless? He was dead now, apparently, according to Jamie. I thought about Hapless wandering through the glen. Maybe a warlock enchanted him, or he was struck by a poisonous dart. I thought about him alone, crying out for Aurelie and Iliana and Quad and no one coming. And Sidney’s words: He can stay alive as long as his love for Aurelie is real. But if not, he’s a goner.