Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1)(55)
“You okay?”
I followed a pair of green and black oxfords up until I saw a familiar face. “Kris?” Any intelligent response flew out of my brain and I floundered for something to say. In my fantasy world, he’d just start spouting Aedan-like things at me and I’d respond with Maeve-ish answers, but instead my brain decided to register that the commercial sweater he was wearing got the Icelandic patterns all wrong.
“Yes,” I said, then scrambled to my feet and tried not to look like I’d just been sitting in the hallway like, well, like a loser. “I mean, yes, I’m fine.” He kept staring and I added, “I just couldn’t deal with any more of the changes they made to the musical. I needed a break.” I tried to push my hair back nonchalantly like Maeve would, but my fingers caught in the curls and I had to shake my hand free.
He smiled at me as if it were something he did every day, like we were in an alternate universe fanfiction of my life. “I know the feeling. Not to mention I had enough of these songs the million times I heard it in practice. Do you want to hang out in the library until right before the end? I’ve got the code to open up the tech cabinet.” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the library doors, which were conveniently located right in front of us. “I can pull out two tablets.”
My eyes grew wide and my heartbeat sped up the tiniest bit. The parts of me that didn’t want to go back into the theater to see more of the Dev and Lexie show and that wanted to bask in the amazingness that was Kris screamed at me to say yes. But the responsible part of me fought back.
“That sounds amazing, but I really should go back inside. Alec picked some seats right in front and Em will notice if I’m not there.” The words tripped reluctantly off my tongue, leaving the tiniest bit of a bitter taste.
To my disappointment, Kris didn’t look too upset. “That sucks. Next time, you need to sit in the back row like the rest of us cool kids so you can avoid actually watching these things like we do.” A brilliant smile spread across his features, lighting them up.
Ohmigosh. I tried not to break into a little happy dance over his offer and instead tried to return that smile, even though I was seriously contemplating taking back my first answer. “You’re so right. Thanks for offering.”
“Sure.” He turned in the direction of the library. “Have fun in there. Don’t get hit by a chandelier or anything.”
“Right.” I watched him walk away, the hall lights catching the faint golden highlights in his hair, and slumped against the wall again.
I was such an idiot.
Golden series book 1: Golden PG 130
Aedan seemed to relax a little bit. “Good.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Tomorrow, you will need to act like you did down in the tunnels,” his tone sounded apologetic, “Otherwise, Connaught and the others may suspect something.”
Act like she was his little human servant-with-benefits? Her body said yes and beat down the part of her brain screaming about self-respect. “That’s okay,” Maeve tried to sound casual, like he had told her she needed to buy a new pair of shoes for the mission or something. “I think we did a pretty good job acting today.” She almost choked on the ‘acting’ part. She couldn’t believe all of those gentle, guiding touches, the way he kept grazing her hair with his lips, could have all been acting11. Those few moments had convinced her that he felt something for her. But now she questioned even that. If he wasn’t so damn unreadable…
He nodded at her. “It’s better that way. It’s safest if they keep thinking you’re just an enspelled human.” His hand grazed hers for a hint of a second before he returned to tapping the table and watching.
That touch had been intentional. Frustration bubbled up in her and she pushed her teacup away. Maeve stood, a little bit of satisfaction rising up at the surprise in his face for her abruptness. “I’m heading back. I’m tired and the chaperones will probably do a check soon.” Before he could say anything, she turned on my heel and tried to make herself disappear into the pub crowd without looking back. Granmom always said that smart women knew how to make great entrances and exits12. Let him wonder about how she felt, too.
34
“You’re doing it again.”
I slammed my locker door shut and looked at Em. “Doing what?”
“Eye-stalking Kris.” She nodded towards Kris’ locker, where he was talking with a bunch of his friends.
“Eye-stalking? Is that even a word?” I leaned against my closed locker and watched as Kris did the same against his. I could practically melt into the metal and stay that way forever. “I love that he’s got this whole Victorian-Edwardian thing going on with his hair.” The only thing the moment needed was for Kris to look my way so our eyes could meet. Then, I’d just have to drop my eyes, shyly, and look up again, catching his attention again. Then, he’d push off his locker, make his way across the hallway, and…
“You make me ashamed to be a girl.” Em grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards my homeroom, popping me straight out of my daydream. “You’ve been even more obsessed with him since January.”
I tried to shrug free, but that girl had an insane grip. “Have not. I’ve always thought he was cute.”
“Again, unobtainable fictional romance.”