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“Yeah, she went into the mirror maze after you did and came out a few minutes ago. But when she came out, she looked angry. Like, burn-it-all-down kind of angry.”
It takes a minute for this development to sink in. But when it does, I put two-and-two together. Johanna saw Alek and I kissing and doing… well, whatever it was we were doing.
And I doubt she’ll let it go.
“Where’s Dmitry?” I ask, glancing around. I’d almost forgotten about him.
“He had to go to the medical tent. He didn’t want to leave without making sure you were okay, but he was in bad shape. Security came by and they’re scouring the fairgrounds for a suspect. They’ll catch who did this to him.”
No, they won’t.
“I’m just relieved you aren’t hurt,” Prisha says. “But are you sure you’re okay?”
One thing’s for certain: I’m definitely not okay.
Chapter 12
Willow
“Willow, are you okay?”
Why does everyone keep asking me that?
My dad, Galina, and I sit at the table in the dining room. I’m pushing a strawberry around on my plate without looking up. “I’m fine.”
In his hand is another Russian newspaper, and on the front cover is a half-page photo of Hans Müller, whose face is twisted with rage as he shakes his fist at a massive crowd of people.
My dad takes a sip of coffee, measuring his response before he swallows. “You seem quiet.”
“I’m always quiet.”
“I mean, you’re not the angry teenager you normally are. You’ve been subdued all weekend. Did something happen at the festival?”
“I just have a lot on my mind.” I drop my fork to the table and push out my chair. “I need to go.”
Slinging my bookbag over my shoulder, I make my way out of the dining room. It’s Monday, which means I have to face Alek at school, but I haven’t figured out how I’m going to act around him.
At the door, I grab my coat off the rack and start putting it on, but hurried footsteps follow behind me.
“Would you like to take some breakfast with you?” Galina asks.
“No, I’m not hungry.”
As I button my coat, she stands there in the foyer, chewing on her lip.
She smiles at me in the mirror, though she doesn’t move to leave.
“Is there something else?” I snap.
Galina takes a deep breath. “I really want us to be friends.”
“Friends?”
“Yes,” she enthuses. “We could get our hair done together, or go shopping…”
When I hold my hand up to interrupt, and her voice trails off as her smile falters.
“Look, just because you and my dad are a thing, it doesn’t mean we have to hang out or anything.”
