“You had things to say, and then we’re supposed to move on and be happy,” Donovan supplies, matching sarcasm with sarcasm. He spins one of the chairs around, sitting in it backwards, and rests his arms on the wood backing.
“Thanks,” I reply flatly, then get back to my speech. “Right, so here it is. One, as Nolan already pointed out, it’s my choice to help, and I’ve already decided to do it, fully knowing the consequences.”
“But it’s my—” Felix tries to interrupt, but is silenced by one of my no nonsense stares.
“I’ve already decided,” I repeat with emphasis. Mild throbbing starts to build behind my eyes, and I rub along my brow to attempt to relieve the pressure. “Second, the Council already wants me dead because I’m a spirit witch.”
A growl rumbles in Connor’s throat.
“Just because they want me dead, doesn’t mean I plan to let them kill me, okay?” My gaze drifts to Kaleb, who looks back at me knowingly, and my stomach does a low flip thinking about how he made me promise to live.Not now, Callie. Speech first. Romantic entanglements later. With a tired sigh, I finish, “And most importantly, third, no one will know I resurrected Felix, because he’ll be Andrew. New body. New life. No one the wiser. We’re doing this, okay? No more arguing about it.”
“Are we at the happy part now?” Donovan inquires with a salacious smirk that has me biting back flirtatious innuendos. Even though I don’t say them, I’m proud that I thought them.See, I’m not so innocent!
“I wish,” Nolan mutters, less inhibited over making said innuendos.
“Go ahead. Make your jokes,” I reply loftily, tipping my head up. “I’m not going to blush.”
“That sounded a lot like a challenge,” Nolan purrs with pure evil.
“No. Not a challenge,” I counter, shaking my head, feeling subtle tugs from my tresses hanging in Nolan’s grip.
“Definitely sounded like a challenge,” Donovan confirms, his own evil grin creeping along his face.
The rest of the evening is littered with the bawdiest and most suggestive things they can think of. Nolan and Donovan come up with the most phrases, while Kaleb and Connor tie with smoldering looks that remind me where their hands and mouths have been. Felix doesn’t actively participate, instead offering running commentary on the quality of the innuendos, while I try not to think of the stuff I’ve imagined him doing.
We laugh until it hurts, my cheeks remaining in a constant shade of red, and it’s exactly what I needed tonight. A night surrounded by people I love and who love me.
Chapter 22
Callie
With nothing left to do but wait for Felix’s new body to… become unoccupied, the past week has been spent doing this crazy thing called being a normal teenager. Fall finals are on the horizon, so a lot of our time has been focused on studying. Well, Nolan, Connor, and I have been studying. Kaleb and Donovan have that nearly perfect memory thing going on, so Kaleb’s been acting more as a tutor while Donovan has split his time between training and being an obnoxious distraction.
Knowing most of the others aren’t aware of our unlabeled relationship, he’s been thoroughly enjoying flirting and touching me in what looks like innocuous ways, but totally aren’t. Connor’s been taking on Kaleb’s breathing exercises as a result. He wants everything to be okay and he hasn’t been overtly hostile, but I can feel his struggle. It’s difficult to fight instinct. The fact that we’ve gone back to how things were where he can hold me, touch me, and sniff my hair has helped.
Felix has been in and out, taking more time to be on his own. He assures us that he isn’t backing out of the plan. Only that he needs some time to process and come to terms with what we’re about to do. It’s all different now that we have everything we need to resurrect him.
This attempt at normal teenage life is also why I now find myself at a mall in Portland on a Friday night hanging out with Nolan, Felix, and Mei. As a break from the constant studying, Nolan suggested we finally go on that shopping trip he promised me. I decided this was the perfect opportunity for the guys to get to know Mei, since they haven’t really interacted past general introductions in the halls at school. Kaleb and Connor said they were busy, how true that is, I have no idea, and Donovan flat out said he didn’t want to go. Not because of Mei. He just hates shopping.
“Wow, your boobs look amazing in that bra,” Mei exclaims, fiddling with the straps so they don’t dig into my shoulders. “Man, I wish I had boobs.”
“You do have boobs,” I murmur, speaking to her reflection in the dressing room mirror.
“Let’s just say in the summer, people can’t tell if I have boobs or well placed mosquito bites,” she remarks with pursed lips. “Now, I think you should get this in that pretty blue color too. Get some variety, ya know?”
“I really don’t need new bras,” I insist, turning so I can look at her face. “I bought new ones online.”
“You bought two bras. Both boring,” she chides, grabbing another bra from one of the stall’s hooks. “You have a literal harem of boyfriends. Girl, you need sexy lingerie. At least some bra and panty sets that match.”
“I don’t have a harem of boyfriends,” I deny, which is true-ish. I have confusing, undefined relationships. “I told you that rumor was just a rumor.”
“Oh, right, sure,” she sarcastically agrees, rolling her eyes. “Well, let’s ask the hot, rich, totally-not-your-boyfriend vampire standing just outside, manning the mass quantities of shopping bags filled with clothes he bought you, what he thinks about the bra you’re wearing and if you should get it in multiple colors.”
“Mei, no,” I hiss, but it’s too late.
She pokes her head out and summons Nolan over under the guise of needing a man’s opinion. Then she whips open the door, and I’m left standing awkwardly in skinny jeans and a push-up bra. The base color of the bra is a beige that nearly matches my skin tone covered in, as Mei put it, ‘virginal white’ lace, and has thin straps that crisscross over my cleavage.
“Her boobs look amazing, right?” she prompts, gesturing at my chest. “I think she should get it in blue. Maybe also in black?”
