“Who said I was selling anything?” Daniel said.
Cue the record scratch. My mouth opened, and for once, I couldn’t think of anything to say.
Berron smiled like it was Christmas and his birthday all at once. “You’re keeping it?”
“Daniel,” I said. “You almostdiedthere. Why would you want to keep it?”
He rubbed one hand over his head, looking less like the Lord of the Blessed and more like a boy caught with his hand in the pickle jar. “I thought Jessica might like her old room back, you know? And it gets her out of Victorine’s hair.”
This was accurate, thoughtful, and also suspicious. I’d known Daniel long enough to know that. So I waited. One of the best ways to get people to talk is to just shut up.
Berron wouldn’t have looked out of place with a tub of popcorn, the way he was watching Daniel and me.
“Besides, I like the building. It has style,” Daniel said.
I kept waiting.
“I could even sell my own condo, you know—”
“What?” My breath blew out like dragon smoke. “You’re moving in? You’re moving intoProspero’s apartment? WithJessica? Are you insane?” I got right up to Daniel’s chest and poked a finger in his silk tie. “She nearly killed you!”
He shrugged. “I’m not afraid of her.”
“I’m not afraid of her, either.” Not strictly true. I still wondered what she was capable of. “But it’s different,” I said.
Howwasit different, though? I’d kept her around; kept her close, even, working at the restaurant. And on the face of it, he was doing the same.
But hewasn’t. I was sure of it.
I just couldn’t describe it in a way that made sense.
Berron’s obvious delight was distracting. I threw up my hands. “Fine. Shack up with Jessica. Who am I to tell ‘Lord’ Daniel what to do?”
“I still outrank you, by the way,” Berron said.
“And yet here you are,” Daniel replied, “cleaning up my sidewalk.”
“Are you two done?” I said.
“As you wish, my—” Berron stopped, cleared his throat. My name hung in the air unsaid. “My, what a lovely day.”
I was about to respond when I heard something in the distance. Something jingling. A high chime like tiny bells carved from crystal.
Ice cream truck, I thought.It’s only an ice cream truck.
In the fall, though?
They were both staring at me. Daniel waved at me. “Zelda? You okay?”
“I’m fine.”Ice cream truck, ice cream truck, ice cream truck. If I kept thinking it, that would make it so. Or it would have, if a scent hadn’t slipped between the everpresent exhaust, the nearby green and growing plants, and the lingering taste of apple on my lips.
Star fruit.
Berron had his hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t even noticed him put it there. “Hey,” he said, giving me a shake. “You zoned out on us.”
“It’s nothing.” They looked doubtful. “What? I can’t stop and think for a minute?”
“No offense,” Daniel said, “but it’s really not like you.”
