Lola checked the expensive watch she’d stolen from him. “I have to meet Enne soon. I...” She bit her lip.
“You know, I only told you because I thought you of all people wouldn’t worry about me,” Jac said.
She punched him in the arm. “Of course I’ll worry about you, muckhead.”
Jac smirked. “That didn’t hurt much. You won’t jaywalk. You’ve got no strength. No wonder you collect all those knives—how else would you convince people to fear you?”
She scowled. “I have my methods.”
Jac wondered why someone like Lola would stay in New Reynes. When they were in the National Library a few days ago, she’d claimed she had people she cared about in this city, but as far as he could tell, she was alone. But she was smart, and she could read, and even if it was sometimes easy to forget, the world was a lot bigger than the City of Sin. And a lot kinder, too.
“If volts weren’t an issue,” he started, “if you weren’t some assistant to the Orphan Guild, if you weren’t Enne’s second... What would you be? What would you be if you could be anything?”
“A librarian,” she answered matter-of-factly.
He couldn’t help himself. He hollered. “I can’t believe you just admitted that you’re actually a softie.”
She crossed her arms. “What’s your answer, then? What would you be?”
“I don’t know,” he said. It was a depressing thought. “But thanks for coming out here. I don’t... I don’t actually have a lot of people to talk to, other than Levi. But you get things that he really doesn’t. You’re a good friend.”
“Friend.” She squinted. “That’s pushing it, don’t you think?”
“Acquaintance?” he offered.
“Better,” she said, smirking.
The two of them stood up, and she eyed him with suspicion. “You look like you’re about to hug me. I don’t like hugs.”
He held out his hand. “Fine. Acquaintances.”
She snorted and shook it. “The ones who never wanted to be players.” And with that, she gave him a final order to be careful and a wave goodbye. Jac watched her walk down the block and disappear around the corner.
He was glad he’d called her—he did feel better now, with far less of an urge to smoke, at least for a few hours.
But there was still something that bothered him. Something about the last words she’d said.
The ones who never wanted to be players.
Sure, maybe Jac had neveraskedto be a player.
But Lola’s words about him weren’t entirely true.
ENNE
Lola scanned Enne’s ruffled sleeves, visible even beneath her black trench coat. “That’swhat you’re wearing? To meet my bosses?” Her voice was barely more than a squeak.
“I like the blue.” Enne pouted her lips and followed Lola into the Tropps Street Mole station. Though it hadn’t rained in several days, the cement steps were mysteriously and disturbingly covered in puddles, which Enne carefully avoided.
“You have a reputation now,” Lola groaned. “You have to look the part, otherwise we won’t attract the best.”
“And what attracts the best?”
Lola frowned at Enne’s necklace. “Not pearls.”
“This city thinks I killed the Chancellor. Everyone knows I killed Sedric Torren. And I did so while wearing pearls.”
“You’re in a mood,” Lola grumbled as they slid their tickets through the turnstile and followed the signs for the gold line.
