“I have no idea what you’re even talking about anymore,” I told her.
I could practically hear her grinning. “Neither do I! And I’m going to stop now because we don’t have much time. My parents are freaking out about all of this. Now is not the time for me to be skipping class.”
“Your parents are freaking out?” I frowned. “Why?”
“Avery, do you know how many calls I’ve gotten? A reporter showed up at our house. My mom’s threatening to lock down my social media, my email—everything.”
I’d never thought of my friendship with Max as particularly public, but it definitely wasn’t a secret, either.
“Reporters want to interview you,” I said, trying to wrap my mind around it. “About me.”
“Have youseenthe news?” Max asked me.
I swallowed. “No.”
There was a pause. “Maybe… don’t.” That piece of advice spoke volumes. “This is a lot, Ave. Are you okay?”
I blew a hair out of my face. “I’m fine. I’ve been assured by my lawyer and my head of security that a murder attempt is highly unlikely.”
“You have a bodyguard,” Max said, awed. “Son of a beach, your life is cool now.”
“I have a staff, servants—who hate me, by the way. The house is like nothing I’ve ever seen. And the family! These boys, Max. They have patents and world records and—”
“I’m looking at pictures ofallof them now,” Max said. “Come to mama, you delicious mustards.”
“Mustards?” I echoed.
“Bastions?” she tried.
I let out a snort of laughter. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d needed this until she was there.
“I’m sorry, Ave. I have to go. Text me but—”
“Watch what I say,” I filled in.
“And in the meantime, buy yourself something nice.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“I’ll make you a list,” she promised. “Love you, beach.”
“Love you, too, Max.” I kept the phone up to my ear for a second or two after she was gone.I wish you were here.
Eventually, I managed to find the cafeteria. There were maybe two dozen people eating. One of them was Thea. She nudged a chair out from her table with her foot.
She’s Zara’s niece, I reminded myself.And Zara wants me gone.Still, I sat.
“I’m sorry if I came on a little strong this morning.” Thea glanced at the other girls at her table, all of whom were just as impossibly polished and beautiful as she was. “It’s just that, in your position, I’d want to know.”
I recognized the bait for exactly what it was, but I couldn’t keep myself from asking. “Know what?”
“About the Hawthorne brothers. For the longest time, every boy wanted to be them, and everyone who likes boys wanted to date them. The way they look. The way they act.” Thea paused. “Even just being Hawthorne-adjacent changed the way that people looked at you.”
“I used to study with Xander sometimes,” one of the other girls said. “Before…” She trailed off.
Before what?I was missing something here—something big.
“They were magic.” Thea had the oddest expression on her face. “And when you were in their orbit, you felt like magic, too.”
