“Only one way to find out.” Lila is already navigating the tables to join in, so I follow her.
Closer, and I see that several tables have been allocated for students to sign up for social activities. I recognize the stained waistcoat behind one table, his friend in the sporty polo behind another, and the omega who knows Calder behind a third.
My gaze lingers on her. Instead of the sailor top, she’s wearing a neat white tank trimmed with red gems and red cherry earrings. Behind her are posters announcing a winter-themed ball.
“A Christmas ball.” Lila noticed it too. “I’m in.” She heads straight to the table and adds her name to the already sizeable list.
I mingle with the crowd, checking out the competition first. The guy in the waistcoat is advocating for a debate team. His friend at the next table is surrounded by students, so I can’t see his suggestion, but I’m guessing it’s the more popular option.
Waistcoat guy’s face fills with color when he notices me, and he keeps his eyes down on the list in front of him. It has a few signatures, and I find myself smiling, happy that his debate team isn’t being completely overlooked.
I step forward to apologize again for my clumsiness in the café when a familiar smoky scent of cedar and cold air catches me unawares. Calder takes my elbow and gently steers me towards the middle table.
“Can I interest you in signing up for bowling?”
I find myself standing in front of the guy in the sports shirt, whose dazzling smile makes my lips react of their own accord. “The more the merrier,” he says. “We can have a tournament if enough people sign up.”
His scent mingles with Calder’s: maple syrup and summer grass, a heady combination.
“I…”
Lila appears from nowhere, picks up the pen, and adds her name to the list. “I’ll add your name too, Elowen.”
“I’m not sure…” I don’t ’ve never been bowling before.
“Done.” She straightens, links her arm with mine, and pulls me toward the food counter before I can protest. “You’re welcome,” she says, her voice low.
“For what?”
“Rescuing you from debate team.”
I glance back at the guy in the waistcoat who is watching me with an unreadable expression. The alpha at the middle table is mid-conversation with Calder and some other students.
But the omega on the third table doesn’t even pretend to look away when I catch her eye.
Later, I step inside the greenhouse and close the door behind me, taking a moment away from the buzz of the dining hall and the images of Gideon Stockwell lurking in my mind.
The glass panes overhead glow faintly gold as the sun dips lower. Dust floats lazily through the warmth. I set my bag on the potting table and pull my gloves on, rolling the cuffs down with practiced ease.
Then I sense him, his smoky cedar scent, and my heart reacts with a little skip and a jump against my better judgement.
Calder stands near the far wall, sweater pushed to his elbows, worn jeans dusty at the knees. A loose hinge rests in one hand, screwdriver on the bench beside him. The compass tattoo on his inner forearm catches the fading light, clean black lines pointing north. Those gray eyes find mine briefly before returning to his work.
We don't speak.
I go to the workbench and try to focus on the pots left behind by whoever was here last rather than the thought of going bowling with Calder and a bunch of other students I haven’t yet met. Maybe I can convince Lila to come bowling with me before the first planned event. It can’t be that difficult, can it? Or better still, maybe I can ask polo shirt guy to remove my name from the list without telling her. It’ll buy me some time to think of an excuse not to go.
Focus, Elowen…
The soil in the pots is dry, cracked in places. I press my fingers in, testing the depth, then begin loosening it carefully, aware of Calder watching me.
The silence stretches, not uncomfortable, but it feels as if he’s waiting for me to open the conversation. He’ll have a long wait. I saw the way the omega looked at me like I was stepping on her perfectly manicured toes.
"You know this place isn't maintained," he says eventually.
"I noticed."
He glances at me briefly, the corners of his mouth twitching. "It'll take time."
