He turns around, grinning.
“Remember what I said about women!” I give him the thumbs-up again. “Think good thoughts!”
He cracks up again, shaking his head before turning back to the bobbleheads and vanishing down the path.
“So that was Carly Kirkpatrick,” Kirin says. “Of the Boston Kirkpatricks, also known as the Academy’s biggest donors.”
“Great. Something tells me she’s going to be trouble.”
“Good instincts.” Kirin removes his glasses to polish them, then pops them back on with a fresh smile to match. “So yeah, your suite is in Iron and Bone—you’ve got the top floor, northwest corner, which means lots of stairs to climb, but you’ve also got a huge space and a killer view of the petrified forest and the Towers of Breath and Blade.”
My smile stretches wide.
“Your basics should be in there already—stocked fridge, tablet, laptop, phone. They probably told you to sign in to the student portal—you’ll find instructions on how to do that when you boot up the laptop. Oh, there’s a credit card, too—it’s prepaid every month with your stipend, so you can pick up whatever personal things you need at the stores around campus.”
“That’s amazing.”
“You’re telling me. You must know somebody in high places,” he teases. “Or youaresomebody in high places.”
“Either way, you’re officially in my squad now, so you’re good.”
“I’ve never been in a squad before.” Kirin laughs, then jumps, his phone buzzing in his pocket. “That’s probably about your move.” He pulls it out and glances at the screen. “Yeah, it’s Cass—Dr. Devane. He says to tell you—well, here.”
He flips the phone to show me the message:Please tell Stevie I will deliver the tea order and climbing gear to her quarters tomorrow afternoon. If she’s planning to be away, I’ll need temporary access.
“I assume you know what he’s talking about?” he asks.
“I do.” My smile is getting wider by the second. Of all my crazy demands, the tea was the most important, the gear a close second. Devane came through for me.
Maybe the good doctor isn’t such a cranky old bastard after all.
“You can set a temp access code for him on your in-room security pad—you’ll see it. It’s easy to figure out, but let me know if you need help. I asked them to program my number into your phone.”
“Thank you, Kirin. For the tour, and the latte, and everything back home… If you hadn’t been there…”
He steps closer, putting his strong hands on my shoulders, peering at me over the tops of his glasses. “But Iwasthere. And nowyou’rehere. That’s what matters. Whatever happens next? We’ll deal with it.”
I nod, barely keeping the tears in check. It’s been a long day—a long week—and I’m starting to crash hard. “Don’t take this as a reflection on your tour-giving skills, but I think I’d like to head upstairs and settle in, maybe take a nap.”
“No problem. You want company?”
I raise an eyebrow, my face going hot as Jessa’s words from that last day at Kettle Black float through my mind. “I… um…”
I’m warming up his buns… Maybe one day you’ll get to do the same. In bed. Naked.
Kirin shoves a hand through his hair, the tips of his ears turning the color of the river. His embarrassed smile the most endearing thing I’ve seen all day. “I meant… shit. I meant company to walk you to your room.”
I shake my head and laugh. “I think I can manage. But I’ll keep the offer in mind next time I’m up for some nap company.”
Now Kirin raises an eyebrow, and I clamp my mouth shut.
Oh, lips. Why are you always moving in such stupidly mortifying ways?
In the end, Kirin walks me partway, just to the entrance of Iron and Bone. Overhead, the black flag bearing the house insignia hangs proudly, flanked by two stately gargoyles.
“You good?” Kirin asks.
“Not completely,” I answer honestly, reaching for the door to my new home-away-from-home. “But I have a feeling Iwillbe.”
