“Kirin,” I say, “you coming?”
No response.
“Kirin?” I nudge his shoulder with my knee, and he finally glances up. “You ready to call it a day? Do something a little less—”
“Nerdy?” Ani asks.
“I was going to say academic.”
“Either way,” Ani says, “It’s way past time to fulfill our rockstar fantasies and drink copious amounts of alcohol to mask our deep inner shame. You coming?”
Kirin looks at me, his eyes blazing behind his glasses, but I can’t get a read on him.
Please say yes. Please, please say yes. Just this once…
“No, you guys go ahead,” he says, and my heart sinks.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“I need to finish up here, then I’ve got a ton of work to catch up on at my computer.”
“So I’ll stick around and help,” I say.
He hesitates only a moment, then shakes his head. “No. I want you to go out and have at least one night of fun. Might be your last chance for a while.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find us.”
“I do. And Stevie?” He beams up at me, a half-smile tugging his lips. “Sing something witchy for me.”
Without hesitating, I kneel down in front of him and press another kiss to his surprised lips, not caring that Ani’s still watching. “Count on it.”
Thirty-Seven
ANSEL
“No, this absolutely won’t do.” I run my eyes over Stevie’s current ensemble—her third attempt of the evening. “I mean, you look amazing in everything, of course. But tonight I need something a littlemore. Something… I don’t know. Extra.Superextra.”
“Listen, Tim Gunn. I’m wearing six-inch heels, a red leather mini, and a sheer white camisole. That’s not extra enough?”
“No. No it is not.”
“This shirt is so see-through, if I had pierced nipples, every passerby would be able to identify the exact shape and metal composition of my studs!”
“That was… oddly specific. And also kind of exciting.”
She stomps her foot. Definition of adorable. “This is ridiculous, Ani. It’s just Hot Shots!”
“Think of your legions of adoring future-fans.”
“Think of my overly-exposed nipples!”
“Um… okay?” I close my eyes and grin, and Stevie smacks my arm.
“This is a terrible idea. I should be at the library helping Kirin figure out the spells.”
