“No can do, Stevie Boo-Boo. Hit the books any harder, and you’re pretty little head is going to explode. And I say that in the least condescending way possible. You and that adorable genius of yours are on burnout highway.”
“That’s…” She blows out a breath and shrugs. “Accurate. I do kind of need this tonight. Even if we just go for a few songs.”
“That’s the spirit. Besides, youcan’tbail.” I pull out my phone and scroll through the student directory for Nat and Isla’s numbers, then send them an invite. I send one to Baz, too, complete with a bunch of fruit and vegetable emojis to confound him—he still doesn’t understand what the eggplant means. “Now the whole gang’s expecting you.”
“Ani. You don’t have a gang.”
“Wehave a gang. And they’re all coming. Well, aside from Kirin, who’s currently in a three-way with his desk and his bookshelf, and Cass, who’s much too proper to spend a night drinking in public with his students.” I sense her wavering again, and swoop her in for a hug. “Come on, Stevie. You need a break. We all do. One night of fun, then it’s back to saving the world tomorrow. Okay?”
“You know I can never say no to you, Ani.”
“Perfect.” I release her and shoo her toward the bedroom. “Now go find something sexy and fierce to wear. I want sparkles. I want spangles. I want vampire sex kitten.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I’m not sure whether I should be highly offended, slightly terrified, or completely turned on right now.”
I’m saved from having to respond by her ringing phone.
Her face lights up when she see’s who’s calling, and I immediately know it’s Baz.
“Hey!” she says, holding the phone to her ear. “Yeah, I’m here with Ani. He’s helping me get dressed.” Stevie laughs and rolls her eyes. “Because any timeyouhelp me get dressed, I end up naked and late.”
Baz’s voice rumbles through the phone, and she smiles again.
“We’ll revisit that idea later.” She glances at me, then away, her cheeks blushing. “No, don’t worry. We’re almost done. We’ll just meet you downstairs.”
She hangs up and looks down at her outfit. “Okay, I know what I’m going to wear. And this time you can’t say no.”
“Is it sparkly?”
“Yes, it’s sparkly! Goddess, Ani! You’re obsessed!”
“I like sparkles, what can I say?” I grin, then grab the song book off the countertop. “Tell you what. I’ll go down and meet Baz, you go get sparkled and spangled. I’m trusting you, Stevie. Don’t disappoint me. We’ve got songs to crush and hearts to break.”
“You know something?” She smiles, lighting up the whole room, then grabs me in another tight hug, pressing a big fat smooch to my cheek. “Even when you’re driving me nuts, you’re still the best.”
I close my eyes and hold her tight, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair, and for just a minute, I almost believe she’s really mine. ThatI’mthe one who put that sexy blush on her cheeks, that smile on her face.
That Stevie, unlike everyone else I’ve ever loved, won’t light a match, burn down that bridge, and walk out of my life for good.
* * *
“Too bad we can’t get Cass to come out.” Baz leans against the hearth in the common room, flipping through the song book. “I’d kill to see him on stage.”
I crack up at that. “Oh, sure. I can just picture him letting loose with a crazy rendition of Frank Sinatra’sWitchcraft.”
“Sinatra? That’s not entirely fair. He’s notthatold. Maybe The Eagles,Witchy Woman?”
“Nah, too easy listening. Wait, I’ve got it! Santana,Black Magic Woman.”
“Fuck, that’s totally a Cass song.” Baz snaps the book shut. “Maybe one day we’ll have to drug him, kidnap him, and throw him up on stage.”
I laugh. “A girl can dream.”
Truth is, I’d love it if Cass would hang out with us. But he’s a professor, we’re his students, and he’s not going to cross that line, ever. Just like we’ll never get Kirin’s ass out of the library for a night out. Kirin doesn’t like the bar scene—always worried something’s going to set him off.
I get it. Still, it doesn’t make it any easier. Outside the Brotherhood meetings, it’s rare that the four of us get to be in the same room together. It’d be nice if we could do it for fun reasons rather than just for crisis management and post-tragedy clean-up.
I’m about to ask Baz what his thoughts are on the matter when Stevie enters the common room, and all my thoughts evaporate.
