I roll my eyes and laugh. “So we’re making this a thing now?”
“We are.”
“Fine. Out of an abundance of caution, I’m going to decline the offer, as I’ve had more than my share of sugar and caffeine this morning.”
I scoop up our trash and bring it over to the recycler.
And just outside the window, I spot Carly. Alone.
She’s hoofing it pretty fast toward our Foundations classroom, bag slung over her shoulder, hair streaming out behind her like the black flags on top of the admin building. Even from this distance, I can tell she’s been crying.
“I’ll catch you guys later,” I tell Isla and Nat, heading for the door. “I need to talk to Carly.”
Nat wrinkles her nose. “Why?”
“Time to clear the air on a few things.”
Because in addition to how quickly dangerous secrets travel, here’s the other thing I’ve learned:
Burying them doesn’t make them disappear. It just gives them time to sharpen their claws.
Six
STEVIE
“Carly, wait up!” I finally catch up to her right outside the Foundations classroom, winded from the chase across campus in my gladiator sandals and a miniskirt.
Thankfully, she stops and looks at me. Not without an epic eye-roll and a put-upon sigh, but still. She’s actually waiting for me to speak. At this rate, we’ll be besties in no time.
“So, hey,” I say, still a little breathless.
She doesn’t say anything at first. Just narrows her red-rimmed eyes and gives me the once-over. Her gaze is cool and assessing, but her energy is one of pure relief.
“Baz said you were in rough shape when they found you,” she finally says. “Guess you bounced back pretty quick. That’s good, I guess.”
“Carly, I didn’t know you cared so much.”
“I don’t.”
I press a hand to my heart and smile. “I can feel the love.”
She probably doesn’t know I mean that literally. Well, no, it’s notlovepulsing from my pseudo-nemesis. But it’s not the callus disinterest she’s pedaling, either.
She lifts a shoulder, then glances past me as if she’s waiting for someone. “What is it you wanted? Class starts soon, and I’d rather not be seen talking with the enemy.”
“I’m not your enemy.”
Her eyes flick back over me again. “Anyone who thinks they can wear a leather jacket and high-heeled gladiator sandals is the enemy. What do you want?”
Ignoring the jab at my style choices, which are one hundred percentfire, I tamp down my annoyance and force out the words I’ve been holding in ever since Baz told me Carly was the one who alerted them to the danger with Phaines.
“I wanted to thank you, actually. And apologize.”
“What the hell for?”
Wow. Apparently saving lives from raving psychopaths is just another day in the life of Carly Kirkpatrick. But no matter how much she irks me, itwasn’tjust another day for me.
“What you did the other night… Carly, you saved my life. So that’s what the thank you is for. As for the apology…” I gaze up at the ceiling and blow out a breath. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you on the phone that night. If you hadn’t called Baz after that…” I shudder at the thought. “I think we both know how my night would’ve ended.”
