Page 45 of The Wicker King

“I mean, normally Carrie-Anne wouldn’t be caught dead near someone like Gordie. They’re diametrically opposed. The only thing they have in common is that they both hate me.”

“Also, Gordie was your … girlfriend—for lack of a better word. And Carrie-Anne was Jack’s.”

August thought for a moment. “Well, yeah. That doesn’t make me feel better about them striking up a new hate-based companionship.”

Rina squeezed his shoulders between her knees. “You’re bad for girls, August. You’re so pretty and smart and devastatingly mysterious, but you really don’t care about anything outside of several very specific people. None of which include your woman du jour. Sometimes girls just like to decompress and gossip about boys they’ve dated. Especially if they feel slighted somehow. Give them some slack and let them have their fun. I’d be pissed, too.”

“You think I’m pretty?” August asked, grinning. He tried to twist and look at her, but Rina grabbed his head and covered his eyes.

“Ugh. If your head swelled any more you wouldn’t fit through doorways. Stop smiling, sanam, and go turn off the kettle. The tea should be ready.”

His heart thrummed and swelled.

CICERO

Jack got there about a half hour later. He nearly tripped over the doorstop, but he caught himself and carried on. He was starting to get bruises all over from bumping into things he couldn’t see.

He didn’t bother to hide them. He didn’t care.

“Oh my God, you would not believe the day I’ve had. I just want to sleep forever,” Jack said, tossing his backpack next to the couch. He toed off his Chucks and collapsed to the floor, curling up next to August’s knees.

“I’d like some mashed potatoes and a massage.” He pouted.

“We all have wishes,” August said absentmindedly. He’d decided not to tell Jack about Gordie and Carrie-Anne. There was already enough to worry about.

“You look thinner,” Jack said suddenly.

August shrugged.

“You need to eat.”

“I do. I’m just stressed out. Don’t worry about it.”

GLOOM

Rina got back from work late. She closed the door softly behind her. August gazed wordlessly at her silhouette in the yellow light of the landing. She put her purse and jacket in the coat closet and kicked off her sparkly heels.

Jack breathed softly in his sleep.

Rina turned and saw them. Sitting, tangled. She padded across the carpet.

Rina and August locked eyes.

Jack whimpered, beginning to wake up, and August instinctively pulled him closer. He didn’t break his gaze, challenging her to say anything about it. Rina tilted her head to the side in contemplation and looked at them. Then, after a while, as if coming to some grand conclusion, she leaned down and kissed Jack gently on the cheek. August watched her, his mind filled with static.

Then Rina paused and leaned down to kiss him, too. Not on the cheek, like Jack had gotten, but full and real. Hungrily. Fingers plunging into his hair to hold him.

Then she pulled away, went into her room, and closed the door.

CRÈME

“So, do you like her?”

“Yeah, she gets me. Just like you said she would.”

“Oh. Hmm…”

“What? Didn’t you want this from the beginning?”