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I half expected Lend to start yelling, which he had never done to me before, but he just stood there. Anger and hurt bled together on his face, and it killed me.
"Look, Lend, I can explain. We-"
"How long?"
"What?"
"How long have you been working with IPCA?"
"I haven't done much, really! Something with a poltergeist in the Center. And just now I wasn't even working for them!"
"So, what, you two were hanging out?"
"I-no-I thought- Jack said something about a mission, but then there wasn't one. " Lend couldn't be jealous of Jack. It might look bad, but he had to understand there was no one else for me. Jack was fun, cute even, but there wasn't anything in me that was attracted to the little maniac.
Lend shook his head and looked up at the ceiling, avoiding my eyes. "The two days I couldn't get ahold of you. You didn't lose your phone, did you?"
"No," I whispered.
"Where were you?"
"I got stuck in the Center after the poltergeist thing-it wasn't a big deal. "
He looked at the door. "Thought I'd surprise you and come hang out while you worked. I've got to-I'm going to go now. "
"Lend, wait!" I grabbed his arm. "Listen! I missed Raquel, and she needed my help, and I'm not doing anything that's dangerous or would hurt paranormals. Besides, they're paying me, which means I have enough money for school now, so your dad doesn't have to try and help me. It's really not a big deal!"
"It is a big deal! You lied to me. You've been lying to me this entire time. How is that not a big deal?"
I felt the tears build in my eyes and fought them back. "I didn't want you to get mad. "
He let out a strangled laugh, started to say something, then shook his head and walked out. I followed him desperately down the stairs.
"Can't we talk about this?"
He paused at the door to the diner kitchen and took a deep breath. "Yes. But not right now. I'vealways been honest with you, and it kills me that you don't trust me enough to be the same. Even if you think it's going to bother me. Especially if you think it's going to bother me. "
"Lend, I-"
He shook his head. "I'm too mad to talk right now and I love you too much to say anything I'll regret. "
"Okay," I agreed, my voice wavering. I didn't want to push it, but I needed to know that we were going to be okay, that we'd get over this. He hesitated, then leaned over and kissed me roughly on my forehead.
"I'll call you later. " He opened the door and looked back at me. "Is there anything else you're hiding?"
"No!"
He nodded and walked into the kitchen. And swore loudly. I scrambled after him.
Reth stood with Nona and Grnlllll near the stoves, filling the kitchen with his radiance. He looked up at us and beamed. "Lovely to see you again, Evelyn. "
I pointed at him, looking at Lend as my voice rose at least an octave. "I did not know he was here!"
"Nona?" Lend asked, tensed as though he wasn't sure if he should fight Reth or turn and leave us all behind.
"Calm yourself, child. The faerie's business is his own. "
"He's dangerous. "
