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“You didn’t say anything?”
“Yeah well, you’ve been kind of occupied.”
Guilt floods me. “I’ve been a crap friend, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Being in their world changes things.”
“Are we talking about me, or Alex?” Internally, I’m cringing because I saw Alex fucking a girl at Cade’s house that fateful night. He probably can’t even remember it, but I can. The image of his white ass pounding into her is imprinted on the backs of my eyelids. A shudder runs down my spine.
“Have the two of you…” My eyes widen.
“What? No! We made out a couple of times…” She blushes. “And there might have been some clothed groping, but that’s it. I don’t just go around sleeping with random guys, Mia.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t—"
“Relax.” Her laughter fills the room. “I’m just messing with you. I’d totally jump Alex’s bones if I had the chance. But now he’s initium…” Her smile falls. “He probably won’t even notice me again.”
“No way, Bel. You’re beautiful. He’d be a fool not to notice you.” Withholding the truth from her twists my insides, but I don’t do it. I can’t tell her what happened that night.
For more reasons than one.
We spend the afternoon hanging out in my room. Mom appears a couple of times to provide us with snacks and drinks. I know she’s hurt at the way I hurried to my room, but the truth is, I wish she was in my corner. Not Quinctus and their archaic rules. And certainly not Cade’s.
“Sweetheart.” There’s a knock at the door, and I leap up at the sound of my father’s voice.
“Dad.”
“It’s good to see you, kid.” He pulls me into his arms. “How are you? How’s college?”
My mouth twists into an uncomfortable smile.
“That good, huh?”
“I’m not cut out for this, Dad,” I whisper, burying myself in his chest the way I used to as a kid.
“Sweetheart.” He gently grips my shoulders and eases me back. “You are so strong, Mia. You can handle anything life throws at you, and this, Cade, being his prosapia… you can do this.”
My brows knit at his strange choice of words, but before I can ask him what he means, my mom appears.
“We’re heading out now. Do you girls have everything you need?”
“I think so.”
“Okay, well, have fun. We won’t be too late.” She smiles at me and then at my dad. “I’ll grab my purse and then we can go?”
“I’ll be right down, love.” Dad turns his eyes on me. “You sure you’re good?” he asks me, and I nod.
“Have fun tonight.”
“We always do. Night, girls.” He walks away, but then I remember something.
“Hey, Dad?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Does the name Jagger mean anything to you?”
“Jagger?” His expression gives nothing away. “I don’t recognize it. Why do you ask?”
