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Ah.
“Hedoesn’t care that he doesn’t know me, he’s already decided he doesn’t like me.”
“And you want people to like you?”
He looked at her sideways like she’d asked a stupid question.
“I just think that if you really want people to like you, maybe you could try being less arrogant.”
“Arrogance implies I think I’m better than others.”
She nodded. “What? Youdon’tthink you’re better than others?”
He shrugged. “Others judge me. It’s only fair that I judge them back.”
She poured him another drink.
“If what you care about is fairness, maybe. But if what you want is for others to like you, then you need to make an effort.”
He took a small sip then lowered his glass.
“I wantyouto like me.”
A warmth spread through her belly that she wasn’t entirely sure was from the alcohol.
“If you want me to like you, you’re going to have to show me who you really are.”
He scrunched down his eyebrows.
“I told you you could ask me anything.”
She pretended to take another sip from the bottle.
“What happened today? Why did you come home so angry?”
“Gary tried to make me look like a fool.”
His voice had taken on a melodramatic tone. The alcohol was taking effect.
“He blamed me for the break-in and the attack last night. Then he implied I’d done nothing to improve performance at the mine in the time I’ve been here. The Baedden council was only too happy to agree with him. They hate the Mudden military, but they’re not above joining forces to bringmedown.”
“Why do they want to bring you down?”
Altair shrugged.
“Because I don’t belong.” He finished the glass he was holding and looked at her.
He took her completely by surprise by lying down on his back and putting his head on her lap. She was too shocked to react. Besides, she wanted to hear what he had to say. Hesitantly, she reached down and stroked his hair. It was cut very short and surprisingly soft.
He looked back at her with an intensity that had butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
“I don’t know if anyone has told you this,” he said, “but you deserve to know the truth.”
She continued petting his head to encourage him to talk—notbecause it felt nice.
“My parents were exiled. I haven’t seen them in fifteen years, since my grandfather sent for my brother and I to come live with him at the palace. For a while, it was just the two of us, my brother and I against the world. We shared the humiliation, the condescension, and eagerly accepted whatever scraps of affection or acceptance were thrown our way. Until my brother couldn’t take it anymore. He wanted me to go with him, back to my parents.”
Altair reached out. She froze. Her heart fluttering in anticipation. It looked like he was going to touch her face, but he grazed her arm instead, slowly caressing her skin and sending shivers down her back, until he reached her hand. He grabbed it with both hands and began to massage her palm. As far as massages went this one was very tame, but his strong fingers rubbing her hand sent heat throughout her body.
