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“No way. If I have to miss the festival, you all do.” George elbows him in the arm, then suddenly realizes how friendly she’s getting with the insanely popular kids who were horrible to her, and stares at her food again. “I mean,” she mumbles into her boobs. “Do you what you want, of course, it’s totally cool—”
“You are so adorable, George.” I reach across the table and spear one of Noah’s steak squares, dropping it on my tongue where it melts like an ice cube of meaty deliciousness. Damn, they made such great food here. I spear another, waving my fork at him to emphasize my point. “Let me phrase this another way – you’d better be at my place on Saturday night to pick me up, Marlowe. You’ll be wearing a suit, carrying a corsage, and grinning like the Cheshire Cat because you’re the luckiest fucking man alive to be escorting Mackenzie Malloy to the homecoming dance. Got it?”
Noah bites the steak off the end of my fork. I watch that jaw of his working, and warmth flushes my body as I remember tasting his blood in our ferocious kiss. I know what he’s thinking, because I can read those dark eyes like a book – he’s thinking that Noah Marlowe and Mackenzie Malloy at homecoming together will have people talking, and that’s going to get back to his father. He’s getting used to the fact he doesn’t have to be afraid of John Marlowe any longer. He nods, and the corner of his mouth tugs up into that self-satisfied smirk. “I got it.”
After we finish eating, we join the growing line at the homecoming-ticket booth, perusing all the special deals on limousines and crappy seafood restaurants the dance committee has put together. “Leave the pre-prom plans to me,” Gabriel throws his arms around George again. “I have ideas.”
“That sounds dangerous.” I can’t help the little dance of excitement in my gut. Even though the last thing I should be thinking about right now is the homecoming dance, all I’ve ever wanted is the chance to be normal. And going to a dance with my friends and my two fucking gorgeous boyfriends… I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Except I wish Eli was part of it, too.
As we take another step toward the table, a guy steps in front of us. “Hey, George, can we talk for a sec?”
It’s the metalhead stoner, and he’s got his hands shoved in his pockets and his hair pulled in front of his eyes, and I think my chest might burst from the cuteness. George peers up at me with her deer-in-the-headlights look. She needs help that only Mackenzie Malloy can provide.
I fold my arms. “Whatever you have to say to George, you can say in front of her bestie.”
I’m smiling, but my reputation precedes me, and stoner dude backs up a step.
“Um… see…” He touches his lips, as though he’s holding an invisible good-luck joint. “So, George, here’s the thing… I was wondering if you had a date to homecoming because I… I thought maybe we could go together if you’re into that kind of thing…”
Gabriel throws his arm around George’s shoulder. “She’s already got a date, actually.”
George looks sick.
“Oh.” The guy flicks his gaze to Gabriel, and I see him do a quick math equation in his head regarding his chances of getting out of this with his dignity intact.
“Ignore Gabriel. He doesn’t know when to shut his face.” I thrust myself between them and hold my hand out to the guy. “Hi. Mackenzie Malloy, class bitch. I hear you want to take my friend George to homecoming.”
To his credit, the guy takes my hand and gives it a firm shake. “I’m Isaac Hirst. And yes, I would. But if she’s already going with Fallen, I won’t intrude—”
“She’s not. I apologize for the confusion.” I shove a frozen George forward. “The two of you can go buy your tickets together.”
George looks like she’s going to bolt, but Isaac threads his arm through hers. I see the exact moment his touch registers, because her whole body wobbles and she looks like she’s going to faint. I know that feeling – the electrical charge that lights you from the inside. It’s how I’m lit up like a Christmas tree 24/7 around Noah and Gabriel. And Eli, although I shove the memory of his touch back down again.
She likes this guy.
George and Isaac step up to the table. Cleo gives them this indulgent look as she slots their tickets into a gold-rimmed envelope, like they’re two children playing dress-up. “I’m sure you’ll have the most interesting dress,” she purrs at George.
My fingers itch to slap a bitch, but I’ve got enough to deal with without deepening my feud with Cleo St. James.
We’re next. I turn to Gabe and Noah in a panic. As I do, I notice Eli standing near the end of the line, bright ocean eyes boring into me. His body jerks as he sees me looking back, and he turns his head away.
Gabriel grabs me around the waist. “I call bagsy on Mac.”
“Bagsy?” Noah makes a face. “You can’t just make up words to win an argument. Mackenzie is my date.”
“You’re the Dark Horse. You need an equine date,” Gabriel shoots back. “What about Daphne Ballantyne? She’ll happily kick you with her spurs—”
I growl low in my throat. Ain’t no one spurring Noah except me. I feel Eli’s presence behind me – the itch between my shoulders that says he’s listening to every word. “Is there any rule that says you can only have one date?”
“Who cares if there is – you’re Mackenzie Malloy.” Gabriel looks delighted. “You don’t play by the rules.”
“Damn right.” I throw my arm around both of them just as Cleo gestures angrily at us to hurry up. “What do you say, Marlowe?”
“You’re on.” Noah waves his black card in Cleo’s face.
As Gabriel starts hounding Noah about coordinating their outfits, Eli strides past, his head down. He heard everything. I want him to seethe with jealousy. I want him to stay as far from me as possible. I want his arms around me, but I can’t have it. I’m a mess over him, and judging by how rumpled his usually neat uniform is, he’s not much better. I watch as he shoves his way through the crowd, nearly knocking down Daphne in his desperation to get away from me.
