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I shrug. “I got distracted on my way home.”
Zane frowns. “By what? And where’s the sweater I gave you?”
I didn’t think of how I would explain the missing garment to him. “I’m sorry. I lost it. I’ll buy you a new one,” I promise him.
Zane shakes his head, peppering the air with his piney scent. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring you another one tomorrow.”
“Can I ask you something weird and completely off topic?” I look up at him.
He looks at me suspiciously. “Sure.”
“Where do you get real turpentine oil? It’s not a common thing in the states anymore.” I tilt my head to the side.
Zane bites his lip. “How did you know that’s what I use?”
My nose flares as I inhale deeply. “You always smell like it.”
Zane chuckles. “I actually make my own. It takes a long time, but it’s worth it in the end. It’s a lot like making syrup, but with a different tree.”
“How? I don’t know anything about making syrup.” I probably should have done some research since Minnesota has some of the best maple syrup in the states. Not by my judgment anyway. It just came up while I was looking at the area.
His hand ruffles my hair affectionately. “I’ll show you sometime.”
A grin spreads across my face. Honestly, that sounds like a great time. Who am I kidding? Zane could offer to let me watch paint dry with him and I would do it happily.
Zane
“Want to get something to eat?” I look over at Viv as we stop in front of her dorm.
Her eyes swing to mine, and she bites her bottom lip. “Now? Like, on a date?”
Nodding, I thread my fingers through hers and get a giddy sensation when she doesn’t pull away. “Yeah, I want to take you to my favorite restaurant.”
Viv frowns. “Can you give me an hour? I have something I need to do first.”
That piques my interest. “Anything I can help with?”
Her head shakes violently. “No. I just want to go all out for my first date, you know? Have Sandy help me pick out an outfit and freak out a little.”
Oh, that does make sense. Viv really wants to enjoy life the way she wants, now that she can. Plus, she’s right. I’m not putting enough effort into this. Maybe I can use this hour wisely. “Yeah. I’ll be back in an hour.” I lean in to press a kiss to her cheek.
Turning, I jog back to my car and call up the only person I can think of who can help me. “Sup?” Sloane answers on the fourth ring.
“I need your help. I’m kind of freaking the fuck out. I don’t knowwhat I’m going to do.” It’s not until I’m talking that I realize how nervous I actually am. Not only will this be Viv’s first date, but it’ll be mine too.
Sloane seems to think there’s a real emergency, which there is, and starts freaking out too. “Whoa, calm down. Do I need to go get Cain or Nox? What’s the problem? Are you hurt? Did someone else get hurt? God dammit, Z. You didn’t kill someone, did you?”
I pause. “Why do all of you assume I’m just going around murdering people? I have some self-control.”
“Not much,” Sloane whispers away from the phone, but I still catch it. “What’s going on then if it isn’t murder?”
I sigh, turning the car in the direction of the nearest flower shop. “Listen, this is super important. I’ve got a date and I need to make it special. What do I do? What flowers should I get? Is it okay to kiss her on the first date? What should I order? I should definitely pay, right? Is what I wore to school okay? No, of course not! I need to change. She’s probably going to look beautiful and I just look how I always do.” I heave out a deep sigh. “I have no idea what I’m doing.” The admittance tastes like copper as it falls from my tongue.
There’s a silence at the other end of the line. “You’re taking a girl on a date and you thought askingmewould be the best solution? Dude, do you know how many dates I’ve gone on?”
I try to calculate mentally how many girls I know he’s been out with. “A lot?”
Sloane lets out a derisive snort. “Nada. I’ve never taken a girl on a date. I do casual hook-ups, not dates. Maybe Cain will know.” There’s shuffling and I can hear Sloane’s heavy footsteps on the wooden staircase at home.
