Page 94 of House of Lilith

I flash him the widest grin, feeling more energized than I’ve been in a very long time.

And I throw myself in the chair next to him, only then seeing the mood he’s in. Absent, frustrated, even a little angry.

“Ricky, my man,” I say as I clap him on the back, “why the long face?”

He shakes his head and drawls in a mocking voice, “Oh, I’m just the biggest dumbass in the whole wide world.”

“Just that? Come on, out with it.”

He shoots me an assessing look, presses his lips tight and says, “Fine.” He leans a little forward and turns a little to the side so he can face me. “I got this really cool thing from one of the professors, yeah?”

I nod, nudging him to go on.

“And I was failing to figure out how it works, and I told myself to wait until we got back from winter break, but then I gave in and took another shot anyway.”

“And?”

He lets out a frustrated sigh, rolling his eyes. “I destroyed the blasted thing.”

“Damn,” I say with my eyebrows raised. “Sorry, mate.” I give him a smile from ear to ear as I shove at his shoulder. “But knowingyou, there’ll be other interesting things.”

“I know, I know,” he rushes to say, still a little grumpily, but much less so. “But this one was special. And my toothbrush went missing and now,” he grumbles as he throws his hands up, “now I have to go pack, which is my least favorite activity in the world.” He turns to lock eyes with me, giving me a weak smile. “But hey, that’s life, right? All suffering, barely any reward.”

I just look at him for a second, starting to feel concern for my friend. Then I choose to click my tongue and say in a teasing voice, “Be careful, that might be a little too much optimism to bear all at once.”

“You’re right,” he agrees with a sigh and a sharp couple of nods. “I’ll stop. Sorry, Boss. I know you have much bigger things on your mind.” And he throws me a half smile.

That makes me frown. I lean a little forward and I make him really look at me, my own eyes narrowing. “Hey, what’s really going on?”

He stays silent for a second. “I guess I’m thinking of not coming back here, you know, after winter break.”

The look he throws me once he says that is apologetic. Of course it is, I think to myself. He knows what his leaving would mean — one less player for the team. What if, in the end, it came down to just one? It’s my duty not to let him give up just yet.

“You just need a little more time to get used to things,” I tell him.

“It’s pointless and harmful,” he insists with a certain sad spark in his eyes. “I spend my days alone in the Library, which is exactly the kind of thing I was trying to move away from.” He locks eyes with me, looking at me as if he really wants help. “I thought I’d do all this differently, Dahrian. You know, coming here, the Games and everything. I thought I’d meet lots of new people, broaden my horizons and the like.”

I shake my head as I pat him on the back. “You’re always broadening your horizons, Ricky. That’s not what’s missing, especially when you look at your, you know, years of isolation. I think it’s meeting new people you should be focusing on.”

He looks away for a second, thinking. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Just say the word and I’ll start introducing you.”

He turns to look at me again, but this time, it’s with an upbeat expression on his face. “What about your buddy, Nikolay? He seems like a nice enough guy. Interesting as well.”

I let out a laugh. This is so like Ricky, I think to myself. “I think what strikes you as interesting is his lineage, not his character,” I say in a teasing voice. “But sure, I can introduce you two if you want.”

“Right after winter break,” he replies with an actual smile. Then he lets out a laugh. “I don’t think I could bear it today.”

“The only thing today is good for is lazing around,” I say as I lean back and let my eyes sweep over the lake.

I’ll text you when I get back, her words echo in my head, making me take in a lungful of air to fight off the effect of the thrill.

All I got today was ragged breathing. Not a single little moan. And it sure as hell wasn’t for the lack of trying. But shedidlike it, I tell myself as I recall the way she squirmed under my tongue and the way she started biting me near the end. Then again, women don’t generally run away from me like that.

If only she didn’t turn around, I’d have the look in her eyes telling me the truth, I bitch to myself, but it’s with a smile tugging at my lips. After all, she did say she’d text me. Worst case scenario, I’m getting myself a rematch.

“You’relooking extra perky,” Ricky snaps me out of it. I turn to find him squinting at me.

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