Page 72 of Crown of the Fae King

“Forgive me?”

I played dumb. “For what?”

“I had to leave town with no notice. Family drama. I had no way to call you…to explain.”

“No need to explain to me.”

“Still…” He ran the side of his finger along my jawline. “I missed this face.”

Remembering my lack of makeup, I turned aside. “This ragged old thing? I doubt it.”

“Lennon. You really can’t take a compliment, can you?”

I shrugged. “Not enough practice, I guess.”

“All right, then. What about tonight? We can practice over dinner. There is an excellent restaurant called The Ivy. And best of all, none of these youngsters can afford it.”

I followed his gaze to a row of tables packed with students who couldn’t possibly be old enough for college. I’d been getting tired of them myself. “Sounds like just what I need.”

“Bring a chaperone if you must. Just tell me where I can collect you.” He pulled out his phone.

“I’ll meet you there. You pick the time.”

He worried at his lip. “I don’t know. You do need alotof practice. How does seven sound? I promise to have you home by midnight.”

Five hours. With my favorite theology professor? “Seven is fine.”

“I don’t feel rightabout you going alone.” Wickham stood just outside my bathroom while Everly applied my makeup. I wanted it to be right this time. If I didn’t look fantastic, I wouldn’t believe a single compliment, and Griffon wouldn’t want to ask me out again if I called him a liar all night.

“Then come,” I said. “He said I was welcome to bring a chaperone…again.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not ready to trust him. If the brothers can’t read—”

“I know. I know. There is still every chance he’s a fairy.”

“Aye. So—”

“So you’d better have something nice you can wear!”

Wickham was able to make reservations for himself and Persi so they wouldn’t have to sit at the same table with my date and me. When the three of us showed up, however, Griffon insisted they join us. He’d changed his clothes, looked the same as he had earlier that day, but somehow managed to look…dapper.

Though we were all roughly the same age, I felt like we’d reached the very awkward phase ofMeet the Parents. And though I was nervous for everyone involved, I couldn’t help but be moved when Griffon went out of his way to put Wickham at ease.

“Lennon says you left town to take care of family business?”

Griffon nodded. “I did. Rather suddenly, for which I am sorry.”

“And yer family is from…”

“Yarmouth these days. Many of them. Though my siblings and I have left the island roost.”

Wickham warmed up slightly. “Yarmouth? We were just across the channel a pair of weeks ago. Spent the day in Lymington.”

“Oh yes. I know it well.” He turned to me and squeezed my hand. “You could have called me from the lighthouse. I could have waved at you from the wall of Yarmouth Castle.”

We waved our fingers at each other to make up for our lost opportunity, like a couple of students.

Persi sighed. Wickham rolled his eyes. We all laughed.

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