Page 74 of Lessons with the Mothman

"Rafe, what did you say to Hannah when you flew out of here to go make up with her?"

Rafe shook his head at me, refusing my bait. "Elias. Were you lying?"

I snarled and threw my hands out. "I don't know! I don't—I don'tthinkso, but I don'tknow!"

The bar was closed. It was a Sunday. I could shout if I wanted to. They didn't need to look so scandalized.

"Then why did you say it?" Khell asked, rising off the stool he barely fit on.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he rounded the bar.

"Coming to look for a drink," Khell said. "Why did you tell Victoria you loved her?"

I gaped at him.

"Get me one too," Rafe said to him.

"Did she need reassurance?" Theo asked me. At least one of them was paying attention.

"I don't…think so," I admitted, squeezing past Khell. "You might as well play bartender. I want a drink too."

Khell grinned at the invitation.

"She was angry with me," I said, taking Khell's seat.

"Why?" Rafe asked.

"I don't remember asking so many questions when it was you with the problem," I muttered.

"Well, you all knew a lot more about that situation," Rafe said. "Hannah and I guessed youmightbe involved with Victoria. And I knew you were looking to fall in love, but…you don't give a lot away."

"Victoria is very private," I said, thinking of that tricky little moment when her mother had said the same and I realized that I'd played my hand all wrong.

Playing a role.

Was she right?

"I thought it was time," I said. "You all fell in love quickly. And then from there it was wrapped up fairly neatly."

"You know that was partly to do with mating bonds, though," Khell said, and I scowled at the atrociously green concoction he placed before me, complete with a garish umbrella. Where on earth had he found that?

I frowned and passed the drink to Rafe. "There was a hurdle in our relationship. We overcame it. That's how it goes, isn't it? In the movies, there's arguing, then a confession of love, and then the couple is happy together!"

"Hurdles are a fairly regular relationship occurrence," Theo said.

"Have you been watching rom-coms?" Khell asked, brow furrowing. "Sunny loves to pick apart all the reasons why those couples would never last long-term."

"Then why are they so popular?!" I snarled. No one answered, and I sagged against the bar. "Victoria doesn't think we were in a relationship at all."

"Does she know you were trying to fall in love?" Rafe asked.

The bar was startlingly quiet. Maybe this whole process would've been easier if we were surrounded by crowds.

"It didn't seem prudent to say," I said slowly.

They were quiet.

"She said I was playing a role," I admitted, slumping further into the bar. That was what it was for, after all.

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