Page 36 of The Failed Audition

“There was the forehead tattoo...”

My jaw unhinges.

His brows shoot up. “Joking.” And a smile pulls at his lips, a charismatic one.

I must be scowling because he gives me this usual stare likeyou seem mad.I’ve been asked “what’s wrong?” for merely walking along campus with headphones in. I thought I looked fine, but my face sucks at conveying my emotions properly.

He tilts my chin up with two fingers, his eyes doing most of the smiling now, searching me. “What black eyes you have…”

“All the better to devour you with.” That wasn’t me. I’m not that witty. Camila is back with a bigger, wider grin than she’s worn all night. “Are you two friends?” She radiates at that possibility. And I swear she glances at my nipple, recalling thathewas the one who pierced me.

Neither of us answers. We’re not exactly friends, but we’re not strangers anymore either. The music switches to a louder dance beat by Jennifer Lopez.

“This is so perfect!” Camila shouts over the song. She stretches over the bar to talk to us. “I’ve been stressing out all day, trying to find you a place to crash.”

The bottom of my stomach collapses.

What?

I struggle to ask at first, but I find my voice. “What happened to your couch?” My throat throbs. I told her that I’d be out of her place in a week and a half, the day I receive my first paycheck. She said that was fine.

“My extended family is here, and they want to stay closer to the strip. So they’re going to use my place. They surprised me with the news this morning. I’m really sorry.” Her green-shadowed eyes apologize enough. “John’s brothers are crashing at his place, so he has a full house too. I’ve called a few girlfriends, but no one is answering tonight.”

I’m essentially on my own.

“It’s okay,” I tell her, wracking my brain for the cost of a room at The Masquerade. I can tap into my savings until my paycheck comes in, I think. But what if my parents snoop into my account and see what I’ve spent my money on? They believe I’m receiving free room and board, so they’d question the charge. It’s my only choice though. “I can figure it out. A few nights here won’t be that much.”

“No,no,” she forces with giant eyes. “I would feel terrible if you had to spend your money because of this.” She reaches out and latches onto Nikolai’s wrist. “You’re friends with Thora, right?”

“Best friends,” he says deeply. And he curves his strong arm around the slant of my hips. He tugs me to his side.Thump. Thump. Thump.

Cardiac arrest is in sight again.

I feel winded. I look up at him for answers, but he pins his focus on Camila. Not me.

“So you won’t mind?”

“Not at all,” he says.Wait…what is happening here?“I have a spare couch.”

Is he offering—

“Thank yousomuch.” Camila releases her grip on him, and she falls to the flats of her feet. She nods to me. “I’m so busy tonight, but I’ll see you later this week, right?”

I nod, realizing she’s telling me goodbye. She waves before she darts over to someone in a suit-and-tie, decked out in blue glow sticks.

Nikolai’s hand rises to the back of my neck, a place he’s fond of touching, I’ve concluded. “You’re glaring at me,” he states.

“This is my confused look.” I scrunch my face to relax the muscles. Frustrated, I give up the lame attempt.

He’s trying hard not to smile. “Let’s go, my demon,” he says, tossing cash on the bar counter.

“Go where?”

He pockets his wallet. “My place. You can sleep on my couch for a few days, whatever you need.”

I shake my head on instinct, my heart and stomach performing intricate choreography. “Why are you helping me?”

The muscles in his arms flex: stiff, unbending posture. “I feel responsible for your wellbeing,” he says. “And don’t ask me why. Because I don’t have an answer.” I watch his gray irises peruse my features in a languid stroke, like he’s caressing my cheek.

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