Page 8 of Mastered By Bliss

“Shh.”She lowers her voice in a conspiratorial whisper.“He doesn’t know.I’m supposed to be locked up in rehab.”

“Um…” Maybe she shouldn’t be here.I don’t want her to get in trouble.“Are you sure this is okay?”

She grins.“It’s okay, really.They gave me permission to leave.I mean, they sort of have to because I signed in voluntarily.And I had to meet you.I wrangled a few bits of info out of Gage on the phone this morning—and you and Imusttalk.Say yes?”

I don’t know what to say.Yes, obviously.But will Gage be upset?

There’s no time to worry about it, because Claudia’s whisking me away.Cora trails us, a bemused look on her face.I wonder if she watched AoG back in the day.

“I’ll drive.”Cora unlocks Gage’s car and opens the rear door for Claudia and me.“Where are we going?”

“Chez Michel.”Claudia grins over at me as we climb into the back seat.“Gage has taken me there a couple of times.They have an incredible bouillabaisse.”

“Cool,” I say softly.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re walking into Chez Michel.The brick-red walls bear gilt-framed Impressionist art, and the black-and-white tiled floor gleams.I feel vastly underdressed in my jeans and button-down blouse.But Claudia is wearing a sweatsuit, so I fit in with her, at least.

The host, a scrawny, middle-aged man, blinks at Claudia when she gives her name for the reservation.“Right this way, Ms.McAvoy.”

Claudia says, “Please make sure our security is given a table nearby, with her meal added onto my tab.”

The host nods.“Of course, Ms.McAvoy.”

Claudia grins at me like we’re on some grand, exciting adventure.

I already adore this woman.She has all the charisma of a politician, stuffed into a petite thirty-something succubus’s body.

Once we’re seated and we’ve ordered drinks, Claudia gives me a serious look.“So.Tell me everything about you.”

“Oh.Um, I work with teens, tutoring them in English.And now test prep.”

“That’s what youdo,” Claudia protests.“Not who youare.”

I stare at her.Who am I?

“I’ll start.”Claudia takes a sip of her virgin Bloody Mary.“I’m thirty-nine years old and I love people.I like knowing what they’re thinking and feeling.I love mimicking them—I almost went into comedy instead of acting, because impressions came so naturally to me.There are a few people on this earth who I know well enough to say I love, and that includes the Shinies.Especially Gage.”

I remember the brief flare of jealousy I’d felt when I first heard him talking on the phone with her.It faded entirely, and even her admission that she loves him now doesn’t dredge it back up again.She loves him with fondness and affection, but not with romantic passion.

“Now you go,” she urges.

“Okay.I’m twenty-three, and I’m a word nerd.Not like, etymology or linguistics, but syntax.How phrases and words go together to make meaning, how they create and affect feelings.I love analyzing literature and seeing why things work in books and stories.”

“Nice.”She nods.

The waiter shows up to take our order.I order the bouillabaisse at Claudia’s urging, and she informs the waiter that we’ll share a few appetizers as well.

Once the waiter leaves, she pesters me with questions about books and words.I feel myself blush periodically, unused to a near-stranger’s fascination with the inner workings of my mind.But she is exactly what she said—curious about who I am as a person, wanting to know what I’m thinking and feeling.

“Well, it’s official.”She sits back in her chair.“I adore you.”

I laugh.

She smiles.“No, really.I can see why Gage is so gone for you.You are incredibly kind, and smart.Being gorgeous doesn’t hurt.And you’re just as thirsty for love, knowledge, and power as he is.”

Thirsty for love and knowledge—I can see that.“Power?”

“Power in a dynamic.It’s…” She taps her fingernails on the edge of the table, thinking.“It’s an interpersonal thing.Not anI’m trying to take over the worldthing.He gets his power from dominating.You get your power from deciding who will dominate.”

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