Page 129 of Roses in Summer

“Fine, but you cannot bring any food or drinks into the archive room.”

“I’ve heard this before, Seraphina,” he quips, opening the door of the library and tugging me inside. “I won’t ruin your precious periodicals and journals.”

“That’s an interesting outfit, Sera,” May’s voice has my head whipping around to meet her curious eyes. If my outfit is interesting, May’s is a costume. Adorned in black cigarette pants, a black-and-white striped shirt with a red scarf around her neck, and a red beret, she looks like she’s about to go to a poetry open-mic night.

“My apartment had an accident last night,” I offer by way of explanation, tugging my hand from Lincoln’s grip.

“I see. And what is your beau doing here?”

“Beau?” Lincoln’s voice holds a laugh. “I’m here to watch over Seraphina while she works. I’ll be out of the way down in the basement.”

She surveys us for a minute, probably judging my hanging clothes and Lincoln’s stern expression. “Fine. But no liquids or fluids downstairs. And no food or drink.”

My mouth moves, emitting no sound as she walks away, turning her chic figure toward the rows of computers. “Did she just—”

“Insinuate that we’re going to fuck downstairs? Yeah.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“Say nothing, ciern.” He grabs my hand again. “Let’s just get you to work.”

“I don’t understand the last twenty-four hours,” I murmur, leading Lincoln downstairs.

48

Seraphina

“I’m going to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.” I stand up from my seat, twisting my torso to relieve the knots in my back. Lincoln shifts, leaning forward as if to stand up. “You are not coming with me.”

“Ciern,” he growls, face set in a scowl.

I point at him. “No. I’m going to pee, and then I’ll be right back. Stay down here.”

He sighs, crossing his arms over his chest. “You don’t have a phone.”

“Lincoln, the bathroom is right past the doors to the basement. Nothing is going to happen to me in the three minutes I’ll be gone, okay?”

I see his jaw tense before he gives me a terse nod. “There and back, Seraphina. Don’t test me today, okay?”

I wave off his concern, walking quickly to the stairs that lead to the first floor of the building. It takes no time for me to run up the stairs, use the restroom, and wash my hands. As I exit the bathroom, I bump into May, who seems to be headed for the basement.

“Oh, perfect. I was coming down to grab you. Julie called out this afternoon, and I need someone to cover the front desk for a moment while I handle an issue with the dean.”

I open my mouth, about to tell her that I just have to let Lincoln know, when she interrupts me. “I need you there now, if you will, Sera. There seems to be an endless stream of checkouts today, and we’re not even in a primary semester.” She shakes her head, her face set in a frown. “Go on over there. I’ll relieve you in twenty minutes.”

I glance from May to the basement door and cringe, knowing that as soon as Lincoln realizes I’m not back within the agreed-upon three minutes, he’s going to have a conniption. “Let me just tell Lincoln.”

“I have to go down there anyway for a roll of film; I’ll tell your bodyguard to meet you. Now, Sera, go,” she orders, her voice filled with authority. I comply, following the direction of my boss because, really, what else could I do? Weaving around the hallway, I start to approach the front desk when a familiar voice hits my ears.

I stop in my tracks, straining to identify the direction the voice is coming from. My heart pounds, and I feel my palms grow sweaty, an instant reaction to a voice that has haunted my dreams and waking moments since it reappeared in my life.

“Fucking Guts, man, he’s got a death sentence.” I whip my head to the left, isolating the location of Chris’s voice. On light feet, I walk until I’m pressed against a column. If anyone were to walk past me from the front, they’d probably wonder why I’m trying to make myself as small as possible as I hide against the wood paneling. However, from where I can assume Chris is, I’m carefully concealed and invisible to the eye.

I continue pressing, willing my body to disappear into the ancient wall but achieving no such effect. “He had one goddamn job, and what did he do? Fucked it up. Prez is going to be pissed.”

“He did exactly as he was supposed to do. That fire displaced all those preppy assholes.”

I hear a grunt in response.

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