Page 26 of Five Stolen Rings

And help me with the lights because you’re tall

Me

Fine.

I’ll be there around nine.

Did Lucretia text you about the reunion? It’s this weekend. You’re coming.

Princess

I already said I would

I’ll be your arm candy

But it makes me grouchy to think about, so let’s talk about it later

I snort and shake my head, putting my phone away and then leaning back on my couch—because it’s eight in the morning, but I’m still tired.

In truth, thinking about this reunion makes me grouchy,too. But I feel better knowing that Stella is coming. Nat was no joke back then, and on the off chance she hasn’t changed, I don’t want to deal with her on my own. For all I know she’s married with five kids by now, but just in case…

I shudder. It will be uncomfortable pretending to be lovey dovey with Stella—especially so soon after reconnecting—but it will be worth it if I can avoid?—

My thoughts come to a halt, though, when my phone rings. I pull it out and blink in surprise when I see that it’s Stella.

“What?” I say by way of greeting.

“I was just thinking,” she says conversationally. “You know it’s completely conceited to think that Nat Flindowski is still going to be interested in you a billion years later. Right?”

“I know,” I say.

“Because you’re not all that and a bag of chips.”

“I may not beall that,” I acknowledge, “but I like to think I’m at least a bag of chips.”

A snort of laughter trails down the line. “You have a giant sign stamped across your forehead that readsLEAVE ME ALONE.”

“You might be surprised,” I say, my voice musing. “Have you ever considered I’m just like that toyou?” It’s not entirely true. I’m not a warm or welcoming guy, and people generally do steer clear of me. But I’m not overtly unpleasant, either.

I don’t think so, anyway—am I?

I’ll have to ask Benny. Or my therapist.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Stella says. “Because you always were—” But she breaks off, and I know why. Talking about the past is awkward, ill-fitting, like tryingto put on a jacket you wore years ago and discovering it’s no longer comfortable.

All the same…

“We should probably talk about what happened between us at some point,” Stella says, surprising me as she plucks the idea right from my mind.

“Yeah,” I say, exhaling. “Later. Not now.” Because I need to prepare myself for that conversation—prepare what I want to say, and more importantly, what I want to reveal.

I don’t want Stella to know I had feelings for her. She doesn’t need to know that, and it’s not relevant to us now. But there’s no point in holding on to a years-old grudge, either. I’m not angry anymore—just a little jaded and a lot wary.

“Fine,” she says, her voice light. “I’ll see you tonight, then.”

“Fine,” I say too. “Later.”

I hang up without waiting for her response, my heart thudding loudly in my ears as my thoughts swirl. It’s weird to have my phone ring and see Stella’s contact pop up—weird that we have access to each other like that.

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