Page 50 of Forbidden Magic
A pout twists Lydia’s lips. “It’s not a slumber party. It’s an official field trip with Mr. Brady. Since the woods are off limits for now, we’ll observe the meteor shower there. It’s worth five bonus points on the exam. I thought you wanted to make top three.”
Two weeks have passed since the S&S debacle, and while Cole and I aced our basic and intermediate spells, the challenging one is proving to be a bitch. After the thong-gate, he’d been incredibly subdued. The first few days, I’d found it suspicious, but now…
We work well together, and lately, our study sessions haven’t sucked so bad. He’s funny when he puts his mind to it. I don’t want Lydia to know I’m supposed to meet him tonight because she’ll give me that look—the one with her red L-shaped brow and knowing smirk. I feel naked when she serves me that look.
The redhead shakes her head. “Come on. It’s better than passing out in front of your laptop screen.”
I open my mouth, but I can’t think of a good reason not to go. Damn it!
She grins, both brows rising in the air, her chin tucked up. “You’re meeting Cole tonight.”
That seer is a mind reader, and I’msobusted. “Yes,” I admit.
“Finally, some honesty! Girl, I was starting to think you were icing me out.”
“No, I just—I’m still not sure how I feel about him.”
“It’s okay. I won’t tease you. I’ve got your back, Jules. But I need you there tonight, or these girls are going to eat me alive. Now, go tell that damn beautiful prince that you’re coming with me. You get bonus pointsandyou play hard to get. Win-win.”
I chuckle and start packing. Those five points are worth the aggravation of a night out, especially if Lydia needs me.
She follows me to the library.
The stairs are wet with rain, but the forecast is good for the night. There should be plenty of stars to examine. “I’ll be just a sec.”
She adjusts the strap of her overnight bag and leans against the cement. “Uh-uh.”
“Julia Winslow,” I speak quickly to the guard.
The gargoyle huffs when I rush past him, but I’ve got to hurry.
I could have sent Cole a note, but the library was on the way to the West Tower. And I wanted to see him.
He’s at our spot, putting a volume back into place. His foot is on the first step of the ladder, his tall frame and long arms allowing him to reach the top without much effort.
The restricted section has become somewhat of a sanctuary. He’s different here than out there. I can’t quite explain why, but he’s cocky instead of smug, and the difference matters.
My heart tumbles at the light in his eyes when he sees me coming.
“You’re early,” he says, jumping to the ground.
I point to the blue overnight bag tucked under my arm. “I’m leaving.”
He grabs the stack next to me and pulls himself off the ground. “You’re ditching me for Mr. Brady?”
There’s something dark in his gaze that prevents me from laughing at his logic, and I swallow hard. Truth is: I’m bummed. I was looking forward to tonight.
He raps his knuckles against the book spines. There’s a long, drawn-out pause at the end of which he tugs at the tip of his pointy ear and faces me. “Okay, if we can’t do it tonight, come to me tomorrow.” If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s disappointed.
“Which dorm are you in?” I ask.
His eyes widen like I’ve turned into a green extraterrestrial. “You don’t know where my house is?” His shoulders hitch underneath the crisp, white uniform, his blazer spread over the table behind us. “I don’t live in a dorm. They are minuscule. Come to me instead.”
The sudden urge to yank his tie down and choke him is almost undeniable, and I huff.
“We have two days to blow Miss Deveraux’s socks off with this spell. Our entire grade depends on it. Now, we can either cram into the library on a Sunday night with everyone else—which means Flynn too—or endure your roommate’s incessant babbling. Secret option number three, we can concentrate and work at my house. We’ll be completely alone. I don’t see why you’re being difficult.”
“I’m not—” My mind is stuck atcompletely alone.
