Page 39 of Fate's Sweetest Curse
“It most certainly does not.”
“You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
“And you’ve always been terriblyannoying.”
A pause spread as their childish bickering subsided.
This was the first time they had any privacy since their fraught reunion in Waldron—but just because they werealonedidn’t mean they were free of risk. As Noble had learned from childhood, it was moments like this that held the most potential for disaster. Not only because they could get caught being overly familiar, but because every time he was alone with her, his emotional fortitude eroded another inch.
It was easier to stay away.
“You’ve been reading a long time,” he remarked.
Her candle had melted into a messy pile in its dish; the weak, flickering flame gilded the side of her face in gold.
“There’s so much to absorb. It’s dizzying.” Hattie closed the journal and set it on a side table. “Are we the last ones here?”
“Yes.”
The crease of her mouth twitched with an emotion that his eyes—keen as they were—couldn’t quite interpret.
Then she frowned. “I’m still mad at you.”
“Are you?”
“Furious, actually.”
“Oh, good.”
“Ugh.No, Noble. You’re not allowed to enjoy my anger.”
“Why not?”
Hattie unfolded her legs and rose to her feet. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Phina would say otherwise.”
“Phina can’t know about us.”
On that point, he agreed. “I know.”
“This is so…vexing,” Hattie grumbled. “I’m so angry you’re here.”
Noble bounced his eyebrows, teasing. “Iknow.”
She shook her head—begrudgingly amused, exasperated. An aching, boyish part of him wanted to hold onto this feeling—this pulse of nostalgia beating between them like a heart.
That boy is dead, Noble told himself. He had to be an adult about this.
Hattie clearly agreed. “How in theFatesare we supposed to work in a research lab together?” she asked, taking a step closer—close enough that he could smell her. Rosemary and citrus.
“This doesn’t have to be difficult,” he said, serious. “As far as Phina is concerned, we know each other from Waldron. Your bad-tipper comment easily explains our animosity.”
“But how arewesupposed to…” Hattie trailed off, shaking her head again. “We could barely do it in Waldron.”
“We did fine in Waldron.”
“No thanks to me,” she said, voice wobbling.
