19. Chapter Nineteen
Three days later, and I still want to strangle Trinte. That entire scene at dinner was his fault. Now Orliana won’t stop asking what’s going on. Something I was trying to avoid, but the conversation is inevitable.
Which is why I’m sitting at this table, inside this Glyridite coffee shop, waiting for her to appear.
I’ve ordered her preferred latte and snagged her favorite table.
While I wait, I admire all of the glitter covering every surface.
While Glyridites are disliked in Gondora, I personally love the sparkling colors.
Plus, one of their photographers will be a Glyridite.
This place is so cute, it makes me sick.
Moxie finds me first, her gold cloven hooves landing next to my half-eaten muffin. She takes a bite, her tiny tail wagging with pleasure.
“Thief,” I grumble.
She ignores me. Orliana walks up, breathless and smiling. “So sorry, Joulian woke up late, and it threw everything out of whack.”
I push over her latte. “I got you covered.”
She hums with happiness as she takes the first sip. Moxie takes another bite of my muffin. I glare at the ugopeg, who pretends like she can’t see me.
Orliana spares no time for small talk. “What in the Hells is going on with you and Trinte?”
The cup in my hand groans as my fist tightens. Relaxing my fingers, I say evenly, “What do you mean?”
“Honestly, Kyri, I don’t have the patience. Fynn recommended we don’t do family dinners until the two of you fuck or fight it out, whatever it is.”
“Too late,” I mumble, looking away.
“Excuse you?” she says sharply. “When in the twelve Hells did you screw Trinte?”
I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “Do you remember that speed dating event? From like eightish months ago?”
“Yeah, the one I refused to go to?”
I smile. “Yes, that’s the one. Do you remember how I mentioned hooking up with someone?”
Her brown eyes bulge. “No.”
I pick at the coffee lid with a nail. “It was supposed to be uncomplicated. He goes to the battle gym, so we agreed to a one-time thing. Then he walked into the club with you, and it’s … spun out of control since.”
“You guys had sex again?” she hisses.
“No!” I say sharply. “I think going over there a few weeks ago made things complicated.”
She snorts. “You think? I can’t believe you went over there. What were you thinking? I gave you that address thinking you both had, I don’t know, developed something when texting about our outfits or whatever. Not that he was the one who had you on the—”
“I know,” I interrupt. “I don’t know why I went over there. He was cruel and—”
“He was cruel?” She frowns. “Trinte isn’t cruel.”
“Yes, well, apparently you haven’t seen every side of him.” The words come out bitter..
What made you think we were ever close?
Taking an angry sip of my coffee, I stare into the distance, replaying our interactions.
Aside from the phone conversation where I told him other people weren't worthy of him, things are rocky, at best. He matches my instigations with mischief.
He meets my anger with equal anger. But when I try to dig deeper, he shuts me down. Immediately.
Orliana watches me pensively. She’s been my best friend since I was nineteen. If there’s anyone who truly knows me, it’s her. Which is probably why she says, “You like him, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I say dismissively. “I’m not bending my rule. We go to the same battle gym, and I won’t be called a ‘battle bunny’.”
“But you really like him,” she repeats, tone full of disbelief.
“It. Doesn’t. Matter.”
Orliana wraps a strand of hair around a finger, considering me. “And if he weren’t at the gym? What would you do?”
Instead of repeating myself, I give her a stony glare. It’s not worth entertaining what doesn’t exist. He didn’t quit the gym — still hasn’t quit the gym — and that's enough of a message.
“You know that he’s Fynn’s brother, and he’s going to be around a lot, right? Like, a lot?”
“I’m aware,” I grind out.
Orliana levels me with a stern look. “You both need to figure it out. Seriously. Sit down to have a conversation. My relationship is new and tender enough — you both hating one another will definitely put a strain on Fynn and me.”
Shame and guilt eat at me. She’s not wrong. “Fine. I’ll reach out. We’ll talk or whatever.” If we’re secretly organizing her engagement, then it’s necessary, anyway.
The rest of the conversation is her filling me in on the new life with Fynn, but all I can think about is the text I’m going to have to send later. For Orliana, I’ll do it. When she needed me most, I wasn’t there to protect her. I missed the signs; for her, I’ll do anything to make it up.