Chapter 13
Luca
Press C to enter stealth mode.
Use the tall grass to sneak past enemies unnoticed.
True to his word, Maleek is busy sampling all the free cocktails he can—he’s knocking back yet another one in just a few gulps.
I take this as a sign to switch to something nonalcoholic, or else I’m sure we won’t be making it back to Camden tonight.
The music hammers against my eardrums; some sort of radio hits compilation, I reckon.
And though the light coming from the chandeliers is dim, it can’t obscure how drunk most of the people here are.
In other words, a classic work do. I order a Coke, leaning against the counter and scanning the room.
It’s gotten proper crowded in here. Hank booked the bar’s cyberpunk-themed room for our studio, with its neon lights and chrome surfaces just like in Havoc City.
But the room’s already bursting at the seams, and the air is turning stuffy, even out in the hallway.
The walls are covered in mirrors, which makes the room seem larger than it is, and there are plants hanging and standing all over the place.
“We need to go out more!” Maleek tells me, beaming, and orders himself another gin and tonic.
“That’s funny, I’ve just come to the opposite conclusion,” I say, and Maleek does an exaggerated eye roll. But when he sees my serious expression, he pauses and squints at me.
“Is it too much for you? D’you want to step outside?”
“I’m fine,” I reply, and it’s only a little untrue.
“All right, but if you want to go outside or go home, just let me know, yeah?”
“I’d never forgive myself for keeping you apart from Amanda.” I only mean to tease him, because although we’ve already been here an hour, Maleek hasn’t even managed to say hi to her yet. But instead of reacting to my jab, a look of steely resolve enters his eyes.
“You know what? I’m going to do it!” His voice is resolute, and he punches the air dramatically like some pumped-up video game hero.
“Do what, exactly?”
“I’m going to talk to her.”
“OK,” I reply slowly. “But don’t you talk to her all the time at the office?”
“That’s different. I’m really going to speak to her.” He runs a hand through his dark hair, then grabs the gin and tonic the bartender hands him, taking a deep swig. “For courage,” he tells me. “How do I look?”
“Like usual, but more civilized,” I respond with a glance at his shirt. I bite my lip to avoid laughing out loud as Maleek rolls his shoulders like he’s warming up for a bouldering session.
“I can work with that. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” I say, but Maleek has already turned and disappeared in the crowd. Shaking my head, I stare after him as something bumps against my shoulder.
“Sorry!” The man who just knocked into me raises his hand apologetically and leans over the counter to order something.
I wish I could enjoy this party as much as Maleek and the others are, but partying isn’t really a part of my life anymore.
When everything was still fresh, I was hardly able to look at my phone for fear of seeing more catastrophic notifications from my news app.
Now it’s just large crowds, men behaving suspiciously, and the sight of blood that bother me.
I can function in everyday life—apart from the fact that I sleep miserably, always go to work early to avoid the usual crowds on the tube, sometimes get angry for no reason, and prefer to avoid evenings like this one.
A familiar laugh reaches my ears, and a moment later, I can see Hank pushing his way toward the bar through the mass of people.
I suppose I do need a break after all. Hank has already tried to strike up a conversation with me about PixelPulse’s “catastrophic performance” twice now.
Maleek and I were the only ones in the group who didn’t laugh.
I’d rather not put myself through that a third time—no matter how much he praises me.
Before Hank can catch sight of me, I down the rest of my Coke, walk out the door, and breathe a sigh of relief as the cool evening air fills my lungs.
But then my breath catches, because I’m looking straight at a pair of hazel eyes.
Eyes that shouldn’t send me reeling, the way they are right now.
My pulse jumps into overdrive at the memory of her lips, of her body next to mine, of the scent of her hair, of . . .
“Luca?”
Lara looks just as dumbfounded as I feel. My gaze is drawn to her lips, curving into a smile, and I feel a red heat spread through my body.
I want to kiss her again.
The thought comes before I can stop it, and it doesn’t exactly help calm my frantic pulse.
Everything about wanting this is so bloody stupid.
I’d like to blame alcohol, but I know it’s deeper than that.
I should be focusing on my game, not on my competitor—never mind the fact that she never even answered my message.
Still, I can’t look away. Lara’s hair is in a high ponytail with a few strands framing her face, which glows in the warm, golden light pouring from the bar.
She looks recovered, more composed, and I note how the mere sight of her is enough to calm me down inside too.
She’s all right. I didn’t realize how much I needed this reassurance.
There are two other women standing next to Lara, and they’re eyeing me curiously. These must be her flatmates—the same ones who went to the station with her before the prelims.
“Oh my God!” the blond woman next to Lara says, not even trying to be subtle. She looks over at me, and I raise my eyebrows when she shamelessly eyes me up and down. She takes a step closer and sticks out her hand while Lara stays rooted in place.
“Hi, I’m Nataly! We’ve heard so much about you.”
Lara groans, and I can just imagine how embarrassing this must be for her, but a warm, fuzzy feeling spreads in my stomach at Nataly’s words.
Lara may not have replied to my text, but she did tell her friends about me.
Hah! I shake Nataly’s hand with a tense smile.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Luca. But I suppose you know that already. ”
“I’m Aria,” the brunette woman next to Lara says and waves at me.
When I look back at Lara, she still hasn’t budged an inch.
She isn’t making a move to shake my hand, hug me, or do anything, really.
And there’s no need. Her gaze feels more intense than any kind of touch ever could.
At the same time, she’s inscrutable. She seems surprised by our encounter, but there’s something else in her eyes too, something a bit like the way she looked at me just before she buried her fingers in my hair.
Her expression is enough to make my throat go dry.
“Are you celebrating that you’ve gotten through?” She nods at the cocktail bar. Her voice sounds even rougher than usual, and she clears her throat a little before continuing. “I thought we were going to hear from them on Monday. Feeling quite confident, are we?”
“What? Oh, no, we’re celebrating the Digital Triumph nomination for Havoc City.”
“You don’t happen to have space for a plus one?” Nataly asks a little too casually.
“The bar’s open for everyone; you can just go in,” I tell her, and Nataly shakes her head.
“For Lara, I mean. She loves parties.”
“Oh, really? I guess that’s why she was so keen on that networking do back at the estate.” I bite my lip so I don’t burst out laughing when I catch sight of the withering look Lara shoots her friend. Someone lesser might have folded under that gaze, but Nataly just grins cheerfully.
“Oh yeah, absolutely. She was just saying it would be nice if we could round off this exciting day somewhere nice. But Aria and I really need to get home.”
“Exciting?” I give Lara an inquisitive look. Her cheeks are flushed, and Aria steps up next to her to whisper something in her ear. Lara shakes her head.
“I’m sure she could tell you all about it over a drink.” Nataly walks back over to Lara and gives her a hug. “Have fun! And text us if you need to be picked up.”
I wait for Lara to protest, to apologize and go home with her friends—but she doesn’t.
Instead, she returns Nataly’s hug, gives Aria one too, tugs on her jacket sleeves, and takes two steps in my direction.
Those few seconds are all it takes for my heart to switch into overdrive, and as she stands there in front of me with her head tilted back slightly to hold my gaze, it takes everything in my power to keep the distance between us.
The last time we saw each other, we were lying in bed together.
It’s weird to be standing in the crisp evening air with her now, so close but still too far, now that I know the calm that the warmth of her skin against mine can bring.
“Hi,” I say, and I feel like I’m fifteen again, too awkward to talk to the girl I like.
“Hey,” Lara responds. Am I just imagining things or does she sound just as breathless as I feel?
“Bye! Have fun, you two!” Nataly calls out behind her, and then she walks away with a wave and a giggle, dragging Aria along with her.
“God, Nat, you’re impossible.” Aria’s words make the corners of Lara’s mouth twitch.
“Is she always like that?” I ask, and Lara nods.
“Yeah, but I love her for it. The confidence Aria and I lack, she makes up for threefold.” Her eyes turn serious, and she glances at the bar behind me. “You might not be celebrating that you’re through to the next round, but I’m sure you are.”
There’s so much there in her voice—hope, pain, caution—that I have to clench my hands into fists so I don’t reach out and touch her.
“We’ll see on Monday,” I reply. “And who says we’re not both through to the next round?”
“I like your optimism, but even Sophia, my boss, has given up.” She shrugs like she thinks it’s no big deal.