Chapter 23 #2
She just chuckles, throwing the hairbrush down. “Maybe she’s trying to steal one of our husbands.”
I lift a hand. “I volunteer mine as tribute.”
She laughs once more.
“Are you girls ready?” Sam calls from downstairs.
Rolling my eyes, I reach for her hand and haul her out of the room and down the stairs.
Sam smiles when we appear, and Heidi’s hand slips from mine in favour of his, as though a practiced move.
Her eyes twinkle as she looks at him, and his own darken with heavy emotion; emotion that I’m sure he’s struggling to deal with.
After all, this is his first intimate relationship since Molly.
I smile softly, happy that the two of them have found some sort of happiness in this fucked up reality.
Heidi was a mess when I met her, shoved into a room with me in the old office building that they converted to house four hundred plus girls, naming it Grafton House.
We’d both lost everyone in the war, and neither of us had any family left to take care of us.
I spent a month ignoring her before I came home from a night out with Sam to find her crying at the end of her bed, breaking down over being alone.
Despite being adamant that I didn’t want new relationships after losing my own family and most of my school friends, I couldn’t help myself that night, pulling her into my arms and vowing that I’d always be there and that I’d never leave her.
We’ve been sisters ever since. Her and Sam are the only family I’ll ever allow myself to have.
And whilst Sam still has his dad, he lost Molly, the love of his young life. I always wondered if this forced marriage would bring out the best or the worst in him.
Watching them now, I’m happy they have each other, grateful that my little family is as content as possible. Maybe… every once in a while… the State do make the right choice.
“Should we go?” Sam asks, tearing his eyes from Heidi to me.
“I’ll meet you there,” I tell them. “I have to collect my happy husband.”
“He’s… he’s coming?” Sam exclaims as Heidi’s mouth drops open.
I nod. “Yeah. It’s gonna be really fun.”
“Mils, I’m shocked!” Heidi exclaims.
“Me too.” I smirk. “Grab me a beer, yeah? I’ll tell you everything when I get there.”
I leave the smiling couple behind and step into the chilly night air. I fold my arms across my chest and practically hop across the street. Zac’s wearing his leather jacket over a dark red, long-sleeve top, and is leaning against the wall of our house with a bored expression.
I stop in the middle of the street and his gaze locks with mine.
I’m not sure how I feel about this truce that we’re currently in, but despite myself, I smile.
He takes three big strides, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
My pulse stutters once, then quickens, thudding in time with his approach.
I don’t move, just watch him close the distance, the air between us shrinking until my ribs tighten painfully.
With a start, I realise I’ve been holding my breath. I exhale. He’s close enough that I have to tip my chin up to look at him, now.
“You know, I have an early shift tomorrow, so I probably shouldn’t—”
“It doesn’t start until eight.” I smirk. “That’s a lie in for you.”
“But I haven’t made sure my clothes are—”
“You signed us up for this, Hastings,” I retort, cutting him off. “Shut up and deal with it.”
His jaw clenches, but silently, we make our way down the road. Streetlights glow, bathing Rayden and Nina’s white front door in a golden orange.
Without checking that Zac’s still behind me, I squeeze inside, slipping between two girls. It’s more crowded than the last party, and more bodies are gyrating in the tiny living room. All of a sudden, Heidi appears, pushing her way through the crowd with two bottles of beer in hand.
“Mils!” she calls, thrusting one of the bottles towards me. “Man, it’s hell getting through there.”
“Looks it,” I agree. Lifting the bottle, I take a sip. Sam shoves his own way through the crowd, two drinks in hand. One’s a bottle, and the other…
“Here.” Sam holds the glass out to Zac. “I know you drink this, so…”
Zac’s jaw is tight, but he takes the whiskey and gives Sam a nod. “Thanks.”
A smirk plays on my lips, and I lift my bottle to hide it. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, Zac’s own are twinkling as they meet mine. Slowly, surely, he lifts the glass to his lips, grimacing as he takes a sip.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Sam says, looking slightly uncertain as he looks up at Zac.
One of Zac’s brows hike, but he nods. “Me too, to be honest.”
Sam’s shoulders loosen slightly, and he takes a sip of his beer. “Can’t say I was that excited for this either. Heidi insisted we come—”
“Yeah!” Heidi exclaims. “This is the most fun we’ve experienced in four years! Grafton House was an absolute bore fest.”
“Hey!” I nudge her shoulder. “I thought you enjoyed our spa evenings?”
“I did,” Heidi says, voice light. “But the drama here is unmatched. I mean, look around. There must be more than thirty single people here.” She points across the room. “Look! There’s Florence. Lucy.” She pauses, craning her head. “Briony.”
“Nina’s playing with fire,” I say, lips pressed against the neck of the bottle.
My eyes pan around the room. In the far corner, Rayden stands with some of his mates.
At least two of them aren’t married. He laughs, shaking his head, and spotting me as he does so.
His grin widens, and I return it, lifting my bottle towards him in a cheers.
When I return my attention to the group in front of me, Zac’s glaring daggers at me.
“What?” I mutter.
“This is gross,” Heidi groans, grimacing at her bottle. “Sam, you can have it.”
“Great,’ he groans. “Yesterday, it was your breakfast. Now this. Am I going to get everything you don’t like until the end of time?”
She giggles, cheeks flushing. “What else are husbands for?”
Sam shrugs and takes the bottle. “I’m not gonna waste alcohol.”
“You’re welcome,” Heidi sings, and Sam mutters something quietly to her, before pulling her against him. They nuzzle noses, laughing softly, completely wrapped up in each other.
The sight catches me off guard. I’m not judging; it’s just… a lot. My eyes widen before I can mask my reaction, and I quickly look away and take a long sip from my bottle.
They’re married, sure—but it’s only been two weeks.
Out the corner of my eye, Zac shifts. “Two of my mates are here,” he says, tone tense and distracted. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Hey!”
He’s already turned to walk away, but glances back at me. Reaching out, I take his half-drunk glass from his hand and press my bottle into it instead. His brow hikes, surprised.
I shrug. “Whiskey’s alright.”
He grins and walks headfirst into the party. As though his confidence is visible, the dancers in his path practically jump out of his way before he disappears into the throng.
This whole thing still doesn’t sit quite right inside my gut, as much as I’ve tried to smother the unease all afternoon.
It’s my second party—one that Sam mentioned has fifteen volunteers to keep their eyes out for Enforcers—and I should be enjoying myself.
Letting myself indulge in the fun and the drink and the music that was so goddamn rare at Grafton.
I need to relax.
A smudge of dark green flashes in the corner of my eye, and my shoulders lock, pulse instantly racing. My head whips to the side.
It’s just some girl leaning against the bannister of the stairs, laughing, her dark green top catching in the low light.
She isn’t wearing a uniform. She isn’t carrying a baton or a gun.
I force my shoulders to loosen, dragging in a slow, deep breath.
“Mils, are you okay?” Heidi asks, tearing me back to reality.
I blink, turning back to the smiling couple. “Yeah,” I say, tone lighter than I feel. “I’m just a bit warm. I’m just gonna get some air.”
Heidi’s frown deepens. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I manage a smile for her and Sam, before quickly slipping away, shoving through the layers of people until I spill onto the street.