through and connect the dots.
Tonight wouldn’t be the night, though.
Tonight, I was too anxious and … all right, I admitted it, jealous. Why deny it? I had been attracted to Kenna since I had first seen her. And the more she seemed connected to my dilemma, the more I liked her.
Kenna laughed with Nigel again, making my jealousy more painful.
All right, that was it. I had endured it for too long.
With determined steps, I marched to Kenna and Nigel. “My turn,” I said, simply taking Kenna’s hand from Nigel’s shoulder and tugging her to me.
“Hey,” Nigel protested.
I couldn’t care less about him.
But Kenna frowned at me as I spun her away from him. “Devon, what the hell was that?”
“Nothing,” I said, glancing at her hand on mine. I had expected to get another glimpse from the past, but I guess it didn’t work every time I touched her.
She narrowed her pretty eyes at me. “Any more nightmares?”
I flinched. It had been a couple of days since Kenna had barged into my bedroom in the middle of the night and saved me from the worst nightmare I'd had in a while. At that moment, I had thought we had come to a truce, some sort of understanding, maybe even the faint traces of the beginning of a friendship. But today she was hostile again. I let it slide, only because she had said her sour mood was due to being dragged to the ball against her will.
To be honest, I wasn’t in the best mood either.
“Every night,” I confessed, surprising even myself. “But usually, they aren’t as bad as that one.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
I shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m used to it.”
We danced for a couple more songs, then I decided she could use a break from me. I was about to walk her back to the bar, to avoid the crowd, but the crowd found us.
The library director and the other patrons found us. They were accompanied by their wives and partners.
“Devon, you’ve been part of our family for a little over two years,” the director said. “This is your third ball, and this is the first time I see you dancing.” He glanced to Kenna, an amused glint in his eyes. He was curious about her. “I can see why.” He winked at me. “She’s a beauty.”
A rush of rage and jealousy coursed through me.
“Oh, stop bothering him,” his wife teased. Noticing my discomfort, she quickly changed the subject.
Kenna shifted her weight beside me, clearly as bored as I was. She glanced back over her shoulder. A knot appeared between her brows.
“Excuse me,” she said, before walking back to her table. There, Lia sat alone, her hands on her temple. I followed Kenna. “Are you okay?”
“Just a nasty headache.” Lia waved her hand, dismissing Kenna. “I can take it. Go have fun.”
Kenna snorted. “As if I was having fun.” I frowned. Did it mean that she didn’t enjoy dancing with me, or it was only the last part, when the library people crowded around us? She grabbed her mother’s arm and tugged her up. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
“I can take you,” I offered.
Kenna glanced at me. “No need.”
“Thank you for offering,” Lia said with a forced smile.
Without looking back, Kenna escorted her mother out of the ballroom.
Feeling aimless, I went to the bar and grabbed another whiskey. I drank half of the golden liquid in one swallow. Then, I glanced out to the crowd and regretted it instantly.
The director beckoned me to join them again.
Groaning, I dragged my feet back to the group. Why didn’t I insist on taking Kenna and Lia home? Why didn’t I just follow them out and go home too?
“Devon, you certainly remember Nigel, don’t you?” the director asked the moment I stepped into the circle.
“Yes, we already talked briefly this evening,” I said, my voice tight.
Nigel grinned at me, a smile full of disdain. “Yes, we did.”
The director turned to him. “I heard your father is buying some property in town this time.”
Nigel nodded. “Yes, he’s negotiating the contract. It should be finalized in a couple of days.”
The conversation went on, with Nigel explaining what his father wanted to use the property for. The director suggested they partner up for marketing and other events.
An old song started playing. The director’s wife held his arm. “Oh, honey, remember this song? Come on.” She tugged him to the dance floor behind our circle.
“Excuse me,” he said, before taking her dancing.
This was my chance to leave. But