course, only firms up my overriding conclusion about all of this.”
“Which is?”
“That you must have it bad for that woman.” He brings his hands together again. “Clearly you’ve been holding back a few details since we last spoke—all of them beginning with Kara and ending in Valari.”
“And you can dream on about getting any more details than that,” I jibe in response to his waggling brows.
He shrugs. “A best friend since childhood can only hope.”
Though his banter is obvious, it gives me pause for thought—and inspiration. I fix a tighter regard on him, rubbing at my bottom lip. “Would a best friend since childhood consider a Gold Circle invite as an acceptable olive branch?”
“Whoa. You’re serious?”
“As much as I can be.” I lower my finger and rest my chin on my knuckles. “I have no idea how much sway I have with the venerable Veronica, but it’s worth an ask.”
He looks equal parts gobsmacked and humbled. “All right, but an ‘olive branch’ isn’t necessary, man. We’re good. You don’t have to do anything to prove that.”
“Maybe I want to. And maybe…”
“What?” he pushes after my significant pause.
I spin my chair around and then rise to look out the window before answering. “Maybe it’s a selfish move on my part.”
I’m grateful when Jesse backs off on the pressure. Hopefully he gets it with those simple words and won’t get nosy on me for the rest. Normally he can read enough of me to know which end of my mind is up and which is down. And there’s a damn good possibility those poles won’t be correctly balanced come this Saturday night.
“Well, if that’s the case, you know I’ve got your back, buddy. Even if we’re barreling headfirst into the Valari family fray.”
“Thanks. Though I’m pretty sure it’s not my head leading the way this time.”
“You won’t be the first in history to say that, my friend. Nor the last.”
“True,” I mutter. Just maybe the most screwed.
Especially once I’m in the same room as Arden Prieto. Maybe even forced to interact with him.
Even if Veronica is flexing her full PR muscle to enforce the new order of things here, Kara can barely stand to say his name.
I’ll just have to stick to the facts and trust that Prieto feels the same and will act accordingly. That he yearns to please his underworld overlords more than he wants to throw down with a son of fucking Zeus.
I force myself to kill the budding fantasy of all the ways it could go down. Because that party has to go right. Everything this week has to.
If Kara and I fail to win massive social clout…
If Z goes bust at making nice with his brothers…
If Arden decides he doesn’t want to play nice…
I can’t begin to consider the very real consequences. A life without Kara.
The truth is as biting and brutal as the chilled wind that beats at the window and visibly slices across the courtyard below. It tears dried leaves and twigs off the trees, making people huddle into scarves and light jackets. Overnight, Southern California has decided to become Upstate New York. A different landscape.
Just like me. Suddenly changed. Confronting a new, uncontrollable normal. And trying to prevent the useless leaves from clogging up my mind.
In the days, weeks, and even months to come, keeping my head screwed on straight—and my self-control tethered—is going to be more crucial than ever.
Chapter Ten
Kara
“What exactly do you plan to do with all that forbidden fruit, Miss Valari?”
I smirk and ignore Maximus’s teasing question as I hand over some cash to the young woman working one of the food stands at the farmer’s market.
“Thanks so much,” the worker murmurs, her hands shaking as she returns my change along with a bulging sack of ripe GoldRush apples. “Have a great day.”
Her nervousness, which I try to soothe with a kind smile, gives her away. She’s one of a dozen people who’ve already recognized me here. Plenty of photos have been snapped. I’ve noticed a few familiar faces from the Yamashiro swarm lurking in the periphery, but luckily we’ve managed to miss the full onslaught of media attention this afternoon. It’s a welcome and wonderful change from the horde who’ve been tagging along on our public outings the last few days.
I take one of the golden apples for myself before Maximus collects the bag from my hand, adding it to the others lining his arm.
“Not to mention the lifetime supply of fresh produce you’ve amassed here,” he adds.
I take a