The Envy of Idols (Rich Boys of Burberry Prep #3) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,51

that should suit him," Zayd interjects, and I ignore him.

"—a giant cookie, a slice of pizza, that sort of thing." I grin as Tristan looks at me like I'm crazy. "Trust me: I went as a living macaron cookie last year. It can be done tastefully. We'll find you something. Besides, you're the one who said you wanted to present a united front to the other students. What better way than dressing alike for Halloween?"

Tristan doesn't say anything else, but I can see him contemplating over there, the wheels and cogs in his mind spinning.

Everyone goes quiet for a while, but I can feel Zack watching me, reading far too much into me sitting on Zayd's lap.

It's just sort of a thing he does, has always done. But when I think about it, it is kind of … intimate. I turn my gaze over to Zayd, my arms wrapped around his neck, and I find that we're really close. Close enough to kiss.

I bite my lower lip and look away.

Windsor breaks the tension by discussing Halloween and his plans for a party at his place. Usually we have it at the cemetery on campus, so this would be a way to shake things up. It'll be interesting to see how many people follow us there … and how many stay with Harper.

Ugh.

All this political intrigue is driving me nuts.

But, hey, Tristan likes nuts, right?

I'm so excited by the time we get to Lujo that I'm the first out the door when it opens, practically skipping into the café where I went with Creed and Miranda. According to the guys, the girls made their bet just before winter formal, so when he bought me those shoes, he knew. I push that information aside, peering into the glass and looking at the sea of pretty pastries.

Windsor tosses his card on the counter before anyone even orders, and declares that he's taking care of the bill. It's a control thing with him, I think. Actually, I'm pretty sure he wanted to know why Tristan was in charge of arranging the car because he wanted to do it himself.

"Look, a Union Jack cookie," I say with a grin, pointing at the row of flag-frosted cookies in the back. "A taste of home."

"You Americans and your cookies," he says with a chuckle. "They're bloody biscuits. That is a frosted biscuit."

"Biscuits go with gravy. These are freaking cookies, Wind." I order an eclair and an iced chai from the woman behind the counter, and Windsor copies me, following me through the archway and into the side area where I sat last time I was here. I choose a slightly different spot, near the fireplace in the back, and settle into the sofa.

Wind sits beside me, his body denting the cushion and causing our bodies to touch.

He reaches down and curves his fingers through mine, making my heart stutter in my chest. He touches me all the time, so it's not really that big of a deal, but … something seems different now.

"You know how I said we could date, and it'd be fun?" he asks, and I nod. How could I forget that? "I think that if you're considering one of these idiots, you should consider my offer, too."

I sit there for a minute, breathing in the smell of coffee and sugar, the faint smoky scent from the fire. Underneath it all, there's Windsor's smell, that daffodil and shoe polish scent. Such a weird combo, but so accurate. I think the latter part is because he's always wearing those leather boots of his, and they're always shined to perfection. That must be where the polish part comes in. The sweet floral scent … sometimes I wonder if I'm imagining it.

The other boys filter in, and Zack puts my chai and pastry on the table while giving Wind a look.

"You'd grab mine, wouldn't you?" he asks, his accent cheerful and chipper. He reaches up and pushes some of that beautiful red hair of his from his forehead, making it stick up like it always does. "Be a mate, Zack, and help a guy out."

"You can get your own fucking food," Zack says, taking up the seat on my other side. Windsor flips him off, but sighs and stands up anyway. The other guys are already seated, or else I think someone might've taken his spot.

That wouldn't have gone down well.

My fingers tingle from where he touched them, and I shake my hand out before grabbing my chai.