The Ice Twins - Nikki Jefford Page 0,9

me feel any better. “No one is refuting your artistic abilities, Zelie. Meara is great with kids.”

“I’m great with kids,” I countered defensively. I was a teacher, wasn’t I?

Lemonwick gave me a considering look before continuing. “Her students love her. The parents adore her. All I ever hear from families is about how much they wish Meara could teach every grade. Well, now she can. The kids are happy. The parents are happy. I’m happy. You can still incorporate some art projects into your lesson plans, and I’m sure Meara would appreciate your help planning her new curriculum. Chin up, Zelie.” Lemonwick resumed his long strides to the front doors.

I scowled at his retreating form.

When I turned around, Meara stood in the middle of the hallway, pulling at her fingers. She kept her head bent as though preparing for a scolding. “I told him he should give the position to you,” she said softly.

“How long have you known?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

“For the past week. I wanted to tell you, but Principal Lemonwick said I had to keep it a secret until he made the announcement.”

I had no response. I couldn’t speak through the hurt. It wasn’t Meara’s fault. Nor was it fair for her to feel guilty. But it was hard not to blame her, her and her sister for taking away the two best things I thought I had going in my life. Being near her rubbed at the wound.

“It will be fine,” I said, even though I felt the opposite. I walked away. It didn’t surprise me that Meara didn’t try to catch up and continue our conversation.

I stepped out of the building into the fresh air, gulping it down to keep from sobbing. What hurt the most was thinking about how the kids and parents preferred Meara to me—and how Ren preferred her sister.

What was wrong with me?

Was I so unlovable?

Rather than go home and reflect on those depressing thoughts, I made a beeline for the Pitch and Roll.

CHAPTER FOUR

Zelie

When I arrived at the Pitch and Roll, I practically had the place to myself. Most folks were probably settling down for dinner with their loved ones. Hmph. I ordered fried pickles and ate them at the counter, smothering each one in generous coatings of tangy dipping sauce.

Halfway into my second pint of dark brew, the volume in the bar increased as though a mass arrival had been coordinated among the regulars. The din felt like a comfortable blanket. I was so tired of being alone, and the noise gave me a false sense of company.

I licked my fingers and dried them off with a cloth napkin that had probably once been white but was now a yellowish-cream color. I sipped at my beer, in no hurry to return home too early.

Pint glasses scraped against the scuffed bar as they slid their way to thirsty patrons. The crowd here was older. Perfect. I didn’t need any of my old classmates lingering at the pub, watching me wallow.

I lifted the pint to my lips and took another sip.

“Bull’s-eye! That’s game,” a familiar sounding male voice spoke over the collected ruckus.

“Enjoy your victory while it lasts. I plan to win the next three.”

“In a row? Dream on, bro.”

“Oh, I’ll do more than dream.”

A glance over my shoulder confirmed that Reed and Ronin Elmray were present. The twins stood in a dark corner across from a dartboard. Their thick black hair was short but tousled and slightly wavy over their foreheads. Striking brown eyes peered from beneath sweeping black eyebrows that ended in sharp points. Their faces were tanned a healthy light bronze that could only come from significant time spent outdoors in the sun. Being able to portal anywhere in the elven realm—or any realm—had its advantages.

While my head was turned away from the counter, my empty plate and napkin were cleared. There was no way for me to sneak past the twins playing darts by the entrance.

Ugh. I should have kept my mouth shut about the breakup when I’d seen Melarue. So embarrassing. Did Lark know?

I turned back to my pint. I’d just have to wait the twins out. What were they even doing here? Maybe this was a pit stop on the way to or from visiting Alok and Fraya.

One of the twins gave a whoop. I looked over in time to see dark hair sweep to the side of a smooth face as one of the males jumped gleefully into the air while the