Page 24 of The Monster I Am
I give him a warm smile. “I’m fine. You?”
“Bex! Did you hear? Mercury is in the microwave again. Argh. I hate when it does that.”
Abby suddenly pops out from behind Arch, clearly being protected by her very own human shield as they move through the crowd. Who said romance was dead?
“What is in the what?”
She laughs. “Mercury is in retrograde. But we say microwave.”
“Because we’re cooked,” Archie answers, attempting to fill me in after I continue to stare at them both cluelessly. “It means shit always goes wrong.”
I glance between them. “Is Mercury the black sheep of the planets? Or are we talking about the metal element?”
Abby nods enthusiastically. “Definitely the black sheep. Everything goes a little haywire in retrograde.”
“Well, that sucks,” I mumble, voice barely carrying over the cheers of the crowd. “Any good luck coming our way instead? You know, lottery wins, magical building repairs. That type of thing?”
She grimaces. “Unfortunately not.”
“Abs, you are meant to be my bringer of good news,” I joke. “Weren’t my career prospects and love life meant to be improving?”
Archie snorts amusedly. “I’d say you’re doingjust finein the love life department.”
I glare at him playfully. “Complexities are not improvements, Archer. I’m exhausted.”
“I bet you are.”
I jab him with my elbow, turning my attention to the fight just ending. We lost this particular match, but so far, the scoreboard is even. Though, I don’t feel the usual competitive thrill that comes with winning. Maybe I’m broken and need to be reset. I’ve heard turning it off and on again works. I wonder if that includes orgasms.
By the end of the night, I actually start to feel some elation, much to my relief. We won the scorecard, and with it, normal Bexley starts to rear her head from the depths of ruin and clusterfuckery.
Though, I’m fairly confident we secured the win because Cedar Heights are just a bit more frustrated than Willowbrook for obvious reasons. You know—our school being set on fireagainand all. It’s definitely effective and a real mood killer.
Everyone starts to make their way out of the warehouse with the completion of the night, and I realize being at the back of the pack has one obvious disadvantage…
“Bexley!”
The last few people are just heading out the door when I hear my name being called from the other side of the room. Turning, I spot Tai jumping up and down on the platform, hands waving wildly which earns some odd glances from the tail end of the fleeting crowd.
Rylan and Hunter are sitting on their little thrones, the pair a strikingly peculiar contrast to the energetic blond.
But at the exit of the last person, Rylan breaks into a warm smile—that genuine one he reserves just for me when the masks can come off.
On the other hand, Hunter is choosing to look anywherebutat me. Clearly, this little decision to call me over was a spur of the moment gesture by Tai, approved and seconded by Rylan. Lannister appears to be hating life like the tax man is chasing him with a pineapple and a bottle of lube filled with Frank’s RedHot sauce.
“Hey,” I greet warmly, walking over. “Good fight night.” I can’t help the victorious tone to my voice, but it’s more controlled than usual. Still playful and clearly pleased with the result but less gloating.
Sucks to suck, but I’ll give you a hug and let you feel my titskindavibe.
Rylan quickly grumbles, “Yeah, well, we’ll get you next time.”
Stepping up onto the platform, it’s the first time I’ve ever set foot on their makeshift tower. I’m surprised to see it actually gives a decent view of the cage without the obstruction of bobbing heads in the way. Well, I’m assuming anyway, since we’re the only ones left in the warehouse and I don’t have a crowd to test that theory.
“Aw, do I need to help make you feel better?” I joke, grabbing Rylan’s face in my hands.
The old Rylan would have slapped them away in a moment of fury. But this version, the one I’ve come to adore, leans into my palm with sparkling eyes.
“We’ll kick your ass next time.”
