Page 64 of Rituals & Rivalry

Did you forget about lunch?

Of course, I did. I can’t recall setting up a lunch with her. Luckily, she texts me again before I can admit that.

Farrah

I’ve been waiting at the tavern for twenty minutes.

I could make up an excuse, leave her there a little longer, but even to my nagging little sister, I won’t be that mean. The truth is, I want to see her. It’s been over a week since we’ve caught up, and I don’t like that much distance with anyone in my family. The tavern is nearby, anyway, close enough that I can walk from the office to meet her.

But when I find Farrah sitting at our usual table, she has company.

Aurora looks up from her menu, her eyes widening.

“What’s… going on here?” I ask, looking between them.

Farrah smiles. “You two know each other, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Aurora says slowly. “Obviously. We work together.”

Farrah is well aware of that, and of our being acquainted for other reasons. What kind of game is she playing?

“Right. Duh.” Farrah gestures to one of the two free chairs at the table.

“Did you, like, double-book lunch dates?” Aurora asks, laughing awkwardly. “Because I can leave.”

“No!” Farrah says. “I mean. Stay. I invited you both.”

Hesitantly, I take a seat, staring at Farrah. Squinting. Glaring, really. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I wanted to eat lunch with you both, of course.”

“Right.”

This has a Farrah scheme written all over it. Farrah has always been like this. Too curious. A little too involved in other people’s lives. It’s gotten her into predicaments before, and if she doesn’t watch it, she’s going to be in trouble with me as well.

What has Aurora told Farrah about us? It’s hard to say; Aurora looks as confused as I feel.

It’s not until the server comes to take our orders that Farrah’s plan becomes clear.

“Oh my gosh,” Farrah exclaims; her acting has always been atrocious. “Seth texted me—coffee emergency.”

“Coffee emergency?” Aurora crosses her arms. “Are you sure about that? I don’t think that’s a thing.”

Farrah is gone before I can question her.

But there’s still one person who may know the answer.

After putting in my order with our server, I turn to Aurora slowly, careful to leave any hint of accusation from my words. “Did you tell her about our…”

I can’t even say the words.

“Our what?” Aurora hisses, leaning in. “Our kiss? If you want to call it that.”

“I would call it that, yes.”

“Please. It barely lasted a second.” She winces. “I’m… sorry about that, by the way. Kissing you. It was a moment of weakness.”

Her words hurt me more than a kiss ever could, more than her ignoring me for a week could. A moment of weakness. It’s like I suspected all along, and I suppose it’s a good thing I turned her down.