Page 27 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

MIRANDA

I try to hear what Stone says to Declan and Carter after Brick and I leave my apartment and go to the common kitchen, but for once, he’s speaking too quietly for me to hear him.

“So, you’re the hot commodity,” Brick says with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I want to crawl under the counter. “I don’t know what is going on with those two. They’re ridiculous.”

“Mac is all gooey for you, and Carter is territorial. He was the same way when Bedard and Kennie started seeing each other. Is he always like that?”

I shrug and watch Stone come out of the apartment, closing the door behind him. I wonder what that’s about. Did they ask him to close the door, or does he think something is going to happen? I don’t want to leave. I like it here. I want to stay. If there’s a problem, it will be my fault and I’ll have to leave. I’m tired of leaving.

Stone places a mixing bowl on the counter with a thud and turns to the fridge.

“How can I help?” I ask, desperate to end this conversation.

Stone holds up a shaker of cinnamon for me to inspect. “This okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I say. “Give me something to do.”

The apartment door opens, and Carter and Declan come into the common kitchen. Dec places a mug of tea in front of me, the fragrant steam rising and feeling like a hug. Blinking quickly, I try to clear the tears springing to my eyes. I’m not used to someone taking care of me and thinking of me. It’s overwhelming in the sweetest way possible, but I’m afraid to get used to it because when he stops, it will hurt even more.

“I forgot about the party. I’m sorry,” Declan says. “Did you want to go?”

I smile. “I am going.”

Dec returns my smile.

“With the group,” I say to make sure there’s no misunderstanding, or in case he thinks I’m expecting anything.

“Oh.” His smile fades, and it’s like the sun going behind a cloud. Damn it. Why do I do everything wrong?

“Do you have a dress?” Brick asks. “Or something dressy? All the girls are getting ready in a suite at Devil’s Den. We can go shopping today.”

I have a basic black dress that would probably work. Brick’s offer feels like a hand extended in friendship, and I don’t have many friends. But I hate shopping. I’d rather chew my own toenails.

“That would be great, thanks. I don’t have anything. I sold or put a bunch of stuff in consignment when I left New Zealand. It’s easier to get things when I need them than haul them from place to place. Traveling light makes it easier to start over.”

“Why do you move around all the time?” Stone cracks an egg in a bowl to start the batter for the French toast.

How to answer this and not sound like a loser?

“Um. My parents traveled a lot for work. It was easier for me to be in boarding school to give me stability.”

“But they’d move you at least every year,” Dec says. “You had no stability.”

I shoot him a glare. They don’t need to know everything about how screwed up I am.

“Thanks, Dec,” I say sarcastically. “Yes, I had to switch schools a lot because I never fit in. No place let me stay for a second year until my junior year of high school.” I try hard to keep the bitterness out of my voice, but looking at the others, I’m pretty sure I didn’t succeed.

His brow furrows in confusion. “That’s not true.”

I scoff. “It was my life. I think I’d know the truth. It’s not like my parents moved me for the fun of it.”

He opens his mouth like we are going to discuss this in front of everyone. Not going to happen. It’s in the past and doesn’t matter anymore.

“I’ll finish cracking the eggs,” I offer, desperate to change the subject, “if you want to get the rest of the stuff together.”

The door from the stairs opens. When Stone is distracted, I grab the bowl and the carton of eggs and start cracking them.

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