Page 103 of Fairies Never Fall

“Hot as hell, huh?” I narrow my eyes. “What’ve you and Orion been up to?”

Fitzie snorts. “Ugh, not him. He’s a switch and I’m a gold star power bottom, thanks very much — never put my dick in a man’s ass, never want to.”

“T-M-I,” I groan, falling back to the bed.

“The point is, this sucks and I don’t get why it’s your fault.”

“I could’ve left him alone.”

Could’ve resisted putting my hands on him. Could’ve done the sensible thing and not taken him to the river. Could’ve made sure we didn’t leave the safety of Syril’s territory.

“Your boyfriend mightlookair-headed, but he’s actually pretty fucking smart and a whole-ass adult,” Fitzie snaps. “He made the same choices you did.”

“You weren’t there. I did the same thing Jasper did to me — I came on strong and didn’t let up till he was in my bed.”Or till he was begging me to stay in his bed, because I’d made him depend on me.

“The difference is that you were a teenager!” Fitzie says, exasperated. “Jasper was a decade older than you and barely waited until you turned eighteen before he sunk his nasty little claws in. Lysander knew what he was doing.”

“How do you know?” I mutter.

“Because.” There’s a rustle, and Fitzie smacks me in the chest with something. I take my arm away and grab at the papers before they scatter over the bed.

“What’s this?”

“My new apartment.Brandnew. It has a doorman. There’s a view of the river from the balcony — you kinda have to squint to see it, but still.”

I flip through the papers, disbelief rising. “You rented a place? You’re staying?”

“No, your boyfriend rented a place for me. At first I was pissed, because it’s typical overbearing rich kid stuff. But then I figured, why let that get in the way of a sweet apartment on someone else’s dime?”

His casual attitude hides a lot of history. Fitzie hates two things: this city, and having to depend on other people. Well, and feelings. And his shitty dad. Point is, I could never in a million years have predicted he’d let someone else pay rent for him.

The papers crinkle in my hand as I sit up. “You’re really staying?”

Fitzie makes a face. “I’m staying. At least for now. Who knows, maybe it’ll grow on me, like a fungus. Clearbrook Heights is pretty far fromthat asshole, at least.”That assholebeing his dad.

I launch myself at him.

“No!” he shrieks, trying to push me off, but unfortunately for him I’m still bigger and stronger. I pin him to the bed with a hugfor as long as I can get away with before he manages to squirm away. “Get your gross emotions off me.”

I squeeze my eyes against the stupid onslaught of feelings. I’m not gonna cry — because Fitzie would strangle me, but also because I’m not sad.

I’m hurting and my heart aches. But I can be better than just sad.

“I can’t believe you’re staying. I can’t believe Lysander is paying for your condo! See, he likes you.”

“No, dumbass, he likesyou. He wants you to be happy. If I get free stuff out of it, I guess I can’t complain.” Fitzie adjusts the curls I ruined by squashing him. “Anyway, it’s not all about the life of luxury. I still need a job.”

Fitzie pries me out of my bed and forces me to watch Unnatural with him on the couch. He bitches through five episodes, which is a minor miracle because usually he has to turn on some drama-filled reality TV show after just two. I don’t even complain when he starts giving the characters stage directions.

“You’re supposed to looksad, not constipated. Your girlfriend just turned into a werewolf and ate your cousin. You should be freaking out! Emote!” He turns to me. “Hey, are werewolves real?”

I shrug. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Getting Felix to stay in Greenriver means more to me than Lysander could know. But on the other hand… he must have understood, at some level. Maybe I’ve been so focused on taking care of him that I didn’t realize he also takes care of me.

I roll my head to the side and stare at Fitzie. “You gonna find a job at a dance studio?”

“Nah. I think I’m done with that part of my life.” He shrugs stiffly. “Orion said he knows someone who needs an eventmanager, so I guess it’s time to put that dumb diploma I got in college to use.”

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