Page 55 of Blood Queen

Eli winks. “Oh, okay.” He’s got the kind of easy energy that balances out Truman’s serious tendencies.

Before anyone can say more, a second voice chimes in from the hall.

“Helloooooo, new people!”

A girl appears next to Eli, all confidence and bright eyes. She’s tall, with a messy ponytail and an over-sized sweatshirt hanging off one shoulder. These people all seem to know how to chat, how to live, how to just exist in the world. I have so much to learn, to catch up on in the ways of socializing that my head spins.

“Are we making introductions?” she asks, placing a hand on her hip.

Eli gestures lazily. “Truman. Hisgirlfriend.” He makes air quotes, grinning at me. “Still waiting on a name, by the way.”

I smirk. “Kid.”

Her eyes sparkle with interest. “That your real name?”

Truman exhales, already exasperated. “Yes.”

The girl tilts her head, assessing me like she’s already decided we’ll be friends. “I dig it.” Then she grins. “I’m Tasha. And I live exactly four doors down. Convenient, huh?”

Truman doesn’t react, but Iseethe way his jaw tightens. He’s already wary.

Tasha must sense it, too, because she laughs, holding up her hands. “Relax, big guy. I’m not here to steal your girl.” Then she winks atme.“Unlessyou’reinterested.”

I bark out a laugh, marveling in the way a cast of characters can literally jump from the pages of fiction into real life. Despite feeling out of my depth, a bubble of joy forms in my gut. What if I, we, can have real friends?

Truman groans. “Jesus Christ.”

Eli claps him on the shoulder. “Man, you’re in for awildyear.”

I pull out my new phone, snap a picture, and text it to Kenzie to show her Truman’s new friends.

31

Present

Ileave Philadelphia the following afternoon, my body still humming from the adrenaline. The drive to the airport is quiet, my mind already moving forward. Miami is the endgame, but first, I need something else. Someone else.

Atlanta.

When I land, I don’t call him. I don’t warn him. I just go to his house. But when I step onto the porch, something feels off. No lights. No car in the driveway. I knock once, then again. Nothing.

I lean against the door frame and pull out my phone. The moment he picks up, I hear the hum of a restaurant in the background.

“Where are you?” I ask, keeping my voice light, controlled.

“Out,” he says, and I hear the smile in his voice. “Why? You miss me already?”

I ignore the teasing. “With who?”

There’s a pause, like he hears the edge beneath my words. “Eli.”

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. “Eli?” I repeat, a strange weight settling in my chest. I didn’t know they were still friends.

“Yeah. You should meet us.”

I hesitate, but the jealousy gnaws at me—relentless. “Where?”

He gives me the name of the restaurant, and a twenty minute uber ride later, I step inside. It’s cozy, warm, the kind of place Truman has always liked. I spot them instantly—Truman relaxed, a drink in hand, and Eli laughing at something he just said.

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