Page 66 of Dragon Unleashed
“And Paige?” Hoc calls out behind me.
“Yeah?”
“We should do family dinner,” he says. “It’s been a while, and I’ve been so busy—we need to catch up.”
Shit. “It’s okay,” I start. “I understand, you’ve got a lot on your plate—”
“How about tonight?” he asks.
“Tonight?”
“I’ll be up around seven. I’ll bring some of that wildebeest casserole you liked so much the last time.”
“Actually, tonight is—”
He’s gone before I can argue.
I turn back to Blossom, who grins knowingly.
“I think Daddy-dearest can smell your boyfriend on you.”
“Ugh. Is it that obvious?”
Blossom laughs. “I think people in the next portal can smell it, sweetie.”
“Ugh. Just Extricate me now.”
“No way, this is too much fun.” She links her arm through mine and leads me into the stacks.
“Here.” She holds out her coffee.
“Seriously?” I ask, my eyes wide.
“You need it way more than me, honey. Come on.”
I take the coffee and sip generously, giving myself a moment to adjust as the caffeine slides through me. Just when I’m beginning to believe I can handle Hoc in my apartment—or knowing about my “boyfriend” as Blossom calls him—she ruins it.
“That weirdo is back again today,” she tells me.
I lower the coffee long enough to side-eye her. “What weirdo is that?”
“The creeper. Mr. Morris or whatever.” She arches a brow at me as my stomach sinks.
“So what? Make Ned babysit him for once.”
“He’s asking for you.”
“I have to practice for my keeper test,” I say.
“Look, no offense, but if you don’t know it by now, it’s not happening.”
“Gee, thanks for the support.”
“I mean it, Paige.” She pulls me to a stop, facing me. “You’ve lived your entire life in the Athenaeum. If anyone knows what it takes to be a keeper, it’s you. And if the powers that be can’t see that, well, they’re even bigger asshats than I thought. And that’s pretty big because I think they’re fucking—”
“Okay, I get it.” I glance around, more paranoid than usual.
“I’m just saying. You’re going to rock that test.”
