Page 49 of Love at First Sighting
“Ariel.” He sighs. Carter pivots around quickly and takes his place at my side. He eyes Sam from head to toe and laces his arm around my back in a way that screamsmine. I think of the way he scoffed at Sam dumping me, how someone who wanted me just for the sponsorships and clout actively pissed him off. “And companion,” Sam adds.
Sam does an imaginary hat tip and eyes Carter warily. Where Sam is lithe and lanky and looks like he wouldn’t make it through a tough winter in Victorian England, Carter is decently taller and has significantly more muscle mass.
“Sam, this is Carter. My…he’s my date this evening. Thank you for getting us in. This party is really something.”
There’s something flustered in Sam’s movements. He’s nervous and more birdlike than usual. “Ian spares no expense. Apologies for my lack of hospitality. I am tormented at the moment.”
Carter tightens his jaw, but the look of confusion on his face is palpable. However, I see this as an opportunity. If Samneeds something, it might be what gets me one step closer to Ian Forte.
“No problem, what’s up?” I ask.
“Katarina,” he bemoans, swiping a hand over his brow. One of his newer accessories is a ring with a glass eyeball at the center, bloodshot and everything. I’m afraid it might wink at me. “My assistant fell ill this evening.”
“Oh, that’s unfortunate.”
“It is. She and I were both offered partnerships with Inner Strength protein powder—”
I clear my throat. “The…protein powder that causes intestinal blockages?”
“In averysmall percentage of users. I have no predisposition to bowel complications. Katarina, however…As you know, El, it’s a critical part of the show, having someone to perform with me. Nevermore, I need to restructure this evening’s performance to accommodate for her absence. It’s perplexing me.”
What is also perplexing is his use of the wordnevermore. Sam presses his index fingers to his temples and ponders.
“It’s interrupting conjuring hour as well. I shouldn’t evenbehere. I should be in my study.”
I have to think about how I’m going to play my cards here.
“Have you changed up your routine at all?” I ask cautiously. I’m not sure what I’m offering, but getting deeper in Sam’s good graces can’t hurt.
“I put a little sparkle on it for Ian’s event, but as a whole, the production is the same.”
I’ve seen Sam’s show enough times to know the basic gist of it. He does a series of tricks in his hour-long set. For the first few, he starts off small—card tricks, magic coins, andone where he produces a dove from his sleeve. Katarina mostly brings him items until his showstopper number, where he saws her in half.
I know how he does it. I made Sam tell me once and he made me swear I’d never reveal his secrets or there’d be dire consequences for him. I’m not sure if magicians have little cards they carry around or something, and whether it’d get his revoked. I don’tplanto tell anyone.
Except maybe Carter. I know he’ll ask.
“What if…I helped you?”
Carter looks to me at the same time Sam does. I can’t tell if the look in his eyes is fearful. I’ll be getting up close and personal with my ex again, but he has nothing to worry about. There is nothing about Alaka-Sam I’ll be running back to.
“You would do that?” he asks.
“Of course,” I agree. “I would be happy to fill in for Katarina. I know the show pretty well. I can do what she does.”
“And you are just as beautiful, no doubt,” he adds, nudging Carter. “Don’t you agree?”
Carter’s grip on my waist tightens. “The most stunning.”
“Sam, I’ve got a favor I want to ask you, too. Do you think if I can help you tonight, you’d be willing to helpmeout?”
His hands flit dramatically. “Indubitably. I’d be happy to do whatever you please.”
Now that Carter sees what my end game is, he eases his grip on me.
“I appreciate it. I was hoping—”
“Can we discuss it after the fact?” he asks. “I have missed half of conjuring hour, and I need to recoup my energies how I can. But I will allow you to have your dinner with your group, and then we’ll convene for the show. How does that sound?”
