Page 80 of Song of the Heart Scale
I turned back to my gelato and said, very casually, “You're not entirely insufferable.”
“Wow.” She laughed and nudged her shoulder against mine again. “High praise. I think I'm blushing.”
“You should be. Compliments from me are rare and valuable. Like dragon teeth.”
She grinned. “You compare everything to dragons.”
“That's because dragons are better than most people. Present company excluded.”
Angie was quiet for a moment, then said, “You're different lately.”
I blinked. “Different how?”
“I don't know... softer. Or maybe just more real. Less armor.”
That made me bristle slightly, even if it wasn't untrue. I scooped another bite of gelato. “Armor is necessary.”
“Maybe,” she said, her voice gentler now. “But it's okay to take it off every once in a while.”
I didn't reply. I didn’t know how.
She leaned in again, her shoulder warm against mine. We sat like that for a while, neither of us speaking. But something passed between us. Something wordless, strange, and not unwelcome.
That was the moment he showed up.
“Cat?”
We both turned.
I recognized him instantly, though I wished I hadn't.
Fernando.
Still as tall, smug, and insufferably symmetrical as the last time I’d seen him standing in Cat’s apartment. His hair was artfully tousled in a way that screamed effort, and he wore a leather jacket despite the eighty-degree weather.
“Oh, stars preserve me,” I muttered.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” He stepped forward with a hopeful smile. “You haven’t returned any of my messages. I just... I miss you. I made a mistake.”
Angie made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a suppressed gag.
“You cheated on me,” I said flatly, narrowing my eyes. “With someone named Candy.” For this, I had to pretend to be Cat. And honestly, who named their child Candy?
He had the audacity to look bashful. “It didn’t mean anything.”
“Her name wasCandy,” I repeated, my voice sharp. “That alone is an unforgivable sin.”
He had the audacity to look hurt. “Look, I panicked! Things were moving fast between us and I got scared.”
I returned my full attention to my gelato. “I would rather eat spoiled shellfish than entertain your excuses.”
“You don’t have to forgive me right away,” he pleaded, stepping closer. “Just let me take you out. One dinner. One chance.”
“You had your chance,” I said coldly. “And you used it to roll about with a woman who spells her name with a heart instead of an A.”
Fernando looked toward Angie, perhaps hoping for support.
Angie just popped another spoonful of gelato into her mouth and muttered, “Yikes.”
