Page 41 of The Nightmare Before Kissmas
“What is going on?” My voice is only low because I can’t get in a full breath. “How are you so calm about this?”
The answer comes in a blow of clarity: because that night didn’t matter as much to him. Because he knew who I was before wekissed, and me being here isn’t shocking to him, and he probably hasn’t thought about that night until now, and he’s got way bigger things to worry about than a one-off bar alley kiss.
I vehemently ignore the ache in my chest. Everything I’ve been feeling in regard to that night was a fantasy. I know that. It’s dumb to feel rejected over shit I built up in my head. His blush could have been uneasiness because he’s here to romancesomeone else,someone who I also am supposed to be romancing.
“It was a long time ago,” he says stiffly. Like he’s upset, maybe disgusted, and I pull back and wipe a hand over my mouth and I’ve never felt so slimy in my life.
“This is overdue, then,” I say.
Hex frowns. “What is overdue?”
“Apologizing. I told you I owed you one that night, but I never actually did it. So—I’m sorry I made you feel that you were some conquest. I shouldn’t have kissed you without at least asking your name first. I can assure you, nothing like that will happen again.”
Hex watches me stumble through the apology. I can feel every sweep of his eyes on my face, like he’s reading my thoughts beyond my words.
Nothing in his posture changes, but I’m hit with the feeling that I need to go quiet, to let him work out whatever he wants to say.
“You don’t need to…” He fingers the sleeve of his scarlet shirt, the only outward hint at his discomfort, and it forces all the blood out of my limbs when he doesn’t look back up at me. “You don’t need to apologize for that kiss. You weren’t the one who initiated it.”
I wouldn’t be able to move if the whole room started to shake. “Excuse me?”
But he walks away.
He walks away and leaves me there, running those words through my head until their edges soften and bend.
You weren’t the one who initiated it.
WHAT
THE
FUCK?
Baby It’s Coal-d Outside
IRIS
coal—kris told me our Halloween prince was that guy from the bar??
HE’S REAL?? holy shit!!
what did you guys talk about? you looked petrified when you left the ballroom.
also stop renaming the group chat
Iris named the conversation “Iris and the Claus Boys”
nothing.
and he’s not OUR halloween prince. he’s just YOURS.
and i wasn’t petrified
Coal named the conversation “When I Think About You I Touch My Elf”
IRIS
nothing? liar.
