Page 126 of The Stone Secret
He grins. “Same to you.”
I can’t help but grin back. “Noted.”
We head toward the dorms.
“Any plans for tomorrow?” Curi asks.
“No. You?”
“Nope. Procrastination probably.”
Yeah, giving us the day off before the cadet exam leaves us plenty of time to procrastinate. “We should all hang out. Make some food, watch some movies.”
“Sounds good.”
The sounds of pots and pans clashing drift out from the dorm kitchen. I follow Curi inside to find Cameron at the sink washing dishes. Every surface is covered in pots and pans. It looks like she’s pulled everything out of the cupboards.
“Cameron?” Curi says.
She looks over her shoulder. “Oh, hey, sorry, I was just cleaning. I mean this place is a mess, and nothing is where it should be, and there were dishes so…” Her mouth looks all wobbly. Oh fuck, has she been crying?
“Why are you crying?” Curi demands. “What happened? Is it Derek?”
“No. I’m fine. Derek is fine.” Her tone goes up an octave. “I just—I wanted to clean.”
Curi backs up a step so he’s level with me. “I don’t think she’s okay.”
“I’m fine,” she snaps.
“It’s Serath, isn’t it?” Curi says.
The plate she’s cleaning slips from her hand and smashes in the sink. “Fuck!” She throws down the sponge. “Fuck you! Fuck, fuck, fuck!”
Curi crosses the room and pulls her into his arms.
“No.” She shoves at him. “I’m fine. I’m fucking fine.”
He doesn’t let go of her, holding her tightly and stroking her hair until she sags against him and begins to cry.
She’s crying. Serath made her cry. Anger washes over me. “What the fuck is his problem?” I turn to the door.
“Don’t!” Cameron calls. “Please, don’t.”
“Dammit, Cameron, why not?”
“Because I’m fine.” She says it like she wants to believe it. Like she needshimto believe it.
Oh Cameron. My sweet, sweet, Cameron.
“You arenotfine,” Curi grinds out. “What happened?”
She takes a deep breath and pulls out of his arms. “I met Jana.”
“Who?” Curi looks confused. “Wait, the goyle Serath is fucking?”
My heart sinks.
“It’s okay,” she says. “I just…I wasn’t expecting to have to meet her.”
