Page 12 of Bitten & Burned
“Okay, well, if you’re sure.”
“I am,” I said with a huff of indignation. “Now, where were we?”
“Oh, right, the new client!” Thalia said excitedly. She clapped her hands excitedly. “Okay, so… they want to sell my bath sets in a chain of stores all across Verdune!”
“Really?” I asked. “Oh my gods, that’s amazing, Thal!” I pictured her little jars on shelves from Avonlynne’s sunlit boardwalks to the salt-scented stalls of Serpentine Bay’s open-air market.
I leaned over to hug her, and she practically bounced out of my arms.
“Ask her why she dyed her hair pink,” Bram said, reaching for one of his chips and popping it into his mouth. “Ask her.”
“Gods, Bram, no one’s talking about that,” Thalia said with a heavy sigh. “I was telling my good news.”
“Right, and you told it, so now tell Rowena why you dyed your hair pink this time.”
I looked at her. Sure enough, her hair was pastel pink now, almost a rose quartz color. It suited her. I’d noticed but hadn’t said anything when I arrived because, honestly, she was always changing her hair color. It was usually when she broke up with someone, so that meant?—
“Oh gods, you and Edric broke up?”
She sighed heavily and glared at Bram. “Big fucking mouth.”
“I didn’t say a word, I simply pointed out your new ‘do,” Bram replied curtly. “Besides, I never liked him, and now we get to trash-talk him, and Rowena’s so good at that.”
I smiled, but turned to Thalia first. “Are you alright? You should have sent word, I’d have come over…”
“I know, doll. But you’ve got your vamp andthat thingon your leg, plus your job, I figured you might be too busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you, Thalia…” I said, feeling like an absolutely shitty friend because I wasn’t there for a friend who had always been there for me.
“I know you aren’t, babe, but I didn’t want to add more to your plate. Gods, Rowena, you look… so fucking tired.”
My shoulders slumped. “I know, it’s—” I waved a hand, cutting myself off. “This isn’t about me. Let’s just talk about you, Thalia.”
“Fine. But you’re next,” she said, pointing at me.
“And after her—me?” Bram asked hopefully.
“You’re the only one who wants to talk about you, Bram.”
I laughed as Bram scoffed.
“Edric had someone else… well..someones,”Thalia began.
“Fuck him,” Bram and I said in unison.
Thalia grinned at both of us, reaching over to grab my hand. “I missed this, you know?”
“Me too,” I replied.
“You should see if your vamp will let you out more often,” Bram said, taking another chip.
“He doesn’t keep me from going out, Bram…”
“Yeah, then why do I never see you?”
“I go and do things. I go get groceries, I go to work, I go to the library, I go to Thalia’s shop…”
“You do? You never come to mine! You haven’t for at least six months.”
