Page 38 of Spellbound
That was unexpectedly modest. He was brilliant, but I wasn’t about to stroke his ego.
“Lucky?” Naomi scoffed. “You must be like, really good if Edmund promoted you so fast. You’re only a short jump away from keeper.”
Craig cleared his throat. “Man, you should put your name in that call too.”
I glared at Craig. “He’s drunk too much.” My voice dripped with anger. “It’s a terrible idea. You need to learn like, a lot to pass, so it wouldn’t be a good idea this year. Maybe next year. There’s no way you could digest all the knowledge that fast.”
Naomi laughed. The high-pitched shriek hurt my ears. She downed another shot, then looked at the window. “We should go out.”
“We can’t.” I pointed at the magic bubble guarding the house, outside the window. “We’re stuck in here. Well, you guys can leave tomorrow, but that’s it.”
Naomi poked my side. “Then you’ll be here all alone with...” She brought her whiskey-pinched breath to my cheek and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. “Viktor. Maybe you two can—”
“Okay.” I stepped away, letting her topple a little. “I think I’ve had enough for one night. See you all tomorrow.”
I left the room, my cheeks burning as I marched down the hallway and into a side room. Stopping to catch my breath against a side table, I pressed my hands against my knees. I hated being around drunk people.
Breathless pants greeted me, in the form of Craig. He stumbled through the doorway and into the small, dimly lit room. “Ellie.”
“What is it, Craig?”
“I need, wait, needed to tell you something.” His voice cracked. He placed the bottle, which he’d brought with him, on the table and closed in on me. I stepped back until there was no more space between me and the wall. “Is important.” His words slurred.
“Now is not the time.” I ushered him back, but he didn’t move.
Craig pressed me against the wall, pushing his body against mine. The stench of whiskey lingered around his mouth as he brought his lips to mine.
“Craig, stop.”
“I like you.” He closed his lips before a burp could come out.
I scrunched my nose. “No, you don’t.”
His eyebrows knitted together. “I do. I’ve wanted to tell you for years, but I couldn’t.” His eyes glazed as he looked at me. “All I needed was some liquid courage.”
“Craig, I know you’re drunk and not yourself, which is why I haven’t beat your ass, but if you don’t get away from me in the next three seconds, I will hurt you.”
“Don’t be like that. I know you want me too. I could see it when you looked at me. You flirted.”
I clicked my tongue. “I was friendly. Because of Nai.”
“If that’s why you’re scared to do this, know I don’t like her like that. Not like you.” He moved his lips toward me again, and I moved to push him back when a gasp stopped me in my tracks.
“What is this?”
I whipped my head around and saw Naomi in the doorway. Tears glossed her big brown eyes. “Are you... kissing?” Fury guided her tone.
Pain shot through my chest. “Gods no. I’m not interested in him in the slightest.”
She looked us up and down. “Certainly looks like it.”
I rolled my eyes back toward Craig, grinding my teeth. I pushed him off me, with more force than I expected, and he toppled back and landed on his ass. I was grateful for Edmund’s training now. It did come in handy. “He came on to me,” I explained. “I’m sorry. I told him no.”
“You wanted it too,” Craig said from the floor. “Tell her. Sorry, Naomi, but we like each other.”
My eyes widened. “You fucking liar. I never wanted it, and I don’t like you.” I shook my head. “Delusional,” I mumbled under my breath.
Naomi’s bottom lip trembled. She clasped her shaking fingers as her tears fell thick but slowly down her cheeks, dragging her makeup with them. “Some best friend and—” She looked at Craig. “Forget it.”
