Page 100 of Awestruck at Dusk
“It was fun,” I replied. “I’d never been to a Midsummer party before.”
“I couldn’t make it last year because I was invited to thisamazingMidsummer party in Gothenburg,” she told me. “But I thought that’s when you stayed over. You know, from what William said about you sleeping in his bedroom. Was that not on Midsummer then?”
Damn it,Zara.
“Um—no. That was about a month later,” I replied, my eyes fixed on my crown. But I didn’t have to look up to know that she was staring at me. “Last year’s party was on the apartment building’s rooftop. Not here.” Zara probably knew that, but she was surely playing dumb to get the information she so desperately seemed to want to get out of me.
“So, did you guys used to date?” she pried. That made me look up to meet her gaze. “You and William.” She looked over my shoulders to where Nathan stood with the guys, talking and laughing.
Why couldn’t Zara ask William directly about these things? Or maybe she already had and wanted to corroborate the information? She was ruining the vibe—making it awkward.
“William and I have never dated.”
“True,” William said behind me, placing my drink in front of me. He handed Zara her glass of Nemorino’s. “But you already knew that, Zara. So stop harassing yoursiswith questions.”
Iknewshe’d already asked William about it. But I can’t blame her for being jealous. William’s comment about me liking his bed so much was out of place for so many reasons. And I was still fuming because of it.
“I’m sorry, Billie.” Zara’s mouth twitched into a smile as she took her wineglass to her lips to take a sip.
“Zara, could you bring the iPod you borrowed earlier for your run?” William asked her. “I want to connect it to the speakers by the terrace table. We need music.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. I’ll be right back.” Zara took one last sip of her wine and stood up.
“And could you bring me a beer on your way back, please?”
Zara walked away without replying, and William added something in Swedish, to which she didn’t respond either.
Swedish was one of those languages where I couldn’t pick up a single word when they talked. It was infuriating.
I texted David if he could come over.
“You’re furious, aren’t you?” William said with a laugh. “About the bed thing.”
“Beyond. And it’s not funny.” I sipped on my spritzer for the first time since William brought it. “Damn it, this is good,” I said under my breath.
William chuckled again and shot one of his signature smirks my way.
“Miss Murphy,” David said, standing beside the table.
“Hey, David. Do you have my menthols?”
William took a sharp breath in through his nose and looked away. David took the cigarette box and a lighter out of his inner jacket pocket. He then handed me a single cigarette and lit me up.
“Leave the box, please. The lighter too,” I said, turning away and breathing out the smoke. He did. “Thanks, Doc.” David smiled and walked away.
William used to hate seeing me smoking. But now, I guess that wasn’t a priority for him anymore.
“Don’t you dare pluck my cigarette away,” I cautioned, just in case. He lifted his hands as in,I would never—when he always did. “This is myoneact of rebellion toward my father, so I’m gonna work with what I’ve got.”
“We should all be afraid,” he said, taking a seat in front of me. The only reason why I didn’t stand up and leave was that I wanted to finish the damn flower crown. I liked them.
“Afraid of what?” I asked. “Can you hold this?” I extended my fingers for him to grab my cigarette. I needed both hands to fasten that last flower on the crown and be done with this.”
He held the cigarette between his fingers and took a drag.
“Afraid ofyouwhen you finally find the guts to break free from your father. You’ll be unstoppable—what the heck is this?” he asked, tapping his lips. “It tastes like peaches.”
“Well, it’s a peach gloss,” I replied. I was finally done with my flower crown, so I placed it on my head and swiveled two fingers back and forth for him to return my cigarette. He did.
