Page 10 of The Spider Queen
“Thanks, but I’m good.”
“She’ll have a Gingerale,” Anita interjected.
“Anita, stop.”
“When a cute boy offers you a drink, you take it.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. She was destined to embarrass me.
“She’s right,” Hunter said with a grin. “I am cute.”
His comment made Anita laugh and despite myself, so did I. “Really working on those social cues, huh?”
“Nope.” Hunter smiled at me. “So you made it. Didn’t think you would.”
“Ah,” I said with a sheepish smile. “These were the plans for the evening. I wasn’t lying. Anita wanted to come. I had no idea it was the same party.”
“You’re adorable when you’re nervous,” he teased.
“Shut up.” I lightly shoved him, but he was six inches taller than me and didn’t budge.
His face sobered. “Glad you came, Spider Girl.”
“Spider Girl? Why does he call you that?” Anita pressed, watching our exchange with obvious fascination.
“She showed me her sketch.”
Anita looked at me. “Sketch? What sketch?”
“Ah—”
“Her spider sketch,” Hunter interrupted. “It was pretty cool.”
Anita smiled.
“Hunter lives here,” I blurted out, wanting to get all the attention off me.
“You live with Jonah?” Anita asked with interest.
“Yeah.”
“Can you introduce us?”
“Depends,” he said.
“On?”
“If you can get Poppy to hang out with me during the party, I’ll introduce you to Jonah.”
Anita begged me with her eyes.
“Okay,” I said with a sigh.
“Yay! Okay, Hunter, let’s go!”
We followed Hunter through the throng of people on the balcony into the apartment. It was more spacious than it looked, but it was loud and crowded. And there was a haze of smoke in the air. I coughed.
Hunter halted; Anita and I almost plowed into his back. “Fucking smokers,” he griped. He shot me a look. “Sorry.”
