“Together,” he added. The way he said it made me feel sick, like I had eaten too many pieces of pie and then gone back for a turkey and stuffing sandwich.
I stuck my head around the corner. Sure enough, John and Liv were leaning over the table in the study Macon had set up for her. It was set with two candles and one TV dinner in a lopsided aluminum tray. Turkey. I felt terrible, especially after the dinner Amma made.
Liv was holding what had to be John’s lighter, trying to light the candles on the table between them.
“Your hand is shaking.”
“No, it’s not.” She looked down at her hand. “Well. It is a bit drafty down here.”
“Do I make you nervous?” John smiled. “It’s okay. I won’t hold it against you.”
“Nervous? Please.” Liv’s cheeks turned a familiar shade of pink. “I’m not afraid of you, if that’s what you think.” They stared at each other for a second.
“Ouch!” Liv dropped the lighter, shaking her hand. She must have burned her finger.
“Are you okay? Let me see.” John grabbed her hand, opening it so he could see her fingers. He put his hand on top of Liv’s, his huge palm covering her small one.
Liv bit her lip. “I think I need to run it under cold water.”
“Hold on.”
“What—” Liv stared down at their hands. John moved his, and Liv lifted hers, wiggling her fingers. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s not even red. How did you do that?”
John looked embarrassed. “Like I said, if I touch a Caster, I get some of their power. I don’t steal it or anything. It just happens.”
“You’re a Thaumaturge. A healer. Like Lena’s cousin Ryan. You didn’t—”
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t her. Picked it up from a girl I bumped into.” I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not.
Relief flooded Liv’s face. “It’s remarkable. You do know that, don’t you?” She examined her finger again.
“I don’t know anything. Except that I’m a freak of nature.”
“I’m not so sure nature had much to do with it, since there isn’t another person like you in the entire universe, as far as I know. But you are special.” She said so it matter-of-factly, I almost would’ve believed it. If she wasn’t talking to John Breed.
“I’m so special, no one wants me around.” He laughed, but it sounded bitter. “So special, I do stuff I can’t even remember.”
“Back home we call that a pub crawl.”
“I’ve lost whole weeks, Olivia.” I hated the way he said her name.
O-li-vi-a. Like he wanted to stretch out every syllable and take as long as he could.
“Does it happen all the time?” Now Liv sounded curious, but it seemed like it was more than the wheels in her scientific mind turning. Because she also sounded sad.
He nodded. “Except when I was in the Arclight. Nothing to remember in there.”
I cleared my throat and stepped into the room. “Yeah? Then maybe we should stick you back in that thing.” They were startled. I could tell, because John’s face went dark, and the guy who had been talking to Liv disappeared.
“Ethan. What are you doing here?” Liv looked flustered.
“I brought you some of Amma’s famous pecan pie. We missed you at dinner. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Except I did.
Liv tossed her napkin down on the table. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not interrupting anything. We were just sitting down to a supper of somewhat questionable hen parts.”
“Hey. That’s our first Thanksgiving you’re talking about, sweetheart.” John grinned at her—and stared at me.
I ignored him. “Liv, do you think you can help me with something for a minute?”
She pushed her chair away from the table. “Lead on, Wayward.”
I could feel John’s eyes on me as we left the room.
Sweetheart.
I grabbed Liv by the arm as soon as we were out of Incubus earshot. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to eat my Thanksgiving dinner.” Her cheeks went pink, but she didn’t slow down.
“I meant, what are you doing with him?”
She pulled her arm free. “Are you looking for something in particular? Was there a reason you needed me?” We had made our way to the Lunae Libri and disappeared into the stacks, and I watched the torches light along the wall, marking the way we had come. She took one from the wall.
“Last I heard, he doesn’t eat anything but Doritos.”
“He doesn’t. He was keeping me company. Being… a friend.”
I stepped in front of her, and she stopped walking. “Liv. He’s not your friend.”
She was annoyed. “Then what is he? If you’re such an expert?”
“I don’t know what he is or what he’s doing, but I know he’s not your friend.”
“What do you care?”
“Liv, you could’ve come over today. You were invited. Macon and Marian were there. They wanted you to come.”
“That’s quite an invitation. I can’t imagine how I missed it.”
I knew her feelings were hurt, but I didn’t know how to fix it. I should’ve invited her myself. “I mean, we all wanted you to come.”
“I’m sure you did. Just as I’m sure I still have the bruises to show from the last time I saw Lena.”