“It’s not like it’s a secret, Dix,” Alex said. However, until now she’d never spoken with her closest girlfriend about Kaiden, which was kind of telling. “But it’s also not exactly at the top of my priorities right now.”
“It should be,” D.C. said, passing a bottle of nail polish to Alex. “You deserve to have something nice happen in your life for a change. Something exciting.”
Alex frowned. “I have lots of nice things in my life. And way more excitement than I need.”
“You know what I mean,” was D.C.’s dismissive reply.
“Well, anyway, it’s not going to happen again,” Alex said, starting on her nails. They were using her favourite polish—one that went on clear but changed colour depending on the wearer’s mood.
“What? Why not?”
“Because, it can’t,” Alex answered. “For so many reasons.”
If they’d been standing, Alex was certain D.C. would have stomped her foot.
“Like?”
“Time, for one,” Alex said. “I don’t have room for more relationships in my life right now, let alone a boyfriend.”
“So you do want a relationship with him? I knew it!”
Alex glanced up briefly. “Dix, please, at least try to stay focused.”
With a sheepish smile, D.C. said, “Sorry. But can you blame me? We’re talking about Kaiden James here. The guy is the stuff of fantasies. If I wasn’t so into Jordan, I’d be swooning right along with you.”
“I am not swooning,” Alex spluttered.
“You should be,” D.C. said, with a soft sigh. “He’s so dreamy.”
Choosing not to respond to that for the sake of her sanity, Alex only said, “It also can’t happen because if Aven finds out, he could make Kaiden a target.” And learn about his gift in the process, Alex added mentally, her breath hitching at the thought. At both thoughts.
“We’re all targets, Alex,” D.C. reminded her, if gently. “Being close to you is worth the risk, as I’m sure Kaiden would agree.”
Alex didn’t concede the point. Instead, she said, “I also have to spend a lot of class time with him.” A lot more than D.C. knew about come Monday and their joint lessons with Athora—which was another reason for her caution. “I don’t want things to become… awkward between us.”
“More awkward than an almost-kiss hanging over both your heads? ’Cause I can see how that’s not going to be uncomfortable at all.”
D.C.’s sarcasm, while unwelcome, was nevertheless valid.
“It just can’t happen,” Alex finished lamely. “Not right now.”
“But you like him,” D.C. said, sounding more miserable than Alex felt.
Alex didn’t say anything. Confirmation or contradiction—there wasn’t any point. One would be a lie. The other would only make things harder.
D.C. slumped in resignation when no response came, showing that she was going to let it go. But before she did, she offered one final statement. “The nails never lie, Alex.”
Looking down, Alex sighed.
Pink.
A colour with universal meaning in every world.
Rather than stuffing her hands under a pillow and ruining her drying manicure, Alex turned their conversation around.
“Speaking of relationships,” she said, “how’s things with you and Jordan? He seems to be doing much better lately.”
D.C.’s face softened as a contented smile settled on her lips. “He’s incredible. What he went through—everything he’s been through…” She shook her head, her focus inward. “I had no idea… None of us had any idea.” Her eyes cleared as she looked up and said, “He still has a way to go, but he’s getting there. And I feel so… so honoured that I get to be with him on the journey. To have his trust—to have his heart—” D.C. shook her head again and blew out an amazed breath. “There are no words to describe how that feels.”
Alex felt the prickle of tears as she took in D.C.’s glowing features, as she saw the pure joy that her friend was radiating. Heedless of their drying nails, Alex clasped their hands together, whispering out a choked, “I’m so happy for you, Dix. So, so happy.”
Wet glimmered in D.C.’s eyes as she held Alex’s gaze. “I just—I never thought I’d have something like this, you know?” She sniffed. “With my childhood, no one ever—there was no one I could trust, let alone allow myself to care for.” She sniffed again, before snorting quietly as she added, “But then you barged your way into my life and almost got me killed, and here we are.”
Alex offered a wobbly smile, unable to summon words due to the emotion clogging her throat.
Blinking against her tears, D.C. finished, “I can never thank you enough for everything you’ve done, everything you’ve given me. Jordan, Bear… friendship, laughter… hope. I never knew life could be this beautiful.” She squeezed Alex’s hands and quietly admitted, “It’s better than I could have ever dreamed.”
Inhaling deeply through her nose lest she release the sob she felt building in her chest, Alex gripped D.C. all the tighter and said in a hoarse voice, “You deserve all of it and more, Dix. And if you think you’re honoured to be on the journey with Jordan, imagine how I feel witnessing you blossom at his side.”
Apparently too overwhelmed to offer a verbal response, D.C. lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Alex in a crushing hug. Their teary embrace lasted until a knock sounded at their door and they broke apart, both of them wiping under their eyes as they did so.
“What did I just walk in on?” Jordan asked after D.C. let him in. He eyed them both, likely noting their wet cheeks and tremulous smiles.
“We were just doing our nails,” D.C. answered, giving him a quick kiss on the lips that he turned into something deeper, only pulling back when Alex cleared her throat to remind them that she was still in the room.
Jordan sent a grin in her direction and, seeing him so carefree and at peace, Alex felt tears well up again. Perhaps it was from the trauma of her day, or her raw conversation with D.C., but either way, her emotions were all over the place. And apparently that was clear for her friends to see, since Jordan’s brow furrowed and he moved closer, holding his arms out for her.
A strangled sob left Alex as she leapt up from the bed and he wrapped her in his embrace.
“Is this about Bear?” he asked into her ear, rubbing her back soothingly. “I just checked in on him—he’s going to be fine.”
Alex didn’t move her head from his chest as she shook it from side to side. “No, it’s about you. I’m just—I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Jordan’s hand stilled before he continued his soothing circles. “Have we gone back in time? Because I’m pretty sure we already had our emotional outburst a fortnight ago when you first Released me. Did you bump your head while fighting off jungle deities, or is your mind just scrambled from having nearly kissed Kaiden tonight?”
Alex pushed back and gaped at him through blurry eyes. “How do you know about that?”
Jordan’s answering smirk was merciless. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”