“She’s a terrible shot,” Grey explained as they passed a group of laughing freshmen. “I had to give her archery lessons.” He smiled at the memory of them at one of their very first archery classes.

“Oh. Weird,” DE said, going back to her phone.

“What is?”

“It’s no big deal,” she said, shaking her head. “I was sure she told me she’d won a trophy for it or wanted to do archery at college or something. It sounded like she was pretty good.” She tossed him a smile. “I’m probably just remembering it wrong, though.”

“Yeah,” Grey said, frowning slightly. “Probably.”

“So what are you doing tonight? Anything fun?”

“Ah, just going into town to run an errand,” Grey replied as they walked up a small hill toward the main building. Another stiff breeze shook the line of aspen trees on either side of them.

“Oh, you’re going alone?” DE said. “Need some company?”

“I’m not going alone.” He could feel her green gaze on the side of his face. Reluctantly, he added, “Jaya and I are going together.”

DE snorted and he glared at her. Trying her best to get her smile under control, she said, “Right. Of course you are.”

Grey rolled his eyes and lengthened his stride to leave her behind, but he could still hear her laughing.

Jaya

A week and a half after the “almost kiss” in the hot tub, Jaya waited in the lobby of the main building for Grey. She’d already requested a car from the school’s service, and now she stood by the fireplace, warming her hands. A few other students lounged on the chairs around her, talking or texting, but Jaya kept to herself, lost in thought.

It felt like a good way to spend a Saturday evening, going into town to try to get her necklace repaired. The fact that she was going with Grey, though, she wasn’t too sure about. Not after what Caterina had done.

Jaya had to be especially careful now, how and where she was seen with Grey. For instance, he’d texted her that he wanted to return a few library books. Normally she would’ve asked to walk with him, but she’d forced herself to stay at the main building instead.