I had zero desire to be a fifth wheel, and James’s glare as he scooted closer to the brunette said that he didn’t want me horning in on his conquest. As if. “Nah. I’m tired. Gonna go crash.”

“Aww,” the blond whose name might have been Brittany said. “Luther, turn the volume down.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got headphones.”

“Where were you all day, anyway?” Luther fiddled with the remote.

“There you go, playing Mom again,” James snarked, saving me from a reply as I retreated to the kitchen. My stash of soup cans was getting low, and someone had eaten my bread again, but I quickly made a packet of instant noodles while the movie started back up in the living room.

Not wanting more interrogation, I snuck the food back to my freezing room. I didn’t want to lie to the guys, but there were certain conversations I wasn’t ready to have. Jasper was right. I needed better friends. Stat.

Jasper. Setting the noodles aside, I pulled out my sketchbook and settled on my bed. A few quick lines and I had Jasper’s expression when he’d won against that girl in his second-to-last match. I added a flashy vest in the Frog Wizard style. The more I sketched, the more my muscles loosened back up. I wasn’t anywhere close to the person I wanted—needed—to be. However, looking at my drawing next to the rare card, I felt like maybe I’d at least found the path. And for better or worse, Jasper was key.

Chapter Fifteen

Jasper

“Your prince is here again.” Kellan laughed as the elevator dinged. He lounged on a sofa in the waiting area near the bank of elevators as we waited for the others on Wednesday.

“He’s not…” My voice trailed off because Milo was indeed striding toward us in his Prince Neptune costume, which I’d handed him in the downstairs lobby. His bus had been late, so he’d arrived after I’d changed, but he’d made fast work of getting ready. He looked fantastic, all the gold accessories glinting in the bright light, dark hair tamed under the crown, and muscles flexing under the toga as he moved. His limp was more noticeable than it had been on Saturday, and I had a feeling he’d raced too fast from the bus stop.

“Hey.” He nodded at the group of us, coming to stand near Kellan and me.