19. DMITRI

19

DMITRI

( A few minutes earlier.)

Kavi is downstairs, and I've got Hughes trying to offer me a glass of clear liquid.

"No."

"It's water," he says.

I take the glass and sniff it.

A strained expression mars Hughes' usual smugness.

Our eyes meet. Slowly, I drain the glass. Only so he stops sighing, as if I've hurt his feelings. I didn't truly mean any offense. I'm rusty at socialization, and I've got the last time I was in a bar looping in my head.

Other players gather and soon it's a circle of everyone cheersing our win tonight. I find myself clinking glasses. My mouth twitches. It's… not terrible.

"What's going on with you and Kavi?" asks Quinn.

Spoke too soon. "Nothing."

"Is that so?" drawls Matt.

"Don't meddle," I mutter. "There's nothing between us."

"Us? Meddle?" Hughes digs around in his jacket. "Never." He pulls out a headband. "Here. My niece made you one for being part of the Wings family. Everyone has their own."

My hand scrubs a line over my face. "I'd rather be an orphan."

"Why is his headband black and yellow?" Quinn asks.

"My niece thinks he's a dark cloud hiding his sun."

Murmurs of agreement chime in.

Hughes puts the headband back into his pocket, after I've glowered like it's full of dysentery.

"Don't worry, I'll save it for you." He nods solemnly, fighting back a grin. "For whenever you are ready to accept our love."

"I hate you all," I say, not for the first time.

"We know," a few players reply happily. "That's why you've already paid for all our drinks. Pure hatred."

My delivery has slipped. Rookies are getting smart with me. There's not been enough sneering lately.

Emmad goes to the edge of the railing, looking down. "This won't matter to you at all, Lokhov. I don't even know why I'm telling you this. I'm wasting my time speaking about it." He glances back over at me. "But this new guy just came up to Kavi, touching her?—"

I pivot. Quietly, Quinn presses the button to call the elevator.

When it's not arriving fast enough, I turn and sprint down the stairs, forgetting about my knee.

Behind me, Hughes cracks open a beer. "Yeah, he's not into her at all."