21. Adelbert

Chapter twenty-one

Adelbert

After dinner, I return to my study and grab my phone, set on giving Florence what she craves.

"Bertie. This is a pleasant surprise," comes from the familiar voice.

"Everett." Despite trying for my usual neutral tone, a note of optimism manages to creep in.

"Everything okay over there? How are things with you and Florence?"

"Fine," I answer automatically, and then take a moment to reevaluate. I lower myself into my seat and contemplate how I want to word things. I have trusted Everett since we were roommates at Alberad, but I also do not want to reveal too much about my situation at this moment.

"Florence misses Sadie," I state blandly and factually.

"I can imagine. Sadie misses her too. We'd love to see you and Cece soon. We'd visit, but things are a tad busy right now with the preparations for the opening."

It takes me a second to process what he says before I settle on something that bothers me.

"You call her Cece?"

"Yeah," Everett answers hesitantly. "Sadie and Cece talk almost daily and include me in many of their chats. Cece says as I'm basically her brother-in-law so I get to call her by her nickname. What do you call her?"

"Florence. That's her name." I sound slightly disgruntled but I take pride in the fact that my voice is without a hint of jealousy. Because I'm not jealous. At all. I quickly change the topic before my perceptive friend calls me out on more than I'm willing to acknowledge.

"Talking about the store opening coming up, I'm thinking it would be a good idea to fly in a day early before the others arrive. It will give time for the sisters to reconnect without being distracted by the rest of the crowd."

"That's a really great idea. What about your presentation? Isn't that coming up soon after?"

I tip my head back and lean it against the back of the chair as I study the ceiling.

"I still have a while to prepare. It's either going to be revolutionary for elves, or I'll be an even bigger disappointment for my father."

"Is he still the wonderful monster he was when we were at school?" Everett asks, sarcasm dripping thickly from his words.

I answer truthfully. "I think he's getting worse with age. Disappointment in me is quite possibly fueling his moods."

I get up and start pacing through the messy study, stopping when I ask Everett, "Do you remember my father's face when he caught you and Jasper streaking through the grounds in our senior year?"

Everett barks out a chuckle.

"That was so much fun. I still tried covering my junk with my hands, but Jasper just let it all hang loose with fists raised in victory when he passed the rose bushes."

I recall the night in question. Everett and Jasper were wild and reckless as they ran naked around the perimeter of the school buildings. The rest of the males from our wing watched them from our secret vantage point where we used to play truth or dare.

"Could you blame him?" I empathize. "He needed to celebrate completing the course. A worthy accomplishment making it through without detection or injury. A knot the size of his would hardly be fun getting snagged on thorns."

Everett chuckles again. "Knowing him, he might actually be into it."

That has me letting my own huff of laughter. My humor sobers as I say, "And yet, somehow, I still got blamed for your streaking. I wouldn't have minded if I perhaps could have joined in with a special cock of my own. Might have made it worth it."

"It always felt like you were on the cusp of having fun, but old Nithard would always find opportunities to ruin the moment right before you'd commit."

I mimic my father's staunch tone. "‘The future of Alberad is weighing on your shoulders. Do not disappoint me or your forebearers.'"

Everett's wistful smile is evident in his voice when he says, "I wish you could start over somewhere without him dictating your whole life."

"Honestly, that thought has not even had the privilege of entering my mind."

"But if you could, would you?"

I take a moment to consider that. "Yeah, I think so. I do feel like I have a future in academics, but the thought of seeing other schools and not being limited to Alberad sounds too good to be true."

"Never say never," Everett advises.

"Not as long as Nithard Alberad is alive is a better saying perhaps."

"True."

There's a comfortable silence between us, years of friendship lending quiet support and understanding to each other before Everett says brightly, "So, Vegas. When can we expect you two?"

We handle the logistics of the trip and call it a night soon after.

For the first time in weeks, the near-constant pressure sitting on my chest has eased a fraction and I look forward to the morning and telling Florence the good news.