Page 48 of The Amber Sunburst

It’s okay. She’ll get it out of her system as they spar.

Sometimes she thinks maybe the whole thing is an excuse for them to be close to each other. To grab each other and hold each other and everything else that they do. There must be other excuses she can make to shower without the whole cohort…

Well, best not to think about it too much.

“I miss Arete,” Zeno sighs on the walk back to their rooms.

Eudoxia snorts. “You saw her, like, two days ago.”

“I know. But usually I see her every day. And, for that matter, usually I see you every day.”

“You do see me every day.”

“No, I mean outside of class and sparring. I’m just saying I miss you.” Forms, he is adorable when he’s earnest like this. Eudoxia tries and fails to tamp down her smile.

“I miss you, too.” She turns away so he can’t see her blush. Then she heaves a dramatic sigh. “But your new bestie Alexander is just too high-maintenance. No time for little old me.”

“I always have time for little old you. Emphasis on the little, though,” he replies, slinging her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.

“You monster, put me down!”

She’s proven time and time again in their spars that she can counter his various holds, this one included. She tries not to think about the fact that she ‘can’t’ until he drops her in front of her door.

“Could I come over in an hour or two?” Zeno asks, like he even needs to ask.

“Of course. And bring your violin. You know Arete loves a concert.”

And so do I, she thinks. Hopefully he doesn’t pick up on that part.

Zeno winks and swings around his doorframe into his room, and exhaustion settles on her now that the planet she revolves around is gone. She opens her own door and the sight that awaits her is already a familiar one.

Ophelia and Arete sit gossiping in her bed, wrappers of Sun Priestess offering-candies strewn all over the floor and an empty container from dinner on the desk. When they notice her, they both look up mischievously.

“Who was out there at the door?” Ophelia coos.

“Oh, I know the answer!” This is why Eudoxia doesn’t give Arete candy before bed. She gets so hyper. “It was Zeno.”

“Zeeeenoooo,” they chorus together. Eudoxia pulls off her cargo pants and button-down so she’s in her pajamas.

“Yes, my friend Zeno.”

“Sure,” Ophelia sings, popping another piece of candy into her mouth. “If that’s what you want to tell yourself.”

Eudoxia scowls at the two of them, and in response they kiss her on each cheek.

The night after the party two weeks ago, she found Ophelia in her room, distraught. She wouldn’t tell Eudoxia what happened, but it was clear something was very wrong. So when Ophelia asked to stay the night, Eudoxia gave her a resounding yes. A yes that extended to any night. Which, to Ophelia, seems to have meant every night.

Eudoxia is glad for it, though. She loves Ophelia more and more with every passing minute, and Arete took to her instantly.

“Is he coming back? Do I finally get to meet him? I can’t believe we keep missing each other.”

“He’s coming tonight.”

“Is he cute? What if I wanted to make a move on him?” Ophelia asks slyly.

Arete jumps up on the bed. “Very cute!”

“Arete, should I flirt with him? How would Eudoxia feel about that?” Ophelia teases.