Page 215 of In Somnis

I reach toward the back of the counter and pull out the plate I’d hidden there. The banana bread already has one small candle in it, so I get the lighter from the drawer, touch the flame to the wick, and turn around.

Nevan’s gaze when he sees it does something to my heart that I refuse to examine right now.

“Make a wish,” I tell him.

He looks down at the plate, then up at me, holding my eyes the whole time he blows the candle out, which isn’t fair, but he seems to know it.

“Done.”

“It’s covered in sprinkles,” Jasper observes, sounding delighted.

“Maes’ tradition.” I set the plate down, cut two pieces, and hand them off. Both of them take a bite at the same moment, and both of them make the same groaning sound.

“It’s just bananas, you guys.” I laugh and look away to the kitchen swing doors.

Through it, I can hear the party already filling up, someone’s Halloween playlist doing its job. I’ve been mingling while I set up the last of the cakes before Jasper pulled me back here for my Chakra cleanse, and I know that guests and staff are already mixing and having fun.

Although neither Paul nor Ridge nor Derek has shown up yet.

“Have you seen Sydney?” I ask. “She makes a cute cat.”

Nevan makes a noncommittal sound. “We’ve already established that we’re more of a dog household.”

“Ha.” I grab a beer from the refrigerator. “I might go see if she needs a drink. Check what kind of mood she’s in.”

“Lemon.”

“Hmm?” I’m already moving toward the door.

“Lennon!” Nevan yells, but I push through it.

Behind me, I hear Jasper exhale. “You are both complete idiots.”

I find Sydney in the library, perched on the arm of one of the reading chairs, a drink in her hand, talking to some other staff members, her ponytail slightly askew, just like the cat ears. She looks up when I come in, and her face does the warm thing it’s been doing lately.

“Hey! You look cute.” She gestures at my dress. “Very yellow.”

“Very intentional.” I hold up my beer. “You look great. Love the ears.”

The music from the main room is loud enough to feel on the floor, and the library is only a little quieter. Sydney giggles, and she has clearly been leaning into her drink for a while. Her eyes are bright in the way that comes after the second or third glass, and I find myself thinking that this might actually be easier than I expected.

“Have you seen Nevan yet?” I ask.

She glances toward the restaurant. “Yeah.”

“Have you told him happy birthday?”

“Not yet. Probably should.” She takes a sip.

“Yeah, you should. He looks good tonight.”

“He looks good every day.”

Irritation spikes at that, but I note it, let it settle, and decide to push.

“You think he’s hot?”

“Have you seen him?” She tips her drink for emphasis. “Tall, built, those freckles. God… and he’s good in bed.”