Page 17

As his anger rose, Corvus’ body followed. Gently setting Mercutio aside, Corvus stood and began to move towards this interloper. “How dare you. Do you mean to tell me you know this vile woman, Pearl?”

“Course she knows me. And I know her. Certainly better than you do. Think you know her? Think your parents would like to know you’re slummin’ it with all us poor folk who don’t have second homes on the French Riviera?”

Corvus planted himself right in front of the woman, and yet she did not seem intimidated in the least. “Of course I know her.”

“So have you told your mum about her yet? How ‘bout dear old dad?”

That stopped Corvus in his tracks, and his mouth closed with a snap.

Standing with an eye roll, Pearl waved a hand in the direction of the frightful woman. “This is my roommate, Prudence.”

Jutting her head out in a quick hello, Pru said, “That’s Pru to my friends, which you’re not. But maybe you could be if you don’t completely muck this up.” And she walked into her room and slammed the door shut.

Before either of them could do so much as breathe, Pru’s door swung back open and she marched back up to Corvus as though the conversation was still going. “And tell your hot friend to stop making eyes at me and just make out with me.” Message delivered, she proceeded to slam her door once again.

Corvus felt like he’d just been hit in the head with a sledgehammer and the doctor told him it was merely a butterfly who’d landed on his crown. Turning to Pearl with an aghast expression, he was even more affronted to see her trying to hold in giggles.

“I’m sorry. It’s just. That’s one of the reasons I love her. You have to admit that was hilarious?”

“I’ll do no such thing.” How dare she think so, honestly?

Pearl reached out and laced her fingers with his, pulling him onto the couch with her. “Has anyone told you you’re kinda cute when you get all riled up?”

But Corvus was having trouble focusing on her words. They had just snogged each other thoroughly, but somehow this felt so intimate. She’d been so casual and confident, taking his hand and pulling him close. Like she was comfortable with him. Like he meant something to her. “No.” He finally replied. “No one has told me that.” And Prudence’s words came back to him. How was he ever going to tell his parents about this?

Chapter nine

Present - March

Pru declared that Pearl had been spending entirely too much time holed up in the library and declared the next Saturday would be a girl’s day. She told Oliver to go entertain himself elsewhere and invited over their circle of friends. But with all of their disparate schedules, Pearl started growing suspicious when all of their friends RSVPed “yes” with less than a week's notice. Even Hannah, who had a six-month-old baby, said she would be there. When Pearl transported herself outside Pru’s door and knocked, she was starting to become anxious. Was this really a girl’s day? It wasn’t like Pru to keep something from her, but it felt like they were staging an intervention. Her mind churned with the possibilities. Of course it was foolish to let Corvus back in her life, and her friends were going to tell her so. Pru answered the door in a whirl of flour and batter. “Please tell me why I’m answering the door for a friend who has access privileges to my home?”

“Because I’m sure Emily Post wouldn’t approve of appearing in someone's living room when arriving for a formal party.”

“As if I know who that is. She sounds incredibly dull. Come in out of the cold while I put the muffins in the cooker. And don’t start complaining about how they’re not real muffins. You Americans are the ones who stole the name and made them large and grotesquely sweet.”

Hannah was already there - once again chastising Pru for not using more magic to cook. Pru bit back that it was good to know how to do things without magic, and as they continued their argument, Aashvi and Sofia arrived. Pru had been friends with Hannah since grade school, Pearl had met Aashvi in graduate school, and Sofia had rounded out their merry gang when Pru and Pearl visited the magical portion of the Royal Observatory for a planetarium show. Sofia had been working there part time while she was working on her PHD in astronomy. Sofia was another expat, and she’d told Pearl she’d almost wept at hearing another American accent for the first time in months.

Everyone talked and laughed like everything was normal while they finished putting the potluck meal together, which only caused Pearl’s anxiety to ramp up until she was sweating, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Pearl stopped her spiral for long enough to look into Aashvi’s concerned eyes. “Are you alright?” Mercutio had been weaving around her legs, trying to calm her, but she hadn’t even noticed until Aashvi touched her.

“I guess I’m just worried about what you all are going to say.”

Aashvi tilted her head in confusion. “What we’re going to say about what?”

“About me taking the Winterbourne Library job.”

Pulling her into a hug, Aashvi rubbed small circles into Pearl’s back. “Remember when I went back to Charles after we’d broken up for the fourth time? I was so worried what everyone would say, but you all just supported me, and you were there for me, and when I finally broke it off for good, you celebrated me. Whatever happens, you know we’re here for you.”

Pru’s voice cut through their moment. “What are you two whispering about over there?”

Aashvi let go of Pearl to answer Pru. “Pearl is worried we’re going to judge her for taking the Winterbourne job.”

Laughter broke out amongst the women, and Sofia spoke up. “Remember when Aashvi went back to Charles for the fifth time? I’d say you have a few more times of going back to the same well before we judge you.”

Aashvi took the ribbing good-naturedly but clarified. “For the record, I only went back to him four times.”

Hannah chimed in. “Also, I’ve heard that Corvus has apparently aged like fine wine, so I don’t see any problem with you having a little fun and leaving him in the dust.”