Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 144277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 721(@200wpm)___ 577(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144277 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 721(@200wpm)___ 577(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
I moan as I lower myself, letting him slip inside me. But I keep my eyes open, watching him. Watching those new glowing eyes of his as they light up blue with spark. I can see little patterns moving across the black of his pupils. Like one of those screens. And for a moment, my heart stops. But Finn squeezes my breast, pulling me down onto his chest, and then starts kissing me.
I get lost in these kisses. In the lovemaking. In the climax. In the sleep that comes after, as he dresses and kisses me goodbye, then leaves.
I get lost in happiness.
I wake up to the sound of chirping, then paw absently for my PPD on the bedside table until I find it and answer. “Yes,” I mumble.
“Where are you?”
“Maelis?”
“Is… everything OK?”
“Yes, why?”
“You’re an hour late!”
“Oh.” I sigh, sitting up. “Sorry. I was…” But I stop. Because I realize I still haven’t told them about Finn. “Tired,” I finish. “But I’ll be down soon. What are we doing today?”
“Book club and tea.”
“Right. We’re back to that. Meet you in the restaurant in ten minutes.” Then I end the call and force myself to get up and shower.
Every day I’ve done a little bit of clothes shopping because one needs a new outfit for every day. Not to mention lingerie and random things like swim suits. I’ve even picked up a few things for Finn, mostly guessing his size because he’s changing so much. But when I check the closet, I find that he put on one of the shirts this morning.
This makes me happy in a weird way that I can’t really explain. It makes me feel… useful, or something.
“Stop daydreaming,” I chastise myself. Then choose a short summer dress, put it on, and drag a comb through my hair until it’s sleek and smooth.
When I arrive in the dining room, Maelis, Veyra, and Elsha have already finished their breakfast and are reading our book, The Season of Lilies.
I haven’t read a single page yet. I didn’t even bother to purchase a copy, even though we’ve all been to the bookstore browsing the shelves, every day this week.
Lowering myself into my chair, I notice that there are only four of us. “Where’s Lilika?”
Veyra lifts up a glass of sparkling wine, then spits her words at me. “Every Spark Has Its Purpose.”
“Um…” I blink. Confused. “OK. Well, listen. I’m really sorry for being late, OK?” I look at Maelis because she’s the one who called looking for me, and now that I think back, she was worried. “Is… everything all right?” I ask, looking at her, and not Elsha and Veyra.
“Ask them,” Maelis huffs. Not even looking me in the eyes.
“What?” I turn to Veyra and Elsha. “What is she talking about?”
“Like you would care,” Elsha says. She does look me in the eyes. And she squints them too. “You don’t have a husband, remember?”
“Stop it,” Veyra hisses, kicking Elsha under the table, because she kinda kicks me too.
I blow out a breath. So that’s what this is about. “Fine,” I say, throwing up my hands. “I have a… well, he’s not my husband. Yet.” I smile. “But he will be because…”
Oh, my God, am I gonna tell them?
Yes. Yes, I am. Because my life is perfect and I have no friends to share it with. I need friends. I’m a social butterfly. And while Finn is definitely my best friend, a girl needs her crew.
Besides, these girls look like they could use a bit of good news.
“I’m pregnant!” I blurt, trying not to squeal. “My man’s name is Finn and he’s…” This is where I draw the line. I can’t tell them I’m from another dimension, so I can’t even tell them who he is. So I just say, “He’s super important. I mean, back where we come from, he’s like—”
“Super strong,” Elsha deadpans, rolling her eyes. “Let me guess, Xi told you that he’s the brightest spark in the cascade, didn’t he?”
My mouth drops open.
“Cut the shit, Jasina,” Veyra says. “Why are you acting like we don’t know who you are and why you’re here?”
“W-what?” I’m stunned.
“We all know, Jasina,” Maelis says, her voice quiet and soft. A sharp contrast against the other two.
“You’re nothing special,” Elsha sneers. “You’re not above us.”
I place a hand over my heart. “I never said I was. I don’t know what sparked this—"
“Sparked this,” Elsha laughs, spitting out some wine. “Oh, that’s so funny!”
“You’re gonna end up just like her, you know,” Veyra says. And then she points to the empty space where Lilika should be, but isn’t.
I look at this space, blinking. Confused.
“One day,” Maelis says, her voice still very soft, “it will be your turn. Every spark has its purpose, Jasina.”
Then, as if they planned it this way, the three of them just get up and walk out.