True to his word, he’s standing against the chipped brick wall between Dire’s place and the store next door, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Against the late-afternoon sunlight his familiar profile makes my heart hurt with wanting. “Stay back for now, okay?” I hiss over my shoulder at Auden. He stops, sighs. Makes a face and looks so much like Luc that for a second I feel my hand curl into a fist to I can punch him in the arm. “Where do you want me to go? Just … hang out here on the sidewalk?” he asks, so out of his element here. “Yes. Whatever. Five minutes, that’s all I need.” I’m distracted, staring ahead at Chord, willing him not to turn this way and see Auden. Not yet. Not until I know what to tell him. “Fine. I’m waiting.” Auden stands right where he is, looking ridiculous and uncomfortable and somehow still refined as the crowd swirls around him, some people giving him dirty looks as they’re forced to adjust their course.
