After hurling the question at me, Nadina wadded up her elf hat nervously and then jammed it back over her spiky blond hair. James and I had agreed to meet at the rink that evening, and I had come early to see her. While waiting for him, I had been struck by Nadina’s air of discomfiture. My wariness must have shown because, before I could formulate a response, she huffed, “Never mind. I knew you wouldn’t.” “Now hang on a second,” I objected. In our months of knowing each other, Nadina had never made a request like this, and beyond the usual uneasiness people feel when they’re hit up for cash, the change in pattern disturbed me. “You work two jobs, and your mom pays your school tuition, so why are you feeling hard up?” “When is James getting here?” she changed the subject. “Are you guys together?” “Soon, and no,” I answered curtly. “Answer my question.” She busted a roll of quarters open on the edge of the till. “Don’t worry about it, Cass. I knew I shouldn’t have asked you because you’re so friggin’ stingy and nosy.”
What do You think about Mourning Becomes Cassandra?
