Page 125 of The Fake Divination Offense
“There’severyneed to.” Seb pins me with an intense look, all the jokes falling away. “We’re here now, and a lot ofthemare here now, and I’m not letting this opportunity pass me up.”
“We’ll be back!” Bel leaps up to kiss my cheek and bounces away, Seb following with a taunting wink.
Off they go, and I stand at the entrance to the bar, apparently now a rock dad, having lost control of the evening in record time.
Stunned, I wander deeper into the room, unaware of the dopey smile on my face until my eyes lock with Roesia’s. She makes her way over, and I look down at the rock, but there’s nothing to really do with it before she stops in front of me, sipping a glass of wine.
“Mr. Monroe,” she says in greeting.
“Ms. Sombercrown.” And then, because I’m mostly a reactive husk at this point, “What are you doing here?”
I messaged a bunch of the team, but it never would’ve occurred to me to text one of theteam managersto come to a bar hangout.
The edges of Roesia’s lips flicker up. “I was in a meeting with several members of the offensive line when they received your invitation. Is it all right that I tagged along?”
“Of course.” I clear my throat. “It’s great that you’re here.”
“Mm.” She sips her drink again, those shrewd eyes on me. “And how did things go today with the Urzoth service?”
My mouth opens.
Nothing comes out.
Just sayit was fine.That’s literally all I have to say. I’ve lied over stuff like this so many times before; it’s second nature.
But I can’t get the words out. Same as when I stood up at that podium and couldn’t make myself read that speech Treva’d written for me.
I don’twantto lie anymore.
Roesia looks at me over the rim of her glass, and the silence now feels as weighty as what Seb and Bel were lobbing at me a moment ago.
“It is important to me that my players are happy, Mr. Monroe,” she says as she lowers her glass. “Are you? Happy?”
My eyes flick across the room, sighting Bel where he’s with Seb, talking to Phei now.
“Yes,” I say easily, breathy and more than a little sentimental. “Yes, ma’am. I am.”
Roesia’s still studying me by the time I look back down at her. “Well, I’m glad to hear it. But if you decide you want to reevaluate your associations before next season, let me know.”
“My—associations?”
“This PR arrangement has thrown your relationship with your god into an even brighter spotlight, and if doing so has made you reexamine certain things, it would not be a big matter to severthose ties. I don’t want my support of this arrangement to be taken as an ultimatum.”
My brows launch sky-high and I adjust my grip on the rock so it digs into my stomach.
Shit, what is with this evening? Did I turn translucent?
I laugh. It comes out as a sputter, and I scrub at my eyes, shaking my head.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” I croak. “But—gods, you’re incredibly perceptive.”
She smiles. Wide and true. “It’s why I’ve had such a successful career. Now, I’ll be taking my leave. I wanted to make sure you know where I stand.” She glances over her shoulder, to where Bel is laughing at something Phei said. “Give my best to Mr. Warden. Everything is still good with you two?”
“Yes, ma’am.” My grin is confirmation.
Roesia nods. She taps her wineglass against the rock in my hands.
“Emma,” she says.
