Page 87 of Rite of Unity

My eyebrows climbed up my forehead and I glanced wildly around the room.I stared at the freestanding wardrobe in the corner.

He stood, moving on tiptoes.

“Maryn, are you awake?”

I yawned loudly.“Just a minute.”

The wardrobe began to close, and I glared at Calden, sliding my finger across my throat before pressing it to my lips.

His self-assured grin only made my lips twitch.

I turned and kicked his shoes under the bed before starting toward the door.

When I opened it, Nami glanced around the room, gaze landing last on Sera’s face.

“You’re watching her recap?”

I nodded.

“Did you see her interview?”

I swallowed.“Not yet.”

She laughed lightly.“Its the perfect Monday morning pick me up.”

She sat on my bed.

My gaze swept the room as I moved to sit beside her.His shoes were under the bed.The wardrobe was closed.Steady, Maryn.Five minutes, then think of an excuse.

I pressed play on my tablet, and announcers rattled off Sera’s odds of winning, her family history, her medical records.

I turned to Nami.“So… what’s up?”

She ran a hand over her blankets.“The party was… something.”

My lips tipped up.“Yeah.”

Nami looked up from my bedding.

“Can I tell you a secret?”

I scooted closer to her, resisting the urge to bite my nail.“Of course.”

She leaned in.“My date last week… with Elias.”

My stomach sank.

“We played baseball.”

I blinked.“What?”

She laughed.“It’s my favorite sport.“Two brothers, remember.”Her hands trembled, and she smoothed my blankets again.

“Yes.”I agreed, still not understanding the connection.

“Anyway, he must have read my file, because he took me to play baseball for our first date.It should have been sweet—” She looked up.“Itwassweet.But…”

I let the silence hang in the air.