Page 69 of Bound By Stars
“I’ll listen to every one of them talk about my dad as long as I can avoid dancing,” Curran says.
Asha takes the seat on Skye’s other side. “An eligible alliance like you? Unlikely.”
Curran sinks down in his chair, his effort to hide actually making him seem more approachable.
“I’d bet good money that once you get dragged out there, you won’t get off the dance floor for at least an hour,” Asha says.
Skye rests her elbows on the table, blocking my view of Asha. “I don’t know. He’s pretty good at slipping away unnoticed. Where do you think Jupiter learned it?”
Curran’s standard serious expression brightens. “Is that where you want to start? Because I’ll take that bet.”
“You’re on.” Asha stands and reaches across the table to shake his outstretched hand.
Tar’s coat brushes my arm, and he takes the seat between Curran and me. “You didn’t start placing bets without me, did you? My money is on Mr. Earnshaw passing out in his chair before midnight.”
Curran shakes his head. “That’s not even worth betting on anymore. It’s more of an inevitability than probability.”
“I’ll take ten o’clock. He won’t last more than a couple of hours,” Skye says.
“Too many important people around. He’ll rally. Midnight.” Tar stares past me, where Skye locks onto his gaze, and they both nod. Bet placed.
“Nine,” Asha adds, leaning around Skye and pointing across the room at a familiar man already plopping down into a seat and stretching. “I’ve got this in the bag.”
I know that pink face and bright white mustache from the Judges’ Panel.
A song ends and applause erupts throughout the room.
Leaning toward Tar, I have to shout over the clapping. “Everything okay in the lab?”
“What?” he shouts back. Then realization washes over his expression. “Oh, yes. Bunnadillos are officially secured.”
“How many glasses of champagne until Meridian starts hanging all over Jupe?” Skye raises her eyebrows, nodding behind me.
I follow her glare to Meridian, who’s tucked under Hale’s arm and holding a half-full glass between her delicate fingers. Her intense stare is aimed across the room directly at Jupiter. I remember Asha’s story about their breakup. I guess setting fire to his sketchbook didn’t help her move on. No wonder she hates me so much. If my being an Earther didn’t offend her enough, I’m an Earther spending time with the guy she can’t seem to get over.
Not that it means anything. We’re friends at best. Jupiter was literally forced to work with me. And we’re finished now. ILSA’s plans are complete. The mock presentation for Calypso is done.
My chest tightens. What happens now that our obligatory alliance has ended?
“Boom!” Asha points a gloved finger toward where Mr. Earnshaw’s head is tipped back, mouth hanging open. His chest slowly rises and falls with heavy snores that penetrate the din of the party, audible even from halfway across the room. “Pay up, folks!”
“That might be a record.” Skye pulls her comm out of her beaded handbag. “Sent.”
Tar glares past me at his twin, pulling back the cuff of his dress shirt and reluctantly tapping the little screen.
I glance back again, but Jupiter’s disappeared.
A porter cuts off my view, offering a tray of bite-size puffs.
I pop one into my mouth. The filling is salty and sweet. Before he swings the tray away, I take two more. I’d only managed a few bites of cake before my presentation between my nerves and Reve, and my stomach aches for more food.
“Excuse me.” I nod at the others, pushing away from the table and heading for the next tray-wielding porter I catch in my sights.
“Whose child are you?” A bony hand clamps around my wrist. The woman squints up at me with an intrusive stare. The lace sleeves of her violet dress hang off her thin arms, and her earlobes droop under the weight of clip-on pearls. Her years are tallied on her face in smile lines and sun-weathered skin. “Did you hear me?”
“My parents aren’t here. I…I’m from Earth.” I suddenly remember how much I don’t belong here.
“Well, little Earther girl, I didn’t ask where they are. I asked who they are,” she says in a matter-of-fact way, like my status doesn’t concern her in the least.
