bad ideas & champagne bottles excerpt
this isn't getting done in time either T-T
The first time she hooked up with Maven was an accident. At least, the closest a hookup could be to an accident. She’d been minding her own business, lost in the crowd of socialites and hangers-on, unwilling or unable to bring herself to talk to anyone.
At least Elara hadn’t picked her gown this time.
She snorted. For a lady of high society, Elara had terrible taste, stuffing her in anything from sparkly lilac tulle to a bloodred rhinestone cape. Thank god she didn’t have to live off her charity anymore.
Not that her current job was much better.
“Military, huh?” Cal grinned. Behind him, the Montfort flag fluttered over the stage, ribbons of green surrounding a great stag. “Congratulations.”
She bit her lip. “Thanks.” Around them, glasses clinked, quiet pleasantries and business deals, the meeting of two nations she had no business involving herself in. Not that it mattered. Montfort had wanted her connections, her fleeting status, her relationship to the Calore heir and his–
Her face grew hot. No. Not now.
“What’s wrong?” Cal tilted his head, and her heart stuck in her throat. “You’re really flushed.”
“Nothing.” Mare shook her head, forcing a laugh. “Just . . . being around you again. It’s awkward.”
It wasn’t a lie. It’d been two weeks since they’d broken up, two weeks in which she’d done everything she could to avoid him. Cancelled every meeting, every dinner, every party–if there was a chance, she’d squashed it faster than Evangeline did a moth on a cashmere sweater. She cleared her throat. “So what brings you here?”
“Same as you.” He chuckled. “Most important day of the century.”
Didn’t she know it. Montfort had made many a threat in their correspondence with Norta, the monarchy they saw as a relic of a bygone era. She sniffed. “I don’t suppose you plan to change anything.”
Cal stared at her, taken aback. “That’s up to Father.” He cleared his throat. “If it were up to me–”
“Save it.” She leaned back with a sigh. “I’m done with you people.”
He went quiet. “Did I do something?”
Oh, if only he knew. “It’s your family, Cal. The whole lot of you.”
“You aren’t talking to Maven like this.”
“Maven’s not the heir, Cal.” Her heart raced, but she couldn’t let it show. “And he’s not here.”
“I beg to differ.” A voice rose behind her, a boyish voice that made her heart grow still. Maven grinned, blue eyes sparkling as he swirled his glass. “I could’ve sworn I caught your eye on the way in. Is my face truly so forgettable?”
Her throat bobbed as she forced a laugh. “I meant in present company, of course.” The champagne went down, a phantom buzz already bubbling in her stomach. Not enough to get tipsy, but enough to steady her nerves. “You’re hardly forgettable, Maven.”
Cal eyed them, but said nothing. Could he sense it, the tension in the air? Did he know what they had done? Unlikely. Cal was unsuspicious by nature, noble to a fault. She couldn’t relate. Her whole life had been built on injustice.
I kissed your brother, Cal. And I don’t even know if I regret it.
“Military, huh?” Maven leaned back, shaking his head. “My condolences.”
She laughed despite herself, dull and dry. “Here’s to hoping I make it back.”
“You will.” He paused, brushing a hair behind his ear. “You survived us, didn’t you?”
Cal cleared his throat. “It’s an honor.” His voice was stiff, as if he felt unwelcome. “You’ll go home a hero, Mare.”
She shook her head as if he hadn’t spoken. “My parents are proud, at least.” Her shoulders shook, an unsteady laugh. “If a little scared.”
Maven sighed. “Father still wants me to join.” He leaned back, a dark chuckle. “Thinks I need the discipline.”
Mare scoffed. “It’s overrated, trust me.”
“Oh, believe me, I know.” He eyed her as he tipped back his glass, as Cal drew back with unease. “My brother’s the only one who actually likes it.”
He cleared his throat. “Of course I do.” His eyes wavered, somewhere between confusion and defensiveness. “It’s an honor to protect our people.”
“Of course.” Maven leaned back, disinterested. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
Mare’s fingers twitched against her glass. “Sure.” She swallowed, throat bobbing. “But if Cal sees it that way, that’s his right.”
“Of course.” Maven chuckled, and she grimaced. “It always is.” He glanced at Cal. “Mind if I pull her away for a bit?”
Mare wrinkled her nose. “I would.”
“Right.” Maven eyed her, drawing back. “Apologies. I seem to have been under the wrong impression.”
Cal cleared his throat. “Are you two–?”
“We’re fine.” Mare shook her head, cheeks pounding as Maven winked at her. “Absolutely fine.”
