Page 97 of Atone

“No.” Her eyes widen, and she grabs my arm, angling us away from her mother. “He’s almost twenty years older than me.”

“Good. It’s going to take a grown man to deal with this ice-queen thing you’re always sporting.”

Patience rolls her eyes. “I’m not having this conversation at my parents’ house. Professor Gray is a professional.My professor, nonetheless. That’s it.”

But something about how her cheeks heat and her eyes won’t meet mine tells me she’s either lying to me or herself.

“You know I wouldn’t judge you, right?” I ask, and she finally looks at me. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I know.” Her shoulders sag. “And I appreciate it. Even more now that I’ve seen how much you’ve helped Alex. There’s actual life in his eyes again. It’s…”

“A good thing?” I offer.

“Yeah, a good thing.” But her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, so I don’t think that’s what she was going to say. “Just be careful with him, okay, Mila? I know you’re strong and independent and used to dealing with Sigma Sin, but this isn’t like that. I love my brother, but he’s got another side to him.”

I’m more than familiar with it, but I don’t tell her that.

“I’ll be careful,” I promise. “Your friendship isimportant to me, Patience. I wouldn’t have pursued this if I didn’t think it was worth it. I care about him.”

“I know you do.” Patience frowns. “And it seems like he cares about you too.”

Finally, Patience’s gaze moves to her mother, who is sitting across the room, sipping a martini.

“Guess we should get over there,” I say.

“Yeah,” Patience mumbles. “God forbid we keep Mrs. Lancaster waiting.”

31

HE ALREADY KNOWS

MILA

Ursa Lancaster putsPatience’s perfect posture to shame. She’s poised at the edge of the couch cushion with her ankles crossed and her back stiff as a board. On one knee, she balances her drink while her fingers toy with the stem of her glass.

“Patience.” Ursa nods at her daughter, not nearly as warm as she was toward Alex when we came here to drop off the books.

There’s no reaction or greeting from Patience. She takes the seat directly across from her mother and sits with her back so stiff that I can sense the defenses fortifying around her. I claim the cushion beside her. Tension thick in the air.

Ursa taps her nail against the stem of the glass. The steady click is as unnerving as her gaze.

“I see you managed to make time for us after all.” Ursa’s stare drifts to me. “And you brought a friend.”

“Alex brought a friend,” Patience corrects her, and I sense she’s doing it just to piss her mother off.

Ursa hums, not acknowledging that or me.

“You said you needed me here this weekend because you were worried about him,” Patience continues. “He seems fine.”

“Fine?” Ursa scoffs like it’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever heard. “Your brother is still refusing to speak, much less come home. He’s far fromfine.”

“He’s here right now.” Patience shrugs. “Meeting with Dad to plan another Sigma Sin apocalypse even.”

“They’re simply catching up.” Ursa brushes Patience off.

“Alone? Away from everyone else?”

“Your father probably has a book for him in the office.”