Day Zero (Page 23)

He frowned. “What’s that mean?”

“You don’t know about the game?” I studied his face.

“Game?” His confusion deepened. When I raised my eyebrows, he said, “I don’t know about any game.”

When I focused on a person, I could sense his or her sins; this boy wasn’t lying. “I’m just messing with you. Seriously, what are you in the States for?”

“I’m here for two weeks for a choir competition.”

I leaned forward and murmured, “I think you have a sexy voice.”

It broke when he asked, “C-can I buy you a cup of coffee?”

As I stared into his earnest eyes, I felt a flare of something like pity that I’d have to murder him.

But I was the Temperance Card. The Weight of Sins had never bothered me. “Only if you promise to ask me out before I finish it.”

_______________

Seven days ago

“What do you think, choirboy?” I asked Joules, standing in the eighty-sixth-floor observatory of the Empire State Building. Lights twinkled below and beyond. A storm was rolling in—just as forecasted; all according to plan. Except for a few mugging couples, we had the place to ourselves. “Pretty cool, huh?”

He and I had seen each other as much as possible for the last week—before and after his choir practice, and every night as well when he sneaked out of his dorm. I’d taken him to my favorite haunts, trying unsuccessfully to sleep with him. He hadn’t even attempted to kiss me!

“Ach, how much did it cost you for this?” he demanded. I could tell he was amped (maybe literally?) to see the city from this height, but he hadn’t stopped scowling since I’d handed over our tickets.

I huffed. “Does it matter?” He always insisted on picking up the bill, though he couldn’t afford it. By the way his stomach growled each afternoon, I suspected he was using his lunch money to pay for us.

Which kind of struck me as . . . romantic.

“It matters to me, Cally.” That was his nickname for me; apparently it was a law in Ireland that everyone had a pet name.

“This isn’t the eighteen hundreds. Girls take guys out sometimes.” Even if there were no game, I’d probably want to see him. I’d been surprised by how much I’d enjoyed spending time with him.

I had so much more in common with him than with my fellow international students. They had college application essays to fill out; I had sai training. They wanted a diploma; I wanted icons.

“Those tickets must’ve cost you plenty for a view this grand.”

“Fine. You really want to know how I paid for them?” At his nod, I told him the truth: “I marched into the guys’ locker room at the dojo, snapped a photo of this one bully’s junk, and blackmailed him.” The guy had been so furious, I’d provoked him to charge me. At the last second, I’d stepped aside; he’d rammed a locker headfirst. Then I’d plucked a hundred from his wallet. “Let’s put it this way: you and I are having pizza after.”

I could all but hear Joules’s thoughts: I canna tell if she’s kidding. Please, Jaysus, let her be kidding.

I shrugged. “See? That’s why you have to stay in New York. To keep me out of trouble.”

More and more often, I’d broached the subject of his staying. At home, Diya was putting all kinds of pressure on me to solidify this alliance: “Bring him back to the apartment. I’ll stay out all night. Get this boy locked down, Calanthe!”

Now he sighed. “I wish I could. But me mam has enough trouble with me hellion brothers.” Five of them. “I should not add to her worries. Plus, I’m skint.” At my frown, he explained, “Out of money. And I canna work in this country.”

“You could borrow from me.” Not that my sister and I had much to spare.

He scowled again. “Never’ll happen.”

Seeing he wouldn’t be moved—for now—I said, “Then we need to enjoy every minute together.” I’d been an hour early tonight, but he’d already been waiting for me.

His face had lit up when he spotted me, and he’d trotted toward me like a whipped puppy. Then, seeming to realize how silly he looked, he’d slowed and played it cool.

I tilted my head at him. “I’m the first girl you’ve gone out with, aren’t I?”

His cheeks heated. He was cute when he blushed like that. I found myself teasing him a lot, just to get a blush out of him.

Instead of blustering (which he also did a lot), he grew solemn. “Because I had not met a lass as fine as you are.”

After a few moments, I blinked, surprised that I’d been staring into his eyes. “Um, let me show you my favorite spot.” I steered him to gaze out at the approaching storm. “Up here, there’s all this static electricity. Can you feel it?”

His expression was excited. “I can. Is it supposed to give you a high like this?” Thunder rumbled, and a laugh escaped him.

“Hmm. Maybe some of us more than others.”

A bolt of lightning flared in the distance, and he was riveted. “I’ve always fancied lightning.”

“Have you? You’re like the electrical guy from my sister’s Tarot legends.” I’d told him that Diya used to entertain me with tales of the Major Arcana. Easing him into my world—our world—I’d explained the basics of the game and most of the twenty-two players.

“The one called the Tower?” He grinned. “I thought I’d be Death for certain. Where’s me scythe?”