Page 44
“No?”
“I’m going to dance.”
Asterion blinked. “And…”
“You and Ria will be my backup singers.”
“I don’t think that’s the way that works.” Asterion looked confused.
Korinnae had already stopped listening. She reached for the thick binder of song selections and began flipping through the plastic sleeves at lightning speed.
“No…no…too sad…too slow…” Suddenly, she gasped. “They have Velvet Harmony songs!”
She let out an excited squeal loud enough to make Hektor glance over mid-verse.
Ria laughed, shaking her head. “Oh no.”
“Uh-huh!” Korinnae thrust the binder toward them. “Look!”
Ria glanced sideways at Asterion. He was doing an admirable job of maintaining his usual calm expression, but Ria had learned enough about him to catch the small signs that others might miss. The slight tightening around his eyes and the barely noticeable sigh escaping through his nose betrayed his dismay. She couldn’t help it. A grin slowly spread across her face as she saw him try—and fail—to pretend he wasn’t completely overwhelmed by the evening.
Leaning closer, she nudged his shoulder with hers. “You look terrified.”
“I’ve faced cave trolls with less apprehension.”
“It’s just karaoke,” she laughed.
“That’s exactly what worries me.”
“You’ll survive.”
“I’m not convinced.”
“I’ll be right there with you.”
He turned his head toward her. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“It would make me feel better.”
For a moment, he just looked at her. Then, without saying anything, his fingers brushed against hers, and Ria glanced down as he threaded his fingers through hers. The movement was so natural and understated that she wondered if anyone else in the room would even notice. Their joined hands rested between them, half-hidden by the folds of Korinnae’s skirt and the coffee table.
Heat spread through Ria’s hand almost immediately. She looked back at him, but Asterion hadn’t moved. His attention appeared fixed on Korinnae, who was enthusiastically explaining why every Velvet Harmony song deserved to be performed at least twice.
She caught the slight tension in his shoulders and leaned a little closer, keeping her voice low enough that only he could hear. “You can’t possibly be nervous.”
Asterion’s eyes remained on Korinnae. “I’m not.” The answer came too quickly.
“You’re not?”
“No.” His expression stayed composed, but his fingers tightened around hers just slightly.
The small gesture betrayed him more than words ever could. Right, not nervous at all.
His thumb gave the faintest, absentminded stroke across the side of her hand, and the tiny gesture sent an unexpected flutter through her chest. She glanced at him, but he was looking at Korinnae, continuing to pretend he wasn’t completely out of his element. Her fingers curled a little more securely around his. It felt nice in a way she hadn’t expected and dangerously easy to fall into.
She liked this. Sitting beside him, holding his hand while Korinnae talked about something neither of them understood, felt surprisingly easy. That realization bothered her more than it probably should have. They were becoming friends, she decided. Friends could hold hands. Probably. Ria turned her attention back to the calf before she could think about it any harder.
Korinnae snapped the binder shut with a triumphant grin. “I’ve decided.”
