Sweet Deceit (Privilege 4)

“Sorry,” she said, shoving his hands away. “This bride is spoken for.”

She pushed her way to the bar and

ordered two dry martinis from Bill Clinton. No one had checked their IDs at the door. Which, possibly, was the reason Lexa knew of this place and liked it.

“You seem so chill,” she said to Ariana.

“It’s called acting,” Ariana lied. She reached past Lexa and took her drink, which Bill was holding out for her. “It’s going to take at least ten of these to calm my nerves.”

She glanced around as Lexa paid for their drinks, and saw a couple dressed up as Sleeping Beauty and her prince getting up from two stools nearby.

“Seats!” she shouted, sliding in to claim them.

A pair of overgrown babies in diapers and footie-pajamas had been gunning for the stools, but Ariana slapped her hand down on the second, saving it for Lexa, who was still struggling through the crowd.

“Sorry. This one’s mine,” she told them.

The babies grumbled something under their breath and walked away. Lexa appeared, sank onto the stool, and slumped her shoulders, resting her drink on the bar. She took a deep breath and looked at Ariana out of the corner of her eye before straightening her posture.

“So.” Lexa gave her a long and serious look. “I suppose you can now consider your S and G task complete.”

Ariana sipped her drink to cover her grin, then sat up straight, the heavy wig of her bride of Frankenstein costume threatening to pull her backward. “I did complete it, though. I just . . . hadn’t turned it in yet.”

“Did you?” Lexa said, lowering her glass from her lips. “You really compromised your precious relationship with the ex-love of my life?”

Ariana’s jaw dropped slightly, surprised that Lexa had caved and been the first to mention it.

“I’ve known about you and Palmer since the night of the NoBash,” Lexa said, placing the glass on an orange and black cocktail napkin. “For two people trying to keep their fling a secret, you really couldn’t have been more obvious.”

Ariana swallowed hard. The insult stung, but she didn’t want to show it.

“Well, I knew all along that you were president of Stone and Grave,” she lied. “For someone trying to keep her position of power secret, you really couldn’t have been more obvious.”

Lexa’s lips twisted into a wry smile. She and Ariana looked at each other for a long moment, and Ariana could see the respect building in Lexa’s eyes. Finally, Lexa lifted her glass and tilted it toward Ariana’s. Their rims clicked and they both took nice, long drinks.

“So. A truce, then?” Lexa suggested, placing her glass down and laying her hands flat on the leather edge of the bar.

“Palmer and I don’t have to hide anymore?” Ariana asked.

“And I will stop being such a raving bitch,” Lexa said with a nod.

Ariana smiled as Lexa turned her stool and shifted her knees toward Ariana. “We’re going to have to have each other’s back now,” she said seriously. “After everything that’s happened tonight, everything we’ve done . . . the pettiness just seems so . . . petty.”

Ariana nodded her agreement. “You’re right.” She looked into Lexa’s eyes. “I’ve really missed my friend, Lex.”

Lexa sighed. “I know. I’ve missed you too, Ana.”

Then she reached forward and threw her arms around Ariana’s neck. Ariana squeezed Lexa back.

“Okay. I’d better go,” Lexa said, checking her delicate gold watch. She took a final swig of her drink, then plucked one of the olives from its skewer with her teeth. “I have official S and G business to take care of, and now’s not the time to start shirking duties.”

Ariana raised an eyebrow with interest. “Anything I can help with?”

Lexa gave her a wry smirk. “Not yet. You may have saved my life, but you are still a tap.”

“God, please don’t let it be any more hazing,” Ariana joked.

“You’ll see!” Lexa said, sliding off her stool.