“I eat pretty much everything.” Especially right now.
“One of everything, got it.” He grinned as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
I walked through the bedroom and into the bathroom. The damage wasn’t quite as bad as I thought—my mascara was waterproof, and I wasn’t wearing eyeliner today—but my eyes were red and puffy, and I had pink splotches on my cheeks.
I splashed some cold water on my face and fixed my ponytail. It was obvious I’d been crying, but I’d just have to live with it.
I emerged from the bathroom to find the two leaders on their way out of the room. Ponytail held the door open with one hand, peering from his phone to Julian.
“They’re all down at the bar. You sure you don’t want to come?” he asked.
“Nah, I’m starving. Tell them I ordered plenty of food if they want to come up later,” Julian said.
“He’s too young anyway,” the other team leader said from the hallway.
Ponytail laughed. “Right. I forgot you’re a baby.”
Julian shot him a mildly irritated look. Ponytail moved away from the door, and Julian caught it before it closed, flipping the latch so that it stayed propped open. I felt like it was done for my benefit, and I smiled at him when he turned back to me.
“Grayson and Madison are on their way.” He walked to the kitchen counter and pulled tea bags out of two mugs of water. He let them drain, and then, oddly, popped them in the freezer.
“I ordered the food,” he said. “It’s too early for the dinner rush, so it should be fast.”
“Thanks.” I slid my hands into my pockets, trying to appear less awkward than I felt.
“Sit,” he ordered, pointing at the couch.
I lowered onto one of the cushions, tucking my leg beneath me. My body nearly groaned in response. I was so hungry I’d barely noticed how tired and sore I was.
“You did a good job at sparring today.” He leaned against the counter next to the refrigerator, cocking his head as he examined me. I felt like a puzzle he was trying to put together. “You had combat class in high school?”
“Yes.”
“Did you graduate early?”
“No.” I pretended to be fascinated by the magazine on the table in front of the couch. “I have one more year. I figured I’d take the GED later. If I don’t die, I mean.”
He let out a short laugh. “Sure. Stay alive first, GED second.”
“How did you get to be a team leader? Do you know Grayson?”
His eyebrows lifted, like he was surprised. “Uh, yeah. Our families have been friends for a long time.” He said it like I should have already known this.
A headline floated through my memory—MADISON AND JULIAN: BACK TOGETHER?—and I realized that I probably should have known exactly who he was.
Also, it made perfect sense that he dated a girl who looked like Madison.
He opened the freezer and took out the tea bags he’d put in there a couple minutes earlier. “Perfect, they’re cool.” He walked toward me. “Lie down.”
“Why?”
“My mom used to do this when her eyes were puffy. Lie down.”
I did as he ordered, stretching my legs out and letting my head fall back on the pillow.
“Close your eyes,” he said. He gently placed a tea bag over either eyelid. “There. Just stay like that for about ten minutes.”
“Seriously? Tea bags?” I reached up, moving one of the tea bags to the side so I could see him.
“Yes. My mom swears it works. Something about the caffeine. And she would know. She cries a lot.” He gently pushed my hand away and replaced the tea bag.
“Why does she cry a lot?” I asked.
“She’s just . . . prone to hysterics.” He laughed a little. “But this is helpful, right? I was going for helpful.”
“Very helpful. Thank you.” One of the bags started to slide off my eye, and Julian caught it before I did. He was perched on the edge of the coffee table, right next to me, and he leaned over and moved the bag back into place. The tips of his fingers brushed against my forehead, sending a jolt of electricity up my spine. I felt exposed suddenly, lying on his couch unable to see him. I didn’t know what to do with my hands.
“Did you join alone?” His voice was a little softer. His fingers lingered on my forehead for longer than necessary before disappearing. “Any friends come with you?”
“No, just me.”
“You must have been scared.”
I was more scared at home, but I didn’t expect him to understand that. “So where are you from?” I asked.
“New York.”
Right, because he knew Grayson and Madison.
“You’re in college?” I guessed. “Or you were?”
“I did one semester at Columbia before I left to help Grayson plan all this.” I heard the table creak. “Will you be OK for a few minutes? I’m going to go grab the food. It’s just across the street.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“OK, I’ll be back.” Footsteps padded across the carpet, and then the door opened and closed.
I left the tea bags on for a few more minutes, then tossed them and took a look in the mirror. Honestly, my eyes were a bit better.
When Julian returned, he had three huge bags of food. He heaved them onto the counter.
“I thought you were kidding about ordering one of everything,” I said.
“Well, not everything.” He put the bags on the counter. “But one of everything that sounded good. Grayson may be small, but that guy can put away some food.” He started unpacking the boxes and handed one to me. “Here, have a dumpling now. I’m worried you’re going to faint again.”
I took it without argument, and Julian offered me chopsticks and a fork. I took the latter, speared a dumpling, and took a bite. I had to restrain myself from stuffing the whole thing in my mouth.
Julian took one for himself and cocked his head as he chewed. “Eh. OK.”
I took another bite. “It’s the
