Strange New World by Rachel Vincent

Author:Rachel Vincent
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2018-05-08T00:00:00+00:00

Trigger 17 is dressed and ready to go the moment Waverly opens his bedroom door. His soldier’s uniform is a little different from what he wore in Lakeview, but it’s similar enough to make me feel strangely wistful, in addition to the nervous excitement already buzzing just beneath my skin.

Waverly thinks having Hennessy at my side should be comforting, but I’m much happier about having Trigger at my back.

“Wow. You look…” Instead of trying to find words, he pulls me close for a kiss, but Waverly slides her hand between our faces at the last second.

“You’ll smudge her lipstick.” She seems pleased for the excuse to deny us our moment, and though Trigger looks irritated—and also very attractive in his new uniform—I understand her resentment. I’ll be spending the evening in her clothes, at her party, with her fiancé, while she sits at home reading the public feeds. “Remember to ride up front with the driver and stay three steps behind Dahlia when you’re walking,” she tells Trigger. “The party’s in a secure setting, so once you get inside, stay in the background. Off camera.”

He gives her an amused look. “I think I can handle it.”

Waverly flounces off toward the stairs, and when I start to follow her, Trigger takes my hand and pulls me close, delaying us by a few steps for at least a semblance of privacy.

“I’m so glad to be out of that room,” he whispers, his lips brushing my ear, and I have to fight the urge to turn and kiss him. “I didn’t think they were going to let me come, after they disconnected my screen.”

“I convinced Waverly that I would be more comfortable with you there, thus better able to remember everything I’ve learned this week.”

“Come on,” Waverly calls from the top of the right-hand staircase.

Trigger lets me go, and we head down the steps side by side.

The sun is low on the horizon as we step outside, where Hennessy is leaning against his car. He glances from Waverly to me, then back as we descend from the front porch, and it’s obvious that he can’t tell which of us is which. Until his gaze trails over our clothing. Waverly’s not dressed to go out.

Clearly relieved to have identified his fiancée, he greets her with an embrace and a kiss on the cheek. “I wish you were coming with me,” he says softly, probably hoping I can’t hear him.

“Me too.” She sighs. “Don’t let Dahlia have more than one drink,” she whispers to Hennessy.

“I won’t.” He presses his forehead against hers and closes his eyes, as if they’re communicating without speaking. Brain-to-brain. They look really sweet together, even though there aren’t any cameras here to catch the moment.

Trigger opens the rear car door for me, then climbs into the front seat, next to the driver.

“I’ll see you tonight.” Hennessy squeezes Waverly’s hand, and as I slide across the long rear seat, I hear him whisper something else to her. “I love you.”

“Love you too.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.