An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 26

" Okay, I'll bite. What the hell is going on with you?" Gilda exclaimed.

" Don't curse." Jack scolded her.

" I can't be the only one who thinks it's weird that Titus and Dante haven't shown up in like a week."

" Maybe they're busy." Harley suggested, she moved the food in her plate. She didn't like carrots very much.

" Gilda, you know they weren't going to stay forever right?"

She sent me a glare that brought chills up my spine, pushed her chair back and left to her bedroom. Jack sighed and quickly followed her.

The dinner past rather slowly, Harley attempted to fill the silence with her endless chatter about her books but I only smiled tightly.

Lin tried to engage with Harley but he wasn't much of a reader and eventually we finished dinner with silence.

**

I was on a train by myself, my cloak thrown over my body. I was a few minutes away when I felt someone sit down beside me.

My body tensed and I turn to see who it was.
The boy sitting next to me had handsome, dark skin, golden eyes, and cropped hair. A grey tattoo peaked out of his collar. He almost looked like a grown up version of-

" You're a tough girl to find." His deep voice made my heart drop.

It was him.

" How did you find me?" I whispered.

" I'm the best tracker in the country, Sia. You can't throw me off with a few phone calls."

He held a bag in his hand and I assumed it was my gown.

" This whole thing was a trap for you to see me wasn't it?"

He cracked a grin, revealing his straight white teeth.

" And you're still gullible." He said.

The train slowed to a stop and we got off, the cool breeze whipped my hair into my face and I picked the hair out of my mouth.

" The next train doesn't leave for another hour." I glanced at the times written neatly above the station.

" Which leaves us with enough time to catch up."

I didn't really have a choice did I?

" I suppose."

The next thing I knew, Adan had grabbed my by the wrist and was dragging me towards the exit. We ended up at a sweetliar's court.

" At least I'm not jumping buildings." I muttered under my breath as I climbed down.

The court was of course located underground and through another large opening before we stopped in front of a tent.

We stepped in and I glanced around, taking in the bright lights and fancy furniture. The court was wildly different than one I visited with Titus.

I could feel eyes on us, but as quickly as they came, they left.

Gleaming diamonds and fancy tablecloth on pristine glass tables caught my attention. Everything resembled more of a ball than a court. Before I could say anything, Adan was already at the bar, ordering off a list of desserts and drinks.

I slid up beside him and helped him bring the trays to an unoccupied table.

" Still have a sweetooth, I see." Despite everything I smiled.

He laughed, " Of course, cavity buddy."

The memory brought a grin onto my face. We were nine and eleven, my father had scolded the both of us for getting into a package of cookies, referring to us as cavity buddies.

I hadn't thought about home in a long time.

" How are my grandparents?" I said after a while, the tip of my fork sunk into a piece of cake.

" They're doing well, they call me every week to check up on me. They're good people Sia and they miss you a lot."

It felt odd to discuss my childhood. I hadn't said anything about my life before except to Jack a few years back before I moved in.

Adan touched my hand and leaned in to take the bite off my fork. I looked at him unamused. Even after nine years, he still was the same boy. The same stupid, goody boy.

We chatted for a bit, although I kept my stories brief and nameless. Adan laid out his entire life story, starting from the night I told him I was leaving and ended the night I called him.

" You must be happy with your life, a good education, an apprenticeship with one of the best sweetliar in the city, and a successful career. Just what my father wanted for you."

He gently took my hand in his, it felt natural like we were kids again.

" It means nothing if I don't have my best friend with me."

I made a face and shoved a forkful of cake into his mouth. His eyes widened in surprise and he laughed as the icing smeared across his lips.

Adan paid the bartender and then we were off again, this time walking slowly back to the station.

He was humming happily to himself and I smiled. Good if he was happy then everything was fine.

" Adan, we can't see each other after the ball. You know that right?" There was the three honks, they sounded close.

" I know Sia."

I leaned over the edge to see if the train was close. It was. The train rushed past us, the wind picking up my cloak and hair.

" Blink five times if you don't want me to kiss you."

I turned my head, " What? I couldn't hear you-"

I was cut off by Aden pulling me in by the wrist and his other hand circling around the back of my head.

The kiss was warm and sweet and despite everything, I allowed him to kiss me for as long as he did.

He pulled away, " If I can't see you again, let me have today okay?"

He embraced me tightly and then I stepped aboard the train and was headed home. What I didn't expect was for another boy that I knew to take a seat in front of me around half an hour later.

Dante.

I almost jumped, " Were you spying on me?"

He didn't say anything instead he glanced down at the bag in my hand.

" You were with one of the best sweetliar of our generation and he kissed you." He said slowly like he still needed to process it himself.

My face warmed but I forced myself to look outside.

" Adan Eeican doesn't date. He hasn't since he was nineteen. He does however have a missing childhood friend who vanished nine years ago. She would be nineteen now."