Chapter 254

A cheer goes round the train car and we all lift our glasses higher, toasting our friend and making her feel at home, before we each take a sip. Daphne, a little embarrassed but clearly pleased, struggles to take a sip because she’s smiling so hard. A little rush of joy moves through me as the rich taste of the champagne moves across my tongue, the bubbles echoing the effervescent happiness of my soul in this moment.

“Well, thank you,” Daphne says, nodding her head around to all of us. “But the true celebration is your success at the Academy this first semester –“

We all cheer round at this too, laughing and shouting, I think needing this outlet after the stress of it all.

“To making it through!” Daphne says, raising her glass again, and we all toast to this as well, sipping more. When it’s all done, I frown at mine and Daphne’s half-filled glasses and move around her to grab the second bottle of champagne out of Jesse’s hands the moment he pops it open.

“Hey!” he shouts in protest, but I know that he doesn’t really care as I take the bottle by the neck and move back to Daphne’s side.

“Sorry, this is girl champagne,” I say, giving a little shrug and carefully looping my arm with Daphne’s, grinning at her and nodding towards the door to the bathroom at the far end of the room. I turn my smile on her alone now. “Want to take a second, just me and you?”

“Well, if there’s girl champagne involved,” she says, giving a happy little shrug. “Who am I to protest?”

“I know there’s some boy champagne back here,” Jesse murmurs jokingly, ducking beneath the bar and pretending to search.

“Boy champagne is just whiskey,” Rafe mutters, dry, as Daphne and I move along to the bathroom and I push open the door. “Is there any of that back there?”

“Yes!” Jesse shouts, victorious, popping back up with a tiny bottle that our dad either forgot to have removed or secretly hid there, knowing Rafe would want it. It’s his drink, after all. “Boy champagne, all around!” noveldrama

And, as the boys start to pull out cut crystal glasses to drink their own toast, I shut the door behind Daphne and I and prepare myself for a much-needed bit of girl time.

When I turn around, prepping to pour both of us more champagne, I smile to see Daphne looking around a bit in awe.

“Um,” she murmurs, taking in the wide pink cushion that stretches along the length of the window, the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the marble finishes to the sink and the tucked-away toilet area. “This was…not what I was expecting when I thought ‘train bathroom.’”

“I know,” I say, laughing and gesturing over to the window seat. “This was…all mom. But she knows that a bathroom is for more than bodily function.”

It’s true, though. As Daphne and I settle ourselves onto the pink cushion and I refill our flutes, I consider that while mom and dad designed this caboose together – as they do most things – she really took the reins in here. The main room of the train car has much more dad in it – dark colors, masculine lines, polished wood - all rich monied elegance. But here, with rose-gold details and lilies and soft bright lighting?

Yup. Dad probably didn’t even think about the bathroom, and mom snuck this in. Which is probably why it’s my favorite space.

“Ari,” Daphne sighs, and I open my mouth to stop her saying that she’s sorry – but she puts out a hand towards me. “Will you please let me get this apology out? It’s important to me.”

“But I’ve already forgiven you,” I say, smiling softly as I rest my head against the wall. “If there’s anything to forgive.”

“I know, and I’m grateful for that,” she says, nodding, “but…I mean, it’s unforgiveable, isn’t it? I feel like you may never trust me again. You should be able to trust me implicitly – know that I’d never, ever slip something into your drink or betray you in any way. Because, I mean, if I can be bought so easily…well, why would you trust me in the future?”

“What do you mean, bought?” I ask, frowning.

“They were having trouble figuring out how to knock you all out before the trial,” she says with a worried frown. “Most of the cadets were eating alone or in two’s, so they just slipped it into the food, but you guys, with your party…. They came to me last minute and told me the plan. I refused at first, but they said if I didn’t do it then they’d fire me.”

“Daph,” I say, shaking my head. “That was unfair of them, not you – you were just doing your job. And it was absolute crap for them to make you do something you were uncomfortable with and threaten your job if you didn’t.”

“I know,” she replies with a frown. “But still…I don’t want anything to be damaged between us.”

“And I promise you, it’s not!” I say, reaching out and putting a hand on her knee, willing her to believe me. I watch as her eyes flick to the door too. “And they’re not mad either. Honestly, Daphne, we’re good! If anything, I’m going to have a talk with my dad about how they threatened you at work. That’s not right.”