"I'll hear the story from you later. Maybe over a drink? You look like you'd have a better eye for detail anyway." Ace winks at poor Val who does nothing but turn pink.
She stares at him like he's grown a second head. Her lips part, shut, then part again. For a second Heidi is afraid her friend might faint. But then, miraculously, Val nods shyly and awkwardly, cheeks pink as she mumbles something like, "Uh… okay."
Heidi nearly laughs out loud. Of course Val would get flustered by Ace. The guy could charm mold off bread if he wanted to. Still, seeing Val's eyes flicker with the tiniest spark of life makes Heidi's chest unclench a little.
At least, something to distract her from all that death and grief.
Finally, mercifully, they reach the dorm building. The building is lit with old bulbs and carved with a stone facade. Lucan stops at the entrance and brushes his hand lightly against Heidi's shoulder in a firm but not pushy way.
