She was very aware that she was being watched closely. The back of her neck tingled and she lifted a hand to massage the muscles there as he pulled a chair out for her. She realized she’d messed up when she’d almost responded to his question in Anquietas. Perhaps she would have seemed less suspicious if she had finished the answer rather than stopping herself and stammering. The last thing she had wanted to do when she’d come to Wing City was to draw attention to herself in any way, let alone the attention of someone who seemed so familiar
Careful.
Very aware of his eyes on her, Meg smoothed her hands down the legs of her jeans before crossing her legs in what she hoped was a nonchalant pose. Despite the nondescript nature of her plain jeans and black tank top, as she crossed her legs, she did so as a woman used to being dressed in elegant and feminine clothing. Initially, her posture was erect and poised, and then, as if catching herself, she slouched slightly. For the majority of her life, she had carried herself with incredible poise and femininity and the body posture that was so natural for her was difficult to keep disguised at all times. She was a different person now, and sometimes, she forgot to carry herself like a different person.
As Raphael told her about the cordon and about the risk of getting caught, Meg tilted her head, clearly puzzled. “You’re rather bold for someone on the run,” she commented, reaching forward to accept the whiskey. “Most people in hiding don’t advertise that fact to a stranger.” She lifted the glass to her lips and took a small delicate sip. “At least, I would think. I wouldn’t know.”
You suck at lying, Elise.
When he introduced himself, something within her brain clicked and she tried very hard to control her face, but could do nothing to control the momentary flicker of recognition and fear. As quickly as it contorted her features, it left, leaving her face blank and impassive. Raphael. No wonder he looked so familiar. She’d met him. It had been many years ago, but you can’t spend a long time with a man and not come to know his family in some capacity. She lifted the whiskey to her lips once more and took a deeper drink as images of Mollem and Callie and Marlene and everyone she had met when she’d been with Mollem came to mind.
And then she realized she’d been silent a little too long. “Meg,” she said, but her voice came out a thin and dry croak. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m Meg.” There. That was better. More normal. “And as far as my story…” She hesitated.
Be brave. Be careful. And get the fuck out of here without rousing suspicion.
“I guess I don’t really have one. I’m just an ordinary gal. I’m visiting Wing City for a few days. I’m from Lutitia City. Decided I needed a vacation.” There. That seemed innocuous enough, right? Innocent. Not a threat at all. Right? At the question about the C-Bucs, Meg grasped onto it. Innocent small talk. Nothing that could possibly be misconstrued or give away her identity, right? “I haven’t followed the game in a very long time. I’ve never been very good at keeping all the rules straight. I had an ex who was very into the game, and after him, I guess I started hating it.” She tried for a laugh, but it came out weakly.
You’re doing terribly. You should have stayed out of Wing City… or at the very least, avoided Gambits. What did you think was going to happen? Be cool, Elise.
She cleared her throat once more, intent on turning the attention back on him. “So, for a man on the run, you seem pretty…” she gestured around herself. “Exposed. What is this? Hiding in plain sight or resigned to the fact that you can’t run forever and hoping to just get it over with?”