The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2)

by Richelle Mead

He smiled. “I didn’t want to interrupt. You looked happy for a change.” “For a change? I’m happy lots of times.” I knew Adrian well enough to recognize the sign of an incoming snarky comment. At the last second, he changed course, his expression turning serious. “Does that guy—that Brendan guy—” “Brayden.” “Does that Brayden guy make you happy?” I looked at Adrian in surprise. These kinds of questions were almost always a setup from him, but his neutral face made it hard to guess his motives this time. “I guess,” I said at last. “Yeah. I mean, he doesn’t make me unhappy.” That brought Adrian’s smile back. “Red-hot answer if ever there was one. What do you like about him? Aside from the car? And that he smells like coffee?” “I like that he’s smart,” I said. “I like that I don’t have to dumb myself down around him.” Now Adrian frowned. “You do that a lot for people?” I was surprised at the bitterness in my own laugh. “‘A lot?’ Try all the time.