Page 11 of A Whisper of Cinders

“You shouldn’t apologise, Ami, nothing happened.”

She analyses my face and sighs. “I don’t think people worse than him exist.”

When the cafeteria is ready for its hungry patients, we take advantage of the fact that no one has entered yet - thank you commotion! - and the chance to select the…better options of the food they offer.

Ami gives one of the chefs a compliment, the poor woman has to make do with what she has, and of course she starts loading up Ami’s plate so she can try everything.

Go on, she whispers, and I turn around, wanting to walk to our habitual table when I bump into a hard chest instead. Expecting for my tray to fall to the ground and my clothes to look like a battlefield on its own, I close my eyes and wait for the loud sound to echo through the cafeteria.

But instead a hand is on my waist, keeping me steady and another covers my hand that holds the tray, preventing it from topping over. How my other hand ends up on that very muscled chest is a question I do not have the answer to.

I don’t mind though, especially when Noah’s mischievous eyes meet mine. “And so we meet again.”

The tray nearly topples over, but Noah’s fast reflexes kick in and he places the tray on the table next to us, still holding on to my waist.

“I am so sorry, Noah, I…I didn’t see you.”

I try to move back, completely embarrassed, but his hands - both of them on my ribs now - keep me in place. “Hey, nothing happened, you weren’t expecting me. Everything’s good.”

He’s right, but if it would’ve been anyone else, they would’ve scolded me, called me names, probably empty my plate over my head and make me eat it off the floor.

“Besides,” his voice cuts through the very clear vision in my head. “I don’t mind bumping into you. Or…you bumping into me. At all.”

Dear lord, have mercy.

I try to think of something to say, but thankfully the doors swing open and a tidal wave of hungry wildlings enter the cafeteria. It distracts Noah, giving me the opportunity to step away from him.

“She really is the kindest of them all,” Ami says while waving at the chef. She moves closer to me and takes in the situation, before her eyes land on my plate, where the food is all over the place. “What happened here?”

“Nothing,” I quickly respond, which only makes Ami’s brows rise higher. I pick up my tray with both hands this time and walk past Noah, who can’t contain a grin, and take a seat at the table.

Ami sits down in front of me, but doesn’t touch her food. I patiently wait until she can’t contain herself anymore. “I turn my back to you for five short minutes and here you are, flirting away and —”

My fork falls out of my hands and clatters onto the table, earning me a few annoyed glances. “I was not flirting.”

“Hm be that as it may, but he definitely was.”

I look away, my gaze somehow automatically drawn to him and finding his eyes are already on me. He winks and I quickly drop my gaze.

“So,” she says, waving her fork at me. “when did you two get so close?”

“We’re not close,” I respond a tinge too quickly.

“Oh, come on, babes, I could practically feel the tension between you two.”

Lies, lies. “Weren’t you talking to the chef lady?”

“Don’t. Change. The. Subject.” She boops my nose with each word. “His eyes are currently burning a hole through my back, aren’t they?”

I don’t want to look, but I can’t help it and yes, he is watching me. I avert my gaze and feel how my cheeks warm. I hate to admit it, but it actually feels good to be watched by him. My heart softens at the thought alone.

“Please, a penny for your thoughts. When did this happen?”

I bite my tongue for two seconds, trying to contain my excitement and fake nonchalance. “He had a nosebleed, Irene brought him in and since Doctor Herbert was busy, I took care of it.”

“Our dear Noah was in a fight now, wasn’t he?”

“Maybe.”