Clover welcomed me and made it clear we’re friends and now Piper? Maybe…there’s nothing wrong with me. Because this is the perfectly normal that I used to dream of in Frostclaw.
If there was something wrong with me Piper wouldn’t be here and Clover wouldn’t have taken to me like she did, right?
“Do you like mustard? I normally don’t but these tea sandwiches aren’t the normal delicate variety, they’ve got a secret,” Piper tells me in a hushed whisper like someone might overhear. I glance towards the open door. Maybe someone could if whoever this Annie and Ceelie she mentioned are creeping around so I whisper back.
“I do but what’s the secret?”
“Sauerkraut and pork.”
I laugh. “What?”
“Tea sandwiches get a bad rap for beingfrou frouand full of stuff like cucumbers and I dunno, pimento cheese, although I love pimento cheese because who doesn’t? It’s the cheese spread of the people.”
“I’ve never had it.”
“What? We are fixing that. I’m taking you to this little bar and grill in Oak Fast that makes the best pimento cheese sandies for a GNO.”
“A what?” I say, trying to sound out what Piper is saying. “A Gee-noe?”
She giggles at me. “Girls Night Out, bestie,” she tells me and points at the tea sandwiches, “but like I was saying, these aren’t taken seriously, not normally, but that’s when I’m not the one making them. The only one who understands me is Clover.” She pauses and resumes her whispering so I lean forward to hear her. “I beef these babies up, like literally but in this case,pork.They have pulled pork and sauerkraut and the best mustard ever. Janine makes it along with alot of other stuff like pickles. Today, I made us that anddddddd my famous Chicky sandwich.”
“What’s a Chicky sandwich?” It’s hard to keep up with Piper but I’m willing to try.
“Chicken, Bacon and Ranch. My own little recipe that you are going toloveeeee.”
“It sounds delicious but you didn’t have to go through all this trouble. Not for me.”
Piper gives me a raised eyebrow. “And why not for you? You’re worth it. It’s not every day that we get a new pack member.”
I don’t know what to say because of course, I don’t know what to say. Luckily the kettle whistles and I’m saved from bursting into tears at a stranger telling me I’m worth them making me lunch. I pour us two cups of pink tea. I sniff the air and smile at the scent of fragrant rose petals, berries and hibiscus. I can’t wait to try this tea out. From the smell of it I know Maud would love it. I wonder what she’s doing now. I need to write to her as soon as I’m able and let her know that I’m safe in Bloodstone. I’ll send her a letter when I’m in Oak Fast, I think then smile when I realize I might be able to check in on Jenny and Gus.
How did my life become so wonderfully full of friends?
“All right, bestie! You ready to feast?” Piper asks when I head to the table with our cups of tea.
“Absolutely, it all looks delicious.” I sit and hand her her cup of tea.
Piper sips it with a moan and shakes her head. “Now that’s fresh.”
I sip my own tea and hum in agreement. “It really, really is.” The tea is an explosion of flavor, there’s more than what I smelled when I poured it. I’ll have to go over the recipe today to figure out where the creamy undertone is coming from. “I’ll pack you some tea after lunch,” I offer.
“You’re a lifesaver. Now, repeat after me.” Piper holds out her cup to mine in a toast. “To Best Friends and GNOs.”
I lift my cup and clink it against hers. “To Best friends and GNOs.”
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
THORNE
When I’m in a shit mood, sparring is the one thing that will always clear my head and get my head on straight. There’s just something about throwing Lucian out of the ring that does it for me. He is getting better though, caught me a few times to the ribs when I should have been ready to block. I rub my side with a grimace. That asshole bruised a couple of ribs no doubt about it. We sparred for four hours, right up until dinner time. I could have kept going but wasn’t going to risk missing Cordelia.
“Where you off to?” Lucian asked when I hopped up off the mat and made for the doors. “I just fucking wore you down. Running off now because you know you’re going to lose?”
“I’ve got somewhere more important to be.”
He grabbed his chest with mock sob. “Ouch. Right to the heart. Fine. Tell her I said hi.” The rest of the Defenders perked up when they heard him say that. I flipped him off on my way out of the gym for the trouble he was going to bring down on me with that one. Cordy had been ready for me when I arrived at the Healer’s Rooms. She’d been lingering outside of the rooms likeshe wasn’t sure if she should go or stay, and I knew why. She didn’t think I was going to show after we got into it.
