“What happened to the rest of our party?” I yawn, standing to stretch.
“Hmm?” Callum barely moves.
I close the book in front of him with a dusty thud. “Time for a break, Callum.”
He blinks at me slowly and follows my lead in standing and stretching. “A break? What do you suggest?”
“I’m kind of hungry. And we both deserve a strong drink. Is there somewhere in the town we can go?”
I haven’t left the palace yet and I’m excited to see the rest of Ashven.
“I know just the place.”
The place happens to be a small, hole-in-the-wall tavern aptly named Hole in the Wall. Callum guides us to a table in the back, pulling my chair out for me.
A spindly bartender with silver hair comes over to us and greets Callum warmly, giving him a large hug.
“Hiya, Cal! Do you want your usual for you and your date?” He winks at Callum.
“Please, Nick, the usual would be great, if you wouldn’t mind. And the same for Elia here as well.”
Nick gives me a onceover. “I can’t remember the last time you’vebrought anyone outside of your Hunters to dine with you. Speaking of which, where are Ginna and Hanson?”
“I have no doubt that they’ll be tagging along later,” Callum says wryly.
Nick nods, satisfied with Callum’s answers, and leaves us.
The fact that Callum didn’t correct Nick calling me his date lingers in my mind.
“This is a nice place,” I muse, taking in the dingy lighting and the crumbling ceiling.
Callum laughs. “It doesn’t seem like much, but I promise the food makes up for its appearance.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Although it is a bit rough for our first date,” I tease, brushing my foot lightly against his under the table.
The blush peaks out from Callum’s collar and flushes his ears a deep scarlet.
Flirting has always come naturally to me. Once I arrived in the Traps, I soon realized that flirting was a form of currency, one that I quickly learned to deal in.
Somehow, though, with Callum, the flirting is different from any time before. Maybe because I’m giving it freely; I’m not expecting a larger portion of food, or a better lot in return for a couple flirty remarks. No, I’m flirting now because I’m enjoying it. I like flustering Callum and making him blush. I’ve never had that much impact on another man, and it fills me with a confidence I didn’t realize I was lacking. I also can’t help but feel that there’s an undeniable connection and pull between us that I haven’t experienced with anyone else; as if I’ve known him forever.
“Sorry about that. That’s Nick. It took me ages to convince him that Ginna, Hanson, and I were not romantically involved.”
“Like, all together?” The question slips out before I could stop it. “Or between any of you?”
“I think in general between any of us. But none of us have ever been involved with each other.”
“Never?” I didn’t sense any romantic feelings amongst them, but the question definitely had crossed my mind.
“Nope. Ginna and I basically grew up together, and we’ve known Hanson since we were teens. We see each other more as brothers and sisters."
That makes sense. I could see how close they all were this morning, joking back and forth. I’ve never had that familiarity before with anyone. Callum is the first person I’ve ever opened up to about my family and is probably theonly person I would consider a friend.
“I didn’t mind Nick’s comment. I kind of liked it, actually. I’ve never been on a date.”
Nick returns with two tall pints of ale and I greedily grab one, taking a long swig. Ale was another form of currency in the Traps as well, but it tasted sour and stale, unlike this one.
Callum takes a sip before asking, “You’ve never been on a date?” He sounds shocked.
