“Where does someone go on a date in the middle of the desert?”
“What about before you went to the camp?”
I raise an eyebrow.“When I was fourteen?”
He shrugs. “Why not?”
“I barely left the farm. I doubt any of the village boys even knew my name.” I take another long sip, realizing I’m almost done with my first drink already.
“Didn’t you go to school with them?”
I try not to choke on the ale. “I never really went to school.”
I never admitted that to anyone before. I was ashamed, believing that my lack of education made me dumb, and it would be yet another reason to be ostracized. Callum never once made me feel like that, though, so it was easy for the truth to fall from my lips.
I wait for Callum to ask follow-up questions, but he doesn’t, instead sits patiently, one hand around his mug, the other fiddling in his lap.
“My parents homeschooled me mostly, when they could. I learned everything on my own, either through borrowed books, or kind of on the job, I guess. They said going to school would be too much time wasted, as there was always work to be done on the farm. I did go for about three months one winter, but it didn’t last.”
“And what did your parents do?”
“What do you mean?”
“For an occupation. If they weren’t helping out around the farm, what were they doing instead?”
I only hesitate for a second before answering. “Not much.”
A flash of pity crosses Callum’s features, and he doesn’t press for more details. Instead, he lifts his glass in a toast. “Well, here’s to your first date, Elia. May there be many more in your future to come.”
The fluttering returns to my stomach as I lift my glass to cheers him.
“Here’s to many more.”With you.
An arm is wrapped around my shoulders before I can see who it is. “Wow, we left for what, Gin, an hour?”
“If that.” Ginna’s voice follows Hanson’s.
“Yet in that short timeframe, Callum runs away with Elia for a nice reprieve. And where did that leave us?” Hanson slides into the seat next to me.
“Left to wither away with the kitchen scraps. Forgotten. Abandoned.” She fakes a pout at Callum, and he rolls his eyes in return.
Hanson makes a signal to Nick for two more drinks, notices my empty mug, and signals for three instead.
I point at Callum. “Blame him. I asked where you guys went, and I never got an answer. I did get a strong drink, though, so I’ve managed to forgive him.” I join in with Ginna and Hanson’s laughter.
“No hard feelings. I’m not surprised Cal wanted to spend time alone with a beautiful girl,” Hanson jeers playfully. Callum shoots daggers at Hanson and he throws his hands up in surrender. “What? You told me she was beautiful, I’m only replaying your words, not stepping in.”
I haven’t blushed a day in my life but for some reason my cheeks are heated. Callum told Hanson I was beautiful? He called me lovely the other day in my dress, but being called beautiful feels all the more special coming from Callum, even indirectly. Like it means something to him as it does to me.
Nick brings over the three additional drinks, as well as food for all of us. “I figured you two would show up,” he exclaims, talking to Ginna and Hanson. “Wherever Cal goes, you follow.”
“Stay for a round?” Ginna asks.
“Nah, I’m slammed today, but thanks. Next time!”
It is becoming busier in the tavern and seems like the place for a lot of people to hang out.
I take a bite from the sandwich and can’t help the moan that comes out. “Ugh, you’re right, this food is definitely worth it.”
