Page 47 of Novice Girlfriend

“Got it.” I took his hand and we went in. It was a little overwhelming by the kelp forest tank, but I also learned a lot of fish were pretty bitchy. I smothered a laugh and then remembered the cover, pointing at one by the glass. “Keeps calling the other fish fat.”

Winter chuckled and pointed to another. “That one?”

I cringed. “Has a crush on a kelp bass even though it’s a halfmoon. Not sure how that works?” I told him several more things including one who did, in fact, comment on the poop of other fish which amused us both. He was quiet and nodded which made me ramble a bit much until I pushed too hard and he pulled me along to some benches where it was quieter.

Well, from the fish at least.

He let out a long breath as we sat. “I’m not mad. Not at all.”

“But?” I whispered.

“I can’t help this knot in my gut that somehow…” He turned to face me and waited until I did the same. He tucked some hair behind my ear. “I’m falling for you, Bev. Totally and completely, even if this is a lot of crazy and not the life I saw. I wanted to do what I could to avoid the traps and just get me and my friends out unscathed.”

“And I risk that?”

“No. No, never. I’m not worried about that. At all.”

“Then I’m confused.”

He seemed to struggle with what to say next and that wasn’t like Winter. “Don’t ask me to ever choose between you and Teddy because I won’t be able to, okay?” He grabbed my hands when I went to stand and kept me there. “I’m not saying you are. I’m not even saying this is something like that. I just have this knot in my stomach that…”

“A feeling it’s coming that you can’t shake?” I hedged, swallowing loudly when I saw the answer in his eyes. I pushed aside how that made me feel and stared down at his big hands holding mine, making me feel safe, and gave him the grace he always gave me. I seriously considered what he said.

For a few minutes even.

“Bev?” he whispered like he worried he’d fucked up and pushed me too far.

Had he?

11

Bevin

No.

That was what I kept coming back to. No, he’d been honest with me just like I’d been with him.

“I’d rather you tell me and we can always talk about these things even if it’s among fish talking about pooping on each other,” I whispered, glad I said it when he chuckled. “I can’t ever think of a world where I’d ever ask that, Winter. I really can’t.” I met his gaze. “But if I ever do, hear me now—choose Teddy. Always protect your gift from the gods.”

“But you’re one too?” he whispered.

I smiled at him and raised one of his hands to my lips. “You’re Sir Winter. I think you can take care of us both if that’s what you want. I really do.” My smile turned sad. “This really isn’t about me versus Teddy. I promise. It’s about you getting more from Teddy versus not being selfish. With me. With…”

I sighed and then pulled my hands away and he let me so I could scrub my face.

“It’s finite? It’s not like a power you just used?”

“I don’t know. We don’t know. I don’t know anything. That’s why I told Wyatt to go talk with Quinn. I can’t think it will last long and…” I caved, this dancing around not telling him just fucking with me more. “There were apples.”

“Apples? Sitting by the rewards for Taylor and Nina?”

“Kinda?”

“I seriously need to fucking drink more,” he grumbled and then groaned as he stretched out his back. “Okay, so magical apples. Not from an evil queen?” He groaned again and then scrubbed his face this time. “Cool. And Derek ate one, could hear Quinn, but you didn’t know that’s what would happen because you experienced something different.”

I nodded and just told him.

He blinked at me and sighed again. “So it’s something to help you, which you seriously fucking need with all you’re constantly giving or something every person in our world would like give a nut for?”