Page 88 of Badmouths & Bards

“Sewing needle?” Avie giggled—because of fucking course she would. “No. Several men with a grudge? Yes. What have you been doing? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days!”

“You were?” Tala shook her head for the needy question, braids brushing her shoulders. “What am I saying, of course you were. You’re a good person, not some asshole who would fuck off for no good reason. Shit, that came out wrong.”

Avie just laughed again as she crawled into the booth beside her. Physical distance had never been a factor in their relationship, but Tala was hesitant to close the gap. It felt presumptuous, like skipping steps that she really needed to follow. Avie, on the other hand, apparently didn’t feel the same way as she threw her arms around her and squeezed. It startled Tala, the difference in Avie’s hug compared to the ones they shared before. And the longer it lasted, the more it felt like trying to fit into an old familiar tunic that just didn’t lay the same way anymore.

“I didn’t fuck off, and I didn’t want to abandon you,” Avie pulled back, gesturing with her thumb. “It’s all…well…kinda his fault.”

Tala followed the motion, then frowned at the sight of the slaithar man a few footsteps away. He was tall—the tail helped with that—and Tala was pretty sure she could knock his fangs out of his head before he could even blink. She never denied being outwardly hostile to strangers—especially strange men—but the fact that Avie had just thrown him to the wolves for Tala’s temper?

Hope you know a good healer, buddy…

“Throwin’ me under the train already, little viper? How crude.” the man huffed, hands falling to his hips.

“Shut up! You kidnapped me!”

“It was a mutual partnership,” the man laughed, all pompous and showy.

“It’s now a mutual partnership,” Avie wheezed.

A horrible realization hit Tala that caused one of her eyes to twitch. “Is this… the guy from GloomsDale?”

When Avie beamed, all rosy cheeks, and proceeded to wave her hand in the man’s direction, Tala felt her blood turn hot. As if sensing it, Avie immediately tossed her arm over Tala’s shoulder—a poor attempt at holding her back.

This is the asshole she was in bed with!

“Tala, meet Callum…” Avie leaned close to her ear, “Otherwise known as Cottonmouth, you know the Outlaw?”

“You’re fucking outlaws now?” Tala asked.

She didn’t mean to sound outraged or judgmental, but based on the way the two of them were looking at each other—fuck. Of all the potential random ass guys Avie could have been playing house with, it had to be an outlaw? Knowing her friend’s luck, there was probably already a sketch of the guy hanging in some lodge where the bounty hunters liked to gather. As bleak as that potential line of thinking, Tala could see it in Avie’s eyes. She was in love, and that was that.

Tala sighed, soft and with begrudging acceptance uttered, “Damn.”

“That’s not…even the worst news,” Avelina admitted, drawing her arm back with a nervous jerk. “So, the thing is. I’m—well, you should know…”

“She’s a warlock,” Callum said with a huff, sliding conveniently into the booth next to Avie.

Avie shot Callum a mean look—which on her wasn’t that mean—before turning her attention back to Tala. “There was a train robbery. They got my father. Guess all that armor means nothing when you’re in a tin can. And when they held me up with a knife, I agreed to be The Dead Mother’s warlock in exchange for my life. I didn’t fuck off or run away or leave you. I just didn’t have any choice. The paladins chased me down, they were trying to kill me. And I guess, something changed in GloomsDale.”

“A lot changed in that swamp,” Callum murmured to himself, before he let out a grunt as Avie’s elbow connected with his ribs.

“Life really came running after you with a fucking hammer, huh?” Tala clicked her tongue, then proceeded to down a good portion of her ale as Avie laughed. When she set the drink down, she caught Avie’s eye. “All this bullshit aside, you’re okay though, right? You’re safe…”

Tala wasn’t subtle as she aimed her own mean look toward Callum. One good shot with her baton, and Tala was positive she could break his fangs.

“Yes, I’m safe. Callum’s an ass,” Avie sent a returning glare when Callum narrowed his eyes at her. “But he’s my ass.”

“On your—”

“I will gut you.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Callum leaned over and placed a messy kiss on Avie’s cheek. “I’m gonna grab an ale for myself. Seems we’re gonna be here a minute.”

“I mean it, Tala.” Avie tore her eyes away from the man. “I’m safe. I can take care of myself now. And I’m in love with that bastard. For better or for worse.”

“That’s good…I’m glad,” Tala frowned down at her drink. Maybe it was the ale, or maybe it was her time with the boys, but for whatever reason the thought that had been haunting her mind came to the surface. “I…am not a good friend.”

“You’re my best friend,” Avie corrected.