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Sarcasm instantly gripped her expression. “Thank you so much for saving my innocent eyes from the display of man nipples.” She gestured to the warriors behind me with nothing on but pants and arm shields. “After all, I didn’t grow up around half naked men or anything.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. If I had learned something about Willow, it was that the word no didn’t exist in her vocabulary, unless she was the one saying it. She always got her way.
“Go on. Try it, so I can see if I did a good job. It’s the first time I have sewn for you.”
Not waiting for my answer once again, she began to pull the linen shirt out of my pants, and I was forced to take off the arm shield as she pushed the shirt over my head. Nope, boundaries were also nonexistent for her.
“Besides, I was up until late last night finishing this, so you could be comfortable during your mission. You are going to wear it whether you like it or not.”
Yep. That was Willow.
The moment my torso was exposed, I turned, trying to hide my left flank from her. She naturally followed my movements as I rushed to pull the shirt on before she could see my scars, but it didn’t work. Her gaze fell on me when she reached for the hem to help me pull it down, and her eyes widened.
My breathing halted, and I pulled away from her, covering myself. Understanding captured her expression, but instead of looking at me with disgust or shock, she smiled softly.
“Are you my friend, Braxton?” she asked out of the blue, and I sighed with embarrassment. “It’s been over a month since you arrived; we have shared coffee, stories, laughs, and a few other things, so I’d like to think that we are friends.”
“Of course we are.”
I wasn’t just saying that. My conversations with Willow were always meaningful. She had opened up to me about the loss of her family, and even if she didn’t know the truth about me, I had found solace talking to her about mine. She, like many here, understood loss, and that bonded us all together. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to help those she considered family—meaning everyone here. Based on the shirt I now wore, I realized that included me too.
“I’m lucky to have you as my friend,” I assured, and reached for her hand, feeling her squeeze mine in return.
Pleased by my answer, she pulled my shirt up, carefully glancing at my scar. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I forced myself to let her see it because that also meant letting her in, and I trusted her.
“Wow…” she whispered, and gently dragged a finger over the edge, my skin tingling. When she leaned away, her gaze bore into mine with confusion. “Why would you hide something so beautiful?”
Her words left me perplexed. “Beautiful??”
“Well, yes. It’s a testimony of something you survived, and that is always beautiful.”
Her words were simple but heavy with significance, and my chest constricted. I unconsciously reached for my side, feeling the scar I had spent a life trying to forget, but I couldn’t reply.
“Why didn’t it heal fully?” Her question reminded me of the extraordinary ability our people had to overcome injuries, and I couldn’t find an answer.
“I suppose it was because the damage was too severe, and the searing heat lingered on my body too long before it was able to start mending.”
A compassionate smile curved her lips, and she nodded in understanding. “Like Kingston’s hands.”
My gut clenched with the comparison. No. It was nothing like what the chief had been forced to endure. They had burned his hands repeatedly to keep him in line, so many times that he was never able to heal. I had just suffered a horrible burn once, but I didn’t really know what to say to that, so I remained quiet.
Our gazes naturally went to the direction where Evie and her guardian stood, to find said guardian marching towards us. Oh shit. Had he seen the exchange between Willow and me?
“Don’t worry about him. You leave Kingston to me.” Willow assured with a smirk, and smoothed her hands over my chest. “So, how does it feel?”
Focusing on her gift, I couldn’t help but smile. It was longer than a regular T-shirt, but it fit like she had actually sewn it on my body. It was soft, cool to the touch, and slightly clung to my skin, reminding me of one of those exercise shirts professional athletes wore. A deep sigh left me as I reveled in the feel, glad I no longer had to be in the large, bunched up linen shirt every day.
“It’s perfect. I truly have no way to thank you.” Bending down, I picked up the arm shield and began to strap it onto my arm.
“Oh, I’m sure I can find a few ways for you to repay me.” She winked, flirting so expertly that I almost fell for it. Her hand reached for my bicep and she squeezed it. “Those muscles can certainty be put to good use.”
“What in the gods’ name is going on here?!” Kingston roared, making me jump from the start.
“I—"
“Nothing is going on,” Willow answered, facing him, but didn’t let go of me. “I made a new shirt for Braxton. I was also about to ask him if he would like to sit beside me at breakfast tomorrow, after you all returned. Why? Do you have any objections to what I do with my life?”
‘Let go of her or else…’Kingston’s clear warning came in the form of a deathly scowl. He glowered at her hand on my arm until I pulled away, and then finally let his gaze fall on Willow.
