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“Oh,” she finally said, her voice more sober than before. “Well. I thought about it, too.”
We were done talking for a while after that, which was just as well. I was pretty sure I knew what purple meant, and I didn’t actually think either of us needed the added tension of her saying it out loud. I sighed.
It really is too bad she had finished off my flask.
23
Lina
Even in my bourbon stupor, I was still reeling a bit from everything Edrich had just said. He hadn’t meant it. He couldn’t have. That would be impossible.
Right?
My mind spun with the implications of it all as I watched the fading beams of sunlight wink away in the canopy above us. When it became too dark to go any further, Edrich set up camp for us, this time making use of tree branches along with bits of the torn canvas he had left.
“You really are spectacular.” I sighed, staring up at him in awe.
His hands stilled from where he was tying the branches together, and he laughed.
“You’re drunk, Lina.”
My expression morphed to one of mock offense, and he laughed again. It hit me how much I would miss this when we reached the fairies. That thought felt too sobering at the moment, though, so I forced it away and went back to generally admiring the man in front of me.
“I’m not drunk.” I hiccupped. “But it is true. I saw the way that woman looked at you at the tavern. I’m sure you have conquests all over the countryside.”
Edrich’s grip slipped, and some of the branches he’d been holding flipped back and hit him in the face.
“Frakking Fairies, Lina!” His tone was flustered as he tried to gain control over his contraption again. “Why would you say that? No, I do not haveconquestsup and down the countryside, thank you very much.”
“Well, how would I know that? It’s not like you talk to me about your personal life.” I laughed, but I couldn’t deny the small part of me that felt relief to know I was wrong.Hopefully.
“Well, I can promise you that if it were true, it’s definitely not a conversation I would be having with you.”
“Why not? If we’re friends and all, don’t I deserve to know about the girl who might have claimed your heart?” I cringed internally at my own boldness.
Why do I even want to know?His relationships weren’t my business, but something in me hoped he answered, anyway.
Edrich cleared his throat and shook his head.
“There is no one, Lina.” Then more quietly, under his breath. “There hasn’t been anyone in a very long time.”
For several moments, everything around us disappeared until his attention turned back to the branches he was tying together. There was a tension in the air that pulsed with honesty I wasn’t bold enough to dwell on, even in my inebriated state.
“Where did you learn this?” I asked, changing the subject.
I walked around our shelter for the night, admiring the way he’d made use of mud and leaves and canvas to come up with a tent of sorts.
“Oh.” His voice was more resigned than it had been a moment ago. “It’s just something I picked up.”
A small laugh escaped me.
“I’ve known you my whole life, and I never knew you had a secret talent for—”
“Can we just drop it?” His tone was sharp.
I felt myself deflate.How did we go from laughing and whatever else just happened to anger?
He cast a sideways glance my way, then sighed before answering, like he was deflating a bit, as well.
