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“Did you join a nomad dance squad?” I was smiling so big my face hurt. This was fun. I needed some fun. “And have since been roaming town to town, living on the road, performing a solo interpretive dance number at village fairs?” I took a breath. All that was asked without pauses. “I heard it's always been your secret passion. Did you keep it a secret because when….”
I stumbled and trailed off at the end. I forgot about the ending. It wasn’t the greatest story for lightening the mood. Telling him that his father forbade him to go, disowned him when he left anyway, and now even his mother won’t respond when he reaches out would not go over well.
Why did I choose that rumor?
“Oh, no! You can’t leave me hanging again. The need to know is still killing me from the last time. You can’t do it again. Especially after telling me that there was a secret!” He was chuckling and it was not fair to use that against me.
I smiled, trying to come up with something less offensive. “You kept it a secret because you’re a warrior, and warriors don’t dance. You were going to come back eventually and needed your reputation intact,” I lied.
He shot me a look that said he didn't believe me in the least, but he didn’t push any further.
“I assume this will stay between us?” he asked.
“Of course! I won’t say a word.”
“Well, they weren’t nomads,” he said. “They were heretics. We helped each other out. I needed a platform to perform, and they needed better marketing. They didn’t even have a sign. They sold their magic and spells, and I attracted attention to their booth.” He looked down sadly. “Well, I thought I was helping them out. Apparently, they didn't want to draw attention to their table. Their wares were not legal, being heretics. It ruined what I assumed was the start of a really nice arrangement that allowed me to do something I was passionate about.”
I didn’t know what to think of that statement at all. Aiden didn't look back up from his hands, so I couldn’t read his face. He spoke in a clear, balanced, precise voice, giving nothing away with his tone. It was the strangest conversation I’d ever had, and part of me actually believed him.
On the other hand, that was an absolutely outrageous story, almost as bad as some of the silliest rumors. So, it was hard to swallow.
“What did you do? How long did it take you to.. umm….” I stumbled over my words. How do you ask a person how long it took for them to figure out they were not a welcome part of a group? I decided to tread carefully in case this ridiculous tale was genuine. I cleared my throat and changed tactics. “Well, I’d love to see your dance if you’d like an audience.”
“No, I couldn’t possibly. It hurt too much how it ended. I don’t know that I will ever be able to dance again. Plus, our friends would see, and I would lose all my credibility. I have a reputation to protect.” Once again, this was said totally straight-faced while staring at his hands. “So, now you know. But I must hear some of these other rumors. Hit me with your most far-fetched.”
“Ok, well…” I scooted closer. “Funny you mentioned heretics. One rumor was that you angered the wrong heretic, so he cast a spell on you, and you haven’t been heard from or seen since.”
“Well, now you know why it took me so long to catch up with everyone after all these years,” Aiden replied. “The heretics were so mad, and Sariah cursed me. She’s as beautiful and wicked as they come. I was a raccoon for one month shy of three years because of her. But I’m back now, and I’ve been doing my best to avoid her.”
“Uh-huh,” I said.
“Rubbish isn’t as bad as it seems. Tastes way better than it smells,” Aiden continued nonchalantly. “But I have no interest in living as a raccoon. They like to sleep in holes, and I will always prefer a bed, no matter my form. Unfortunately, people don’t normally share their beds with wild animals. It was horrible.” He looked off into the tree line, like discussing this pained him. “They always assumed I was diseased or feral and immediately went for their magic. Or a broom if they didn't have the power to deal with an overly friendly rodent.”
I tried to control my laughter and snorted out the most embarrassing sound as a result. That made me laugh harder.
At the sound, Aiden looked at me, laughing as well. Our eyes held, and something passed between us. Our laughter died out while we stared into each other's eyes with soft smiles on our lips. His eyes shifted back and forth between mine and then down to my mouth. I shivered, and Aiden smiled more broadly.
These men were going to be the death of me.
“What’s going on over here?” E.Z. asked, breaking our moment.
Aiden and I blinked, holding the other's eye one more moment before turning to acknowledge E.Z.. Not that he’d have given us a choice. E.Z. came over and took over the conversation seamlessly in a very E.Z.-like fashion.
“Looks like a lot more fun than I was having,” E.Z. said. “Why’d you leave me out?”
“I was just getting clarity on some rumors surrounding Aiden leaving.” With my head tilted down, I shyly looked up at Aiden through my lashes. “He’s been through some crazy things.”
“Ohh! Why didn’t you call me over? I would have loved to join.” E.Z. pouted. He may be the only grown man who could pull off a pout and not look ridiculous. He was somehow adorable.
“Well, there was one that I wanted your input on. Care to tell the tale?” I asked E.Z., glancing over at Aiden with a wicked smile.
E.Z. rubbed his hands together excitedly, then plopped down to sit cross-legged on the ground by our feet, resting back on his hands. “Hit me.”
“Aiden wants to know how he died.”
Aiden shot a narrow-eyed glare at the side of my head.
“Oh! Which one?” E.Z. asked, wiggling in his excitement. “The walking backward accident or the donkey fucking disaster?”
