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“I think not,” Aislinn replied. “I bet I can get a much better moonstone ball for that exuberant price.”
My purse was not in my outer pockets. As the woman and Aislinn gave each other challenging gazes, I started searching for my purse in my inner pockets.
“I can go down to four,” the woman said finally.
“Two,” Aislinn pushed.
“Three,” the woman sighed.
“Great,” Aislinn said. “We will take it.”
“My coin purse is gone,” I said.
The store owner met my gaze with pure disgust. She probably assumed this was another bargaining tactic.
“Perhaps you left it at the inn,” Aislinn said as she reached for her purse and pulled out three gold coins. She dropped them on the counter and waited.
The store owner appeared taken aback but quickly composed herself. She placed the divination ball inside a pouch, tied the rope, and handed it to us.
I turned away from her as anxiety rolled through me. Although I had some spare coins back in my room, most of my fortune was inside that purse. I thanked Aislinn, but I forgot to thank the store owner before we left the store and stepped out into the chilly evening.
“We should go back to the inn to ask for your coin purse,” Aislinn said.
“Yes,” I replied. “I don’t remember leaving it.”
“Pickpockets are quite rare in this part of town,” Aislinn replied quickly as we hurried down the steps outside of the store. “But it could...”
She let out a little shriek as she slipped on the wet stairs and lost her balance.
Instinctually, I reached out to grab her and she tried to regain her balance by holding onto my arm.
“Oh,” she said when I winced at her tight grip. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I replied, trying to help her without falling myself. “If we could just...”
I grabbed her by the waist and tried to adjust her position. But I hadn't thought about what I was doing before I acted.
My hand was on her waist and her hand was tightly wrapped around my arm. Our bodies were pressed against each other in an effort to hold steady.
We were too close now. Closer than we’d ever been...
Once she finally stopped moving, our gazes locked on.
Heat engulfed me despite my efforts to deny it. I wanted to kiss her and could swear I saw that same desire in her eyes too. She was soft and warm amidst the cold of the air around us.
Her cheeks flushed red. Mine did too.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Of course,” I replied.
I wanted to kiss her.
Perhaps she would let me.
The alley was still empty, but as embarrassment rolled through me, my gaze caught a man across the street who hastened his steps, turning away as he walked off, having witnessed our intimate moment.
Though his face remained hidden, the speed of his departure made it clear he didn't perceive it as a simple act of friendship.
