I grab my beaded evening bag, a gift from his grandmother at our engagement party, and present my arm, hoping he’ll lead the way like Andri did earlier. Gerald looks at me, then my arm, and back at me. He rolls his eyes, grabs me by the elbow, and drags me out of the bathroom and to the front door. We both throw on our coats, and he flings open the door to our cabin.
Despite my tempered expectations of him, I can’t help but suck in a breath looking at the sunset in front of us. Dramatic clouds frame the sky painted with swaths of red, pink, and even deep purple near the horizon. Chunky snow falls, and given our viewing vantage is so high up, I can actually see the storm move across the valley.
Gerald barely notices and stomps ahead toward the gondola stand. My shoes and outfit aren’t the best for the current climate, but I’m hoping if I put in an effort for our date night that myfiance will be a little less stressed. He, not in heels of course, reaches the gondola stand first.
The fairy attendant sits next to a heater in the open shelter, chatting with Andri in his usual cutoffs. They’re laughing at a joke we must have just missed, and she drapes her dainty hand over his muscled forearm. I stand up a little straighter as a streak of jealousy flares inside me. As we get closer, I catch bits and pieces of her conversation.
Something about the minotaur who owns the hardware shop shacking up with flowers? It doesn’t make sense, but it doesn't matter. I can’t be bothered to eavesdrop more because my chest is on fire with this strange flash of envy. I can’t help but hate her.
I have to course-correct my brain. That arm doesn’t belong to me, I shouldn’t be feeling this way. Even if I don’t snatch her white-blonde ponytail, I can’t help but plaster a frown over my face.
“Hey guys.” Andri waves once he catches his breath. “Going into town?”
“Thankfully we’re getting out of town! There’s an amazing new molecular gastronomy place that just opened up in Stonebridge.”
“Ugh, bad news.” Andri winces. “The road out of town got buried in a small avalanche—it took some trees out with it. So unless you’re wanting a hike”—he eyes my shoes—“you’re stuck with Ted’s.”
“Shit. Those reservations took months to get!” Gerald is flustered.
“At least you’ll be the nicest dressed there.” Andri smirks at me.
Only then does Gerald wrap an arm around the small of my back.
“Well, if we have no other option, I suppose that’ll do.” Gerald accepts his fate and steps inside the gondola.
“I’ll catch ya later, Briarlee!” Andri yells to the pretty blonde fairy. “After you, Daphne,” he whispers, holding out his large hand for me to grab as I step up into the shiny red cab. He follows us inside, his horns scraping against the door frame. His size seems even more massive in this small space.
“It’s turkey night, so I’m headed there myself.”
He dwarfs us both as he sits opposite us. The gondola tilts to accommodate his mass.
“Good for you?” Gerald narrows his eyes.
Andri scoffs, taken aback once again by my partner’s rudeness. Thankfully he leaves it there, and the rest of the ride down the mountain is silent.
When we arrive at Ted’s, it really is bumping—turkey night must be quite the draw. Luckily just as we walk through the door, a table of one is getting up to leave, check in hand. It’s another human woman. She looks so familiar that I can’t help but stare at her, but after laying a few bills next to the cashier, she’s out the door in a rush.
I peel off my coat quickly, the heaters in the diner working overtime during the snowstorm to compensate for the wraparound windows that line the walls. Andri, now seated at the bar, lets his eyes run up me from toe to tip. He’s far enough away that Gerald doesn’t notice when he winks and hides behind his menu—thank god.
I quickly scoot into the booth, the shiny red leather squeaking against the bare skin of my back. If I wasn't hunched over a bit trying to hide from Andri, I certainly would have when Gerald snaps his fingers in the air to get the waitress’s attention.
“Please don’t do that,” I mutter as the same faun from our first day here clocks who’s snapping and sets her jaw as she strides over.
“Yes?” she groans.
“Can you bus this table?” His finger circles over the empty coffee cup and half-eaten cherry pie.
“Do I look like the busboy?” She crosses her arms over her chest and narrows her eyes.
“No, you don’t!” I interject into the building tension between them. “But seeing this pie really has me wanting a piece, would you mind bringing us a slice, please?” I give her my best puppy-dog eyes.
“For you, sure.” She gives me that same knowing smile as before.
“Pie? We’re here for dinner.”
“Let’s switch it up!” I smile, grabbing his hand and kissing his knuckles. He softens slightly and leans against the back of the booth.
“Fine, if that’s what you really want.” He grabs his phone from his jacket pocket, and it must be a reflex because he puts it back a few seconds later.
