“You’re never a bother, and besides, I’m really strong.” He waggles his eyebrows down at me. He is really strong because he carries me as if I weigh about as much as a house cat.
“You don’t think people will think it’s strange you’re carrying me everywhere?” Despite my initial shock, I can’t say I hate the feeling of being cradled against his broad, warm chest.
“You think a snowman carrying a human is even going to make anyone in this weird little town bat an eyelash? You just missed when we had a feral werewolf on the loose,” he jokes.
“A werewolf? Isn’t that kind of dangerous?” I stiffen at the thought of a monster like that, so out of control.
“I mean, at first. He’s actually a good guy, just struggling with being freshly turned is all. Everyone deserves a little grace when they’re at their worst.”
“So is that what this is, you giving me grace?” I arch a brow up and look at his chin.
“No, because you’re not at your worst…you were put in a shit position by a shit man, none of that was your fault.” He stops walking and waits for my response.
“Oh—okay.” I don’t know if I believe him.
When we arrive at the gondola down to town, the same fairy from before beams at us. I swear her green eyes glow with some kind of mania as we enter the cab.
“Hi Andri,” she drawls, eyes flitting between our faces.
“To town,” he says somewhat sternly. I can’t pick up on the subtext, but I can tell there’s something I’m not privy to happening.
“Hi,” I squeak out.
The faerie nods and hits the lever that sends us descending the mountain.
The tension between those two grows, and I can’t help but let my word vomit take the place of the silence.
“I bet you’re surprised to see me being carried around by Andri here, right?” I ask.
She cocks her head to the side with that same devious smile. “Well, actually—” but she’s cut off by a zap of gold sparkles that appear to shut her mouth.
I blink twice just to make sure I’m not hallucinating. The fairy doesn’t seem surprised. If anything, she seems annoyed and looks at Andri, her shut lips pulled into a taut frown. I swear Andri chuckles under his breath, and he’s quick to whisk me out of the cab.
“Um, maybe I’m just an ignorant human, but what the heck was that?”
“Fae magic, I think. The fairy folk are bound to their bargains.” He stops at the crosswalk, looking both ways before we head to Ted’s.
“Oh.” I still don’t quite grasp what just transpired.
When we get to the door, Andri doesn’t put me down. Instead, he swivels and pushes the silver door open with his back. When we turn around, I swear the whole diner, monsters and humans, has eyes on us. A hush falls over the usually conversation-filled diner. I don’t think Andri notices the attention we’re receiving, or maybe he doesn't care. But the show we're putting on is also second fiddle in my mind to something even more pressing. I scan the restaurant for one face in particular, Gerald’s.
Luckily, I don’t see him anywhere—and that’s how I’d like to keep it.
When we get to the only open booth, on the far side from the door, he finally gives up on carrying me. He’s so gentle when he does I don’t even feel any pain in my ankle, that is until I try to move it.
As I hobble and slide into the seat, and the reason I need to be carried is revealed, the other restaurant patron’s curiosity is satiated. The background chatter returns, and I’m happily no longer the center of attention.
The same faun waitress comes over, and I half expect her to take our order, but instead she beams at me.
“I’m proud of you, I want you to know that.”
“For what?” I seem to be in a constant state of confusion today.
“For kicking that asshole to the curb!” she says with a hand on her hip. “Now what can I get y’all to eat?”
“Blueberry pancakes,” I tell her with a wide smile.
Chapter thirteen
