Cassia gave him a suspicious look, but agreed without further question.
Five days later he was in the living room, nervously waiting as Cassia changed upstairs to the dress she’d bought at Larie’s.
“You sure about this?” Dariek asked from the lounge chair. His oldest brother sprawled back there, wide-brimmed hat balanced on his abs, a cup of drudd dangling from one hand. He’d just come in from the ranch.
“Yup,” Aevrin said, and smoothed a hand over his hair again. He’d already dressed, in nice trousers and a fancy silver-buttoned jerkin he’d bought just for the occasion.
“You’re rushing things.”
“I’m not.”
“The only reason to get married before 40 is ‘cuz you knocked her up and her papa has a knife pressing on your neck.”
“You’re the last person I’d go to for relationship advice.”
“Yeah. I’m the last person I’d go to, too,” Dariek said, and took a swig of his liquor. “But that’s not gonna stop me from saying ‘told you so.’”
“Shut up,” Aevrin told him. “Seriously. Keep your damn voice down.”
Dariek grinned at him and raised his eyebrows, seemingly amused by Aevrin’s sharpened temper. But Aevrin only noticed in a distant sort of way. He was terrified he’d forgotten something; that he’d get the whole night wrong. He’d only checked his pocket for the ring twenty times. But he was still sure he’d somehow forget it.
The door slammed as Mavek walked in.
“Careful with that door,” Gramma Prisca hollered from her office as Mavek toed off his boots. As Mavek came into the living room Dariek stuck out a leg to trip him. With a yelp Mavek stumbled forward, then turned and launched himself at Dariek, fists-first.
“Saints,” Aevrin breathed, and quickly left to wait in a different room.
It wasn’t long before he heard footsteps. He moved to the stairs. Ash trotted down, her curly brown hair tied into two puffs and her blue eyes dancing.
She hugged Aevrin, then grabbed his arm and turned to watch the stairs. It was no coincidence Ash was home, but Cassia had seemed to buy the vague excuse of ‘just missed home’ and ‘academy canceled Monday classes.’ Cassia had even asked, wide-eyed and sincere, if they ought to reschedule dinner so he could spend more time with his sister.
Cassia appeared at the top of the stairs. And for a moment, Aevrin forgot to breathe. She was stunning in a red, floor-length dress, clinging tightly to her breasts and waist before cascading in a flutter of skirts. He was suddenly glad Vadawasn’t up for flying yet, since it meant getting to see Cassia dressed likethis. Her hair was loose and shining, her eyes painted softly with gold and pink.
“You look…” Aevrin mumbled, trying to remember how words worked. His head was scrambled. Did they really have to go to the restaurant? Couldn’t he just turn her around and march her back upstairs?
“Is it alright?” Cassia asked, peering down and swaying her hips to make the dress swirl around her knees.
“Uh… yeah,” Aevrin said. “You, uh…”
“Oaf,” Ashelle said. “Tell the girl she looks pretty, Aevrin.”
“Yup,” was all Aevrin could say. The back of his neck felt flushed. He was definitely going to mess up something or other. He’d never felt so nervous in his life. He’d never done something soimportantin his life.
Ashelle rolled her eyes.
“There’s a pan with dinner in the chest,” Cassia told her as Aevrin helped her into a coat. “I put out instructions on the counter for whoever handles it, alright?”
“Have fu-un, you two,” Ashelle said, and waltzed off.
Cassia slipped her feet into silk slippers and accepted Aevrin’s arm.
“I feel too fancy,” she confessed.
“You look perfect,” he said, and led her slowly out to the cart, offering her a hand up to the bench, which he’d covered with cushions and draped a blanket over in case it got cold in the evening.
If his heart didn’t calm down there was a real risk of it going out.
He sat on the bench for a moment, reins loose in his hands before getting Tiny going, and drew a deep breath.
