I tug at the quiver strap across his chest. “This seems like more than a time or two.”
“I’ve been practicing on my own.” A bit of pink finds his cheeks, and he glances away. “He’s very busy.”
I study him. He studies me back.
I hate that we’re uncomfortable with each other. Ihateit.
I think of Lord Alek, how things are so different from the first night he came into the bakery. How I was ready to draw a knife on him that evening—and I was ready to tug him up the stairs to my room last night.
My own cheeks are probably turning pink.
“Well,” I say.
“Well.”
I don’t know how we’ve gotten to this point, but I don’t want to stay here.
“Do you want to come to the bakery for a bit?” I say in a rush. His eyebrows go up, and he hesitates, but I keep going. “Nora is still sleeping, but we could have breakfast. I mean—unless you don’t have time. I know you’re …” I glance past him, at the archery course he’s obviously set up. It’s a bit shocking, to think that he’s been doing something like this and I had no idea. “Ah … busy.”
For an instant he says nothing, but then he smiles. “I can spare some time.”
I brew tea and set the muffins out on my work table. Jax takes the stool where he always sits, placing his crutches against the wall where they always lean, only this time he leaves his bow and quiver there, too.
I shove the muffins in his direction, and he unbuckles the leather bracer before taking one.
While I pour the tea, I nod at … everything. “Tell me how that all happened.”
He tucks a loose lock of hair behind his ear and makes a face. “I’m … not sure, really. I told you about the day Lord Tycho brought Mercy up the lane for new shoes. Da was being … well, himself.” Jax frowns. “Tycho said he needed someone to accompany him to town to see about some repairs. I thought he was going to drag me out to the woods and leave me for dead.”
I remember him telling me. He said they talked. He said Alek showed up and fought with Tycho. Archery never made it into the conversation. “But he taught you to shoot?”
Jax smiles. “Well, not right away. I think … I think he’s lonely. A bit.”
I’m staring at him. I don’t think I’ve seen Jax blush like this since we used to whisper over Mother’s racy novels.
You fancy him, I said to Jax weeks ago. He didn’t deny it. He’s not denying it now.
He shrugs and takes a sip of his tea. “I’ve been practicing on my own. With Da’s old bow. I didn’t see Tycho for weeks. Months, really. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.” That blush deepens on his cheeks. “Ah … until yesterday. Da was drunk and he came after me. Tycho stopped him. He took me into town and healed the worst of it. He was here with another man from the palace—Lord Jacob. They were looking for Alek. Honestly, Cal, I’m glad of how things turned out. You were right. It was too dangerous. I was taking too much of a risk. Maybe with Da locked up, I can scrape together enough coins to pay for next month. Your business has clearly been doing well with all the travelers, so—” He must notice my expression, because he breaks off. “What? What’s wrong?”
There’s too much. I don’t know what to say.
Nora chooses this moment to skip down the stairs. “Jax!” she cries.
He smiles. “Nora!” he teases. “Those hens still pecking your fingers off?”
“Everyday,” she says dramatically. She sweeps into the room, her skirts spinning. “I need Cally-cal to marry a lord from the Crystal City so we can hire someone to—”
“Nora!” I snap.
“Oh, she’s marrying you off?” Jax says to me, smiling. “Do you have a line of suitors?”
My face feels frozen. They’re teasing, but it’s all too close to home.
“Itold her to marry Lord Tycho,” Nora continues. “He was so handsome,” she sighs. “But he hasn’t been here in quite some time—”
“Nora,” I say quickly. “Muddy May needs milking.”
“I just put on my new skirt!” she says. “I don’t want to get straw everywhere.” She spins again, and I realize sheiswearing a new skirt. It’s a deep maroon, with green ivy stitched along the hem. I wonder if Lord Alek or Lady Karyl brought it to her, and I’m deathly afraid she’ll volunteer this information next.
