From the corner of my eye, Ashe looked pleased to see us getting along, but was that a twinkle of jealousy in his eyes? No, it must've been my imagination.
"Do you speak at all?" Starry asked.
I shook my head. "Never."
"My parents tried to teach me when I was little, but I never liked it. I'm glad to meet someone else like me."
They tried to teach her? From her chipper expression and the casual way she remarked on it, I doubted her parents were anything like mine. I never would've brought up such a painful memory so happily.
But I didn't want to let my sour past ruin the mood. I smiled back at her. "Me too. It's been too loud hanging out with Ashe. All he does is talk."
Starry giggled while Ashe rolled his eyes.
"I'm standing right here, you know," he said.
I grinned at him so he'd know I was only kidding.
"You must be the Bear that Ashe was telling me about," Starry signed.
My brows raised. He'd been talking about me? My curiosity burned. "What did he say?" I asked.
Starry's eyes sparkled mischievously. She peered over at Ashe, then huddled closer to me and turned our backs to him so he wouldn't see our hands.
"Hey, come on!" Ashe complained.
"Only good things." Starry winked. "He rejected my offer to take him home. He wants to stay with you until he's better."
My heart skipped a beat. Did Ashe really say that? Unable to stop myself, I glanced over my shoulder at him. He stood with his arms crossed, waiting for us to finish our private conversation, but his cheeks flooded with color when I met his gaze. He dropped his arms and softly cleared his throat, looking away.
I turned back to Starry. "Are you telling the truth?"
She nodded.
I felt a strange lightness in my chest but also deep confusion. Ashe wanted to stay? How could that be? Now that I'd met Starry and seen what a loving family member she was, I knew what Ashe was missing out on. If the rest of his family was as sweet and kind as her, why the hell wouldn't he want to return to them as soon as possible? It didn't make any sense.
But I didn't doubt Starry's words. She didn't seem the lying type.
As I zoned out, I noticed Starry watching me with perceptive eyes. Being under her sharp gaze made me feel exposed, like she knew things I didn't want to be known. Things I held close to my chest.
For instance, how much I liked Ashe.
I huffed and broke away from the private conversation, turning back to Ashe.
"Want to fill me in about your little discussion?" Ashe asked.
Starry stuck out her chin. "Nope."
"Fine." He chuckled and gave her a good natured shove.
My mind swarmed with vague hope. Were my assumptions about Ashe wrong? And if they were, why? I didn't understand how a person with such a loving family would want to be away from them. I wasn't that special. In fact, there was something wrong with me. I was a mistake to be corrected.
I needed to find a spirit to fix me.
"Hellooo, Bear," Ashe said, waving a hand in front of my face. "You awake?"
I snapped out of my reverie and nodded.
"Starry wants to know if she can stay the night here before leaving tomorrow," Ashe said. "If that's okay with you. I know we're intruding on your hospitality."
