So I don’t fight him on it. I told myself I’d play this game. When my hand clutches at his larger, calloused one, he almost envelops it fully in his fist. The hold provides enough leverage so I can gently lift myself out of the automobile, avoiding any pressure on my ankle. I snatch my hand away the moment I’m upright. The sensation of our joined hands was too familiar for my liking.
“Let’s start at this end,” I tell Norrell as I motion toward the side where we’re parked.
I peruse each vendor, stopping periodically to look at new items on their tables. Not only do I intend to shop today, but I also want to talk to the organizer about a booth for Sunny and her cosmetic charms and potions. It would be a good opportunity if she ever wants to run her own shop one day. She’s been so helpful to me, especially with everything that’s happened.
Gathering this information on her behalf is the least I can do. I haven’t mentioned it yet because I’m not sure whether the organizer is accepting new vendors right now.
Norrell holds my bags, which are still mostly empty. I buy a lot of my groceries here. Those vendors set up at the other end of the market. He stands to the side while I browse a table full of tea blends. Since the season is slowly changing into colder weather, I compare the labels of some of their spicier winter varieties.
A choked noise from Norrell’s direction startles me.
His head snaps to the side with knitted brows, and his mouth hangs open in shock. From behind him, I see manicured fingers dance down his shoulder. Marieke, a selkie who for a time was frequently seen on Clancy’s arm, steps out from behind Norrell and gives him her most seductive grin with her full red lips. Norrell looks scandalized and takes a step back.
“I didn’t realize such a big male would be so shy. Don’t worry, I know just how to bring you out of your shell.” She giggles, pushing her long shiny black hair behind her shoulder.
“That will not be necessary,” he stammers.
“I don’t think I know you. Are you in town for that long meeting? I’m sure you’re feeling awfully lonely,” she presses, reaching out to lightly trace her fingernails down his arm.
He pulls away again sharply, stepping onto the street. “I am not interested,” he reiterates, his tone even more rigid.
She shrugs and saunters away, her curvy hips swaying in her tight dress. “Your loss,” she calls out witheringly over her shoulder.
Despite her forward overtures to males, Marieke is not unlikeable most of the time. She just enjoys male attention… a lot. But my jaw clenches and my eyes burn suspiciously as she walks away after coming on to Norrell. My patience for her is wearing thin right now. I’ve stood here stunned and unblinking watching the entire exchange. Norrell seems as taken aback as I am. His eyes finally flash to mine with a troubled look.
“Ada, I had no idea that was going to happen,” he sputters. His hand reaches out to me, but he pulls back before it touches me, closing it into a fist and dropping it to his side.
“That’s Marieke. Go ahead and talk to her if you want,” I grouse.
“No, she is not the female for me,” he practically snarls. Something feral blazes through his eyes as he tells me this. His face leans closer to mine and our eyes lock. When it dawns on me that he may try to kiss me, I fling myself away before I do something stupid and let him. My memory snaps back to that moment in the foyer so long ago, pleading for him to stay. His cold, emotionless face as he left the house told me everything.
“Oh, I wouldn’t know what your type is anymore,” I retort. I’m being flip, but I can’t play nice right now. There goes myplan, couldn’t even last a day. A pained expression crosses his face. I ignore it and tromp past him to the next vendor.
Sensing him on my heels, I speed by a couple more as fast as my ankle will allow. He isn’t relenting and keeping pace only a few steps behind. Spinning toward him and forcing him to an abrupt stop, I put my hands on my hips and glare. “This isn’t working for me. Just take me home,” I grit through my teeth.
“Please, let us talk for a moment first,” he urges.
“You won’t want to hear what I have to say,” I warn him.
“I do. Rage at me. Do not hold back. I deserve it,” he insists.
My shoulders slump and my head bows as I try to hold back the tears that fill my eyes. I can’t do this here. Or anywhere for that matter. My utter humiliation forces me to walk away from the crowd forming at the market, always so observant.
“It’s best if we don’t.” I’m suddenly very tired.
“I disagree,” he says fiercely, following in step with me. “Do not hide yourself away because of some brazen female I have no interest in.”
“That’s not it and you know it,” I argue.
“Then what is it?” he entreats, sounding genuinely rattled.
My ankle grows sore as I pick up speed. When we get to the Wagoneer, Norrell opens the passenger door for me, and I propel myself inside before he can assist.
“Take me home,” I demand, unable to bring myself to look at him in the driver’s seat.
“Please tell me what is on your mind,” he pleads. “Do not hold back.”
“You don’t get to ask anything of me, Norrell. That’s what’s on my mind. You don’t get to look like you want to kiss me. That this charade with you staying at my house is pointless pageantry on your part to make yourself feel better. You left me at a time when I needed you the most, plain and simple. You threw our life away and I’m still not sure why. Was my grief too much foryou? Did I not give you the attention you wanted?” I chuckle mirthlessly. “Don’t bother answering. Frankly, I don’t care. I wouldn’t trust anything coming out of your mouth anyway. I want you gone for good when these meetings end. You aren’t getting me back. I deserved a better mate than you. I deserve to be happy and free of you forever!” I explode, pointing my finger at him aggressively.
