Of course, I’ve wondered what happened, but he’s never mentioned it, so I haven’t asked. I might sleep next to him each night, but I don’t think we’re friends enough to be sharing trauma stories.
If I were to guess, I’d say he’s nearly eight feet tall. His scales are a touch greener than Sorin’s but identical in color to Roan’s. And they overlap neatly, even in the complicated areas, like the crooks of his elbows and under his arms.
There’s a slight bulge at the crux of his legs. I’d be lying if I said I never look. Although, really, there isn’t much to see. Briar tells me it’s a cock-pocket situation, which isn’t a term I’d heard before LOVE GALAXY.
Does he realize how much influence he has over his family? The room feels physically smaller the more annoyed and uncomfortable he gets. Even Briar and Sorin, who are miles away, have started fidgeting. There’s a crease on Briar’s brow that wasn’t there when I entered the kitchen, and I can see how tense Roan is holding his shoulders, almost like he’s worried about what Killan will do.
Surely not. Killan wouldn’t physically hurt anyone.
Still, there’s no denying the fact that Roan has pulled Harlee’s chair a fraction closer to himself and a fraction farther from Killan.
As if finally sensing something is wrong, Killan glances up, looking between Sorin and Briar, Roan and Harlee. For a second I think there’s a hint of an emotion on his face I haven’t seen before. But…no. I must be wrong, again. Because there’s no way Killan is jealous.
Then he catches me watching him and scowls.
Smiling mightn’t come naturally to Ril’os, but they sure know how to frown.
I scowl in return. If he thinks I’ve forgiven him for being a dick last night, he’s mistaken. All I’d wanted was to ask him a few more questions about the Guild. It’s not like I believe anything Chloe said!
“Sorin and Briar, keep me updated on your progress,” Killan says, looking so much like his usual grumpy self that I decide I must’ve imagined his fleeting look of jealousy.
I must’ve also imagined Roan’s unease. There’s no tension in his shoulders anymore, and he’s watching Killan with an amused expression, as though he knows exactly what his brother is going to say and finds it funny that Killan is going to tell us something Roan already knows.
“With five of us, it should take us three days. Four at the most, plus drying time. Plus packaging time. I calculate a total of nine days. Roan and Harlee?—”
“Sorin and Briar aren’t coming here to help?” I’ve asked the question aloud before consciously deciding to speak. So much for keeping up the pretense I’m not interested, but I can’t help myself. If there’s one thing I find interesting, it’s how people run their small businesses.
A muscle works in Killan’s cheek. Hehatesbeing interrupted. It almost makes my impromptu question worth it.
“Normally, Sorin would come here,” Roan says. “And the three of us would work our way along the line of lakes until we reach Sorin’s house?—”
“Sorin and Briar’s house,” Sorin interrupts.
“Sorin and Briar’s house,” Roan amends with another one of his attempts at a Human smile. Distracted, he must forget what he was saying, because he doesn’t continue.
“But this time you’re doing things differently,” I guess.
“Akh, yes.” Roan nods. “That’s right. Now that Harlee is here”—he looks adoringly at his fiancée—"she is going to help us harvest the lakes at this end.”
“I’m going to be Sorin,” Harlee agrees.
“While Sorin and Briar will harvest the lakes at their end of the line.” Killan speaks quickly, clearly keen to get the conversation finished. He gestures at Roan and Harlee in a way that makes it clear he’s about to issue another command. “You two?—”
“Would you like to help?” Harlee asks me.
I blink and almost miss hearing what she said. For the first time since Smith left, she sounds like her old hesitant self again. Like how she used to sound at the beginning of filming.
Have I been so foul tempered this morning that I’ve made Harlee nervous? Of course I have. Even now I’m gritting my teeth, angry at Harlee for feeling that way. But most of all angry at myself for being so bloody sensitive about nothing.
“If you need my help, sure. I’d love to,” I say, forcing my pitch a fraction higher than usual in the hope I sound friendlier than usual.
Harlee is my friend. Briar is my friend. So I plaster a smile onto my face.
Who cares if Killan doesn’t like me? Who cares if Killan doesn’t want my help? Not me. I’ll force my company on him if it means I get to spend some quality time with Harlee.
When I leave Ril II, I’ll be leaving Harlee and Briar. A knot tightens in my chest as, for the first time, that thought really sinks in. Going back to Earth means leaving behind the two women who mean more to me than anyone else in the entire universe.
It’ll be worth it,I promise myself. I’ve already abandoned so many important relationships for the sake of opening my bakery. I can’t stop now. I can’t admit defeat. Or all the sacrifices I’ve forced other people to make will have been for nothing.
