Teddy pointedly didn’t say a word as he began to mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
“It was better than whatever Nexus was offering,” Wren defended himself further.
“The catered meals prepared by a professional chef?” Teddy asked, deadpan.
“They had poison in them! Everyone knew that.”
“That was a rumoryoustarted!”
Wren put his nose in the air. “I stand by it.”
Teddy’s laugh was like seeing a butterfly spread its wings for the first time after cocooning for so long. Absolutely breathtaking.
“Well I ate the stupid chia seeds in the end, didn’t I?” Teddy said after his laughter faded, a lock of hair falling rakishly over his forehead as he bent his head to mix something else.
Wren scratched at the countertop with his nail. “Well what if I said I wanted chia seeds right now?”
“I’d tell you to go forage for them outside because they’re not crossing the threshold of this house,” Teddy said without lookingup. There was a curl of mischief to his mouth that Wren wanted to eat.
“Did someone mention chia seeds?”
The moment shattered. Wren had been so caught up that he hadn’t even heard anyone approaching. Teddy hadn’t either, smacking the bowl of ingredients with a resoundingclangas Echo walked into the room.
Wren watched Teddy try to save it and make more of a mess in the process, tipping over a carton of egg substitute. It poured out all over the counter, dripping to the floor.
“Sorry! Damn, I’m sorry,” Teddy began to mumble as he tried to mitigate the chaos.
Wren hopped up and grabbed some paper towels from the side, lending a hand. He realized suddenly howtiredTeddy looked, the dark circles ringing his eyes similar to his own.
Had he slept since arriving back in Arcstead? He’d checked in with Wren, but was anyone checking in on him?
Echo hurried over with a small towel of their own to help out, breaking Wren from his worried musing. “I didn’t mean to startle you, Damir. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Teddy was quick to say. “I shouldn’t be so clumsy.”
“You’re never clumsy,” Wren and Echo said together.
They looked at each other before Echo widened their eyes and stepped back, crossing their arms in an X.
“Don’t say jinx!”
“I…wasn’t going to?” Wren tilted his head.
Blu swooped down and landed on his shoulder.
Echo minutely relaxed. “Oh…um…thank you.” Then they tensed again as they seemed to realize they had nothing else left to say and it was about to get socially awkward. “That’s a…very nice bird.”
Wren nodded. “He knows.”
Blu chirped self-importantly, puffing his feathers.
Echo seemed even more thrown off by the reply, looking desperately at Teddy to help them out.
Teddy smiled. “I’m making breakfast. Do you want me to make you something as well?”
“Yes, please. I heard you mentioning chia seeds. Do we have some?”
“Yes. Do we have some?” Wren repeated in a sugary sweet tone.
