“Have you thought any more about what you’re going to do about the debt?” Laken asked, carefully watching for my response as he scooped pellets into the bucket.
Frowning, I grunted. “I told Ruth I’d help with deliveries. If I can work there for a little while, maybe I can at least save up enough to get them to buy some time.”
He stood from the feed storage bins and straightened. When he looked down at me, I didn’t like the way his lips thinned and brows furrowed. “You know, I think it’d really be better to pay it as soon as possible.”
Narrowing my eyes, I could’ve screamed. “Oh, I’m sorry, was that you offering to pull thousands out of your ass? Or was it an unnecessarily obvious comment?”
Laken immediately turned and moved past me, continuing toward the goats.
“I don’t see you tossing out any grand ideas,” I added, following behind.
“You told me you didn’t want my help.”That would be true.He carried the bucket in his hand and swayed with each step. “But I’m sure my mother would love to organize a town fundraiser; you know she loves doing them.”
Faye Augustus did love hosting events. But it’d never work. A laugh ripped from my throat. “These people would never donate their money to me. I’m not even sure they want me here.” After all the comments about Laken Laken Laken, it’d left its bruise on my heart.
“Not you,” he corrected. “But maybe the sanctuary. They adore the creatures and use the healing cream, along with many outside of Honey Brooke. The tavern thrives from hellblazer eggs.” He had a good point. I wasn’t aware of anyone else who made healing creams; that was why we charged so high for it. The town did love the sanctuary, or respected it at the very least, for what it offered them.Gods.Once upon a time, it even had donors. “I can talk to my mother about it.”
Biting my cheek, I didn’t respond. Walking and aimlessly staring at the grass, my stomach tore up from the thought of it alone.
“I don’t hear a no,” Laken teased over his shoulder.
“It’s not a no.” I exhaled, kicking the weeds. “But I still don’t see it working.”
I knew a grin tugged his lips without having to see it. “We’ll see.”
The goats came easy; baaing like one of them did thetrick. Speaking their language. Finneas even came to Laken and let both of us scratch her ears. I’d hate to say I regretted refusing his help for as long as I did, but watching him care for the animals, I thought Laken might care for them more than I’d expected.
He stood with the sunrise behind him, broken and scattered rays catching the edges of his dark-blond locks. I stared for too long when the orange, foggy haze caught his deep-blue eyes, like the sun over the ocean. He seemed… at peace.
He didn’t deserve peace. He deserved poison ivy and sunburns and curses and bad luck.
“Phoebe’s next, but as long as the others aren’t disturbed, she’ll be easy. Nothing special, just keep the calm around her.”
And of course, he’d been right.
“We have to get to Benedict pretty fast, or else he’ll start trouble. I usually do the left animals then start with him on the right.” Laken grabbed a mixture of things I didn’t even want to look at.
He cut some fruit and vegetables into chunks, adding some bugs and some sort of… fish? I wasn’t entirely sure, but by the smell of it, it definitely came out of water. I started gagging. Repeatedly. “My Gods.” I covered my nose and mouth. “He’s literally a walking trash can.” I backed up, continuing my retching noises.
Laken stood with the bucket, took one look at me, and by the amused smirk on his lips I knew exactly what he thought. No no no—
“Laken Augustus, I swear to the Gods I will be the cause of your death.”
He held the bucket out closer to me; if he touched me with it, I’d puke. He hummed, “I’ve always liked your murderous mind.”
And he lunged.
The dawn’s first light barely peeked above the horizon, spilling its rays onto the world through a hazy fog as I sprinted with Laken close behind me. My shrieks followed me, accompanied by short-winded pants. I wasn’t meant to run. The dew from the grass soaked my pants and my feet were slipping in the raggedy soles of my boots, yet I continued.
Laken’s arm wrapped around my waist, and he yanked me back against him.
“You smell like an amphibian,” I argued between stolen breaths.
Before I knew it, he’d flipped me around and tossed me over his shoulder. Nothing more than a sack of potatoes. The world tilted, and he picked up the bucket, holding it almost directly below my face.
“How do I smell now?”
I pounded his back. “Laken, if you don’t put me down, I’m going to gouge out your eyes and… and cut your hair!”
