That is the understatement of the year.
“What did you even talk about? The two of you have almost nothing in common.”
Excuse me? We have plenty in common. Like our mutual love of blueberry pie, for instance. And our . . .
Our . . .
It doesn’t matter. Kerris and Everett have nothing in common either, and they make it work. Not that I’m trying to make anything “work” with Maddox, since he’s in love with someone else.
“We talked about the woman in his clan he is hoping to marry.” A woman I’ve begun to despise on principle alone.
I take a bite of my own dessert, chewing while my heart twists uncomfortably against my ribs.
Her brow furrows as she uses the side of her fork to break off another slice. “An Unseelie woman?”
“That’s right.” Tell me she’s awful. That she doesn’t deserve him. That his friends despise her.
“Are you certain?”
“Quite. Why?”
“I’m just surprised, is all. He’s made no effort to hide his feelings for you. It’s a shock to hear he’s given up entirely and moved on to another. Doesn’t seem like him.” She sets down her fork in favor of her teacup. The steam curls around her pursed lips. “Ever said when they were little, they once caught Maddox bringing acorns to a squirrel long after it was dead, ‘just in case.’”
Maddox has such a hopeful heart, I can imagine him doing just that. Makes me like him even more, which was not the goal here.
“Perhaps he’s being secretive.” Maybe he doesn’t want to say anything in case things don’t work out. Who can blame him? I’m doing the same by not telling Kerris about my own relationship.
“Maddox?” She snorts. “I know what the man ate for dinner last night, how many clouds resembled Biscuits since I’ve been gone, and that I’m to avoid venturing into the southeast corner of the garden because sometimes he relieves himself there. He couldn’t keep a secret to save his life.”
I never realized they were that close.
“Did he tell you that we went to Madame Ella’s together?” Or that we spent a magical afternoon drinking wine and hiding beneath the shade of a golden willow?
Her cup rattles the saucer when she sets it down. “You did? Why?”
The real question is, why would he want to keep our friendship a secret from his closest friends? “So he could buy his woman a gift,” I say, mulling over all that Kerris has revealed.
Not long ago, I was also convinced that Maddox harbored feelings for me, but he laughed when I came right out and suggested it. Told me I was too “small” for him.
Now that I think about it, the argument doesn’t really stand up, does it? Look at Kerris and Everett; the top of her head barely reaches her husband’s shoulder. Mine is at least to Maddox’s chin.
This isn’t proof by any means, but it does make me wonder.
Kerris taps her lips. “Did he tell you this woman’s name?”
“It’s . . .” Has he mentioned her name? If so, I can’t remember. “No, actually. But I haven’t asked him either.” Something I’ll remedy the next time we meet.
I mull it over with another bite of crumble.
Kerris flops back against the cushions, her hands falling to her stomach with a groan. I know exactly how she feels. This dessert is quite filling.
“Enough about Maddox,” she says. “Let’s talk about your birthday. I assume you collected your dress?”
“I did.”With Maddox.
“And?”
“And it’s beautiful.” Although I’ve no longing to wear it now that I’ve no one to propose to, which is silly. Turning twenty-five is a milestone in and of itself; not every fae has found their partner by that point in their lives. Look at Maddox. He’s thirty and only just found someone.
