“Go take a break, Talon. Eat something, you’re getting hangry.” He waves me off and lifts more strawberries to the worktable.
In my haste to get here today, I forgot to bring my lunch. But Wick’s right, I’m getting even more grumpy than usual. I could go some place to grab something, but it’s more convenient to just grab something here. I pull off my hair and beard nets. Wick gives me a smile and shoos me off.
Okay. Okay. I can do this. Get some lunch and talk to Wren. Nothing to it. I push my fear away, but my heart still pounds so damn hard.
All of the tables are full, which brings more noise than I like. No one’s at the counter, so I don’t have to wait. Wren looks up at me when I step up to the counter.
“Talon! How can I serve you?” There’s a sparkle in his eyes and he knows exactly what he’s doing by using serve instead of help. There’s something off that I didn’t notice earlier. The dark circles look out of place on his usually sunny persona.
“You look awful.” I drop my head back. Why the hell are those the words that come out of my mouth? “Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
Wren runs a hand over the shaved part of his hair like he forgot it’s gone. He chuckles and drops his hand. “I wasn’t aware that I looked anything other than perfect.”
“You always look perfect.” What the hell, brain?
Wren tips his head and puts his hands on his hips. “Well now, I’m just confused.” There’s a teasing grin on his lips. “Do I look awful or perfect?”
“Awfully perfect?” I pat myself on the back for being smooth that time.
That makes Wren laugh his magical laugh. His eyes light up and the dark circles seem to fade for just a moment.
“Honestly, I’m not surprised if I look a bit rough. Didn’t get much sleep last night. Kept having dreams about the Winter Court and one patron in particular. He wasn’t a bad guy, butI don’t think about him constantly. So it’s weird he’s in my dreams.”
“Really weird.” Unless?—
“So, what can I get for you?” Wren goes back to being professional.
“Can I get two apple crumble muffins and a chocolate croissant?”
“Coming right up.” He spins on his heels and has my order together in no time. He’s frowning when he faces me again. “I forgot to ask if you want them warmed and buttered.” He looks up at me. “Would you like anything warm and buttered?” There’s a blush to his cheeks, and he drops his eyes. There’s probably a joke in there somewhere he’s fighting from making.
I shake my head. But I really do enjoy my muffins warmed and buttered. “The muffins, please.”
He nods and unbags the muffins quickly. He plates them together and expertly cuts them down the middle before popping them in the toaster oven. When the timer dings, he pulls them out. With a heavy hand, he butters all four pieces, which is perfection. He walks the plate back to me and grabs a couple of napkins before handing it over.
“Enjoy.”
I nod to the register. “How much?”
“Oh!” He starts pressing buttons, then stops. “Wait. We get a free meal each shift.”
I’m just standing there holding my plate of muffins and croissant. “I forgot about that. I usually just bring lunch from home.”
“At least grab a muffin every day.”
“I’ll try to remember.” But then I’d have to talk to Wren to get my food and I don’t think I can do that every day. My inner griffin circles in my head. He wants out. He’s certain he couldwoo the pretty Fae much better than I can. Unfortunately for him, I’m not trying.
Wren nods as I head to the break room. There’s not a free table out front and I like being alone when I eat.
Halfway into my second muffin, Wren comes into the break room with a buttered honey croissant. “Sorry to interrupt, but Wick forced me on a break.” He wiggles his plate. “Won’t say a peep if you don’t want me to.” He sits across from me and acts like he’s zipping his lips.
“You can talk.”
Wren pulls his croissant apart and eats it slowly. I try not to watch, but everything he does seems to be an act I can’t look away from. He notices me watching and puts his next bite down.
“Sorry,” he says.
“For what?”
