"Pfft." She snorted. "Not for me. But if you want, I can send you a link." She looked pointedly at his lean arms. "If you were a Kra-ell, those scrawny arms would be just fine, but you are an immortal, and you could benefit from some bulking up."
Arezoo was so embarrassed for Ruvon that her cheeks were flaming with heat. Were all Kra-ell so blunt?
For a long moment, the guy was speechless, and then he nodded. "You are right. It's just that I find physical training incredibly boring. I prefer to challenge my mind."
Oh, that was good, and Arezoo wanted to give him the thumbs up for the perfect retort.
Wait, why was she siding with the Doomer against her friend?
Drova laughed and clapped Ruvon on his back. "Then watch some boring lectures while you are training if that's your thing."
"Good suggestion." He took a sip of his coffee. "I need to trick myself into liking the exercise."
It was a relief to see them reaching an understanding and neither appearing offended. Perhaps there was a lesson to be learned from this. They each had said their truth as they saw it, and they were both smart about not taking offense just because they had different interests in life.
Drova took a long sip of her coffee, her dark eyes moving between them with poorly concealed amusement. "I should get back to the kids before they decide to try something dangerous.Zaden's been eyeing that tree like he wants to climb it, and it's dangerous for a little human with tiny, worthless muscles."
"They're not worthless," Arezoo protested.
"You know what I mean." Drova waved a dismissive hand and walked away, leaving Arezoo with Ruvon.
"Would you like to sit?" she offered, gesturing toward the bench.
"Thank you." He sat, spreading his legs.
"Sorry about my friend. She has absolutely no filter." Arezoo eyed the Danish and debated whether she should offer him half.
"She's honest. I like it." He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and cradling his coffee cup between his palms.
Arezoo chuckled. "She's brutal, but then that's not a big surprise. She's a pureblooded Kra-ell. They are known for that."
"So I've heard."
She lifted the pastry. "Can I offer you half?"
He hesitated. "Maybe just a little piece. You are hungry."
"I have snacks in my bag." She tore it in half and handed him the slightly bigger portion. "Enjoy."
The Danish was delicious—flaky pastry with a sweet cheese filling and a drizzle of icing. She ate it slowly, using it as an excuse not to talk while she studied him from the corner of her eye.
He wasn't handsome by immortal standards. Where most of the males she'd seen around the village were broad-shouldered and confidently attractive, Ruvon was slight, almost fragile looking.His features were pleasant enough but unremarkable, and he held himself with a hunched quality as if trying to take up less space in the world.
His lack of confidence was actually refreshing. Every other immortal male she'd encountered so far carried himself with the assurance of an apex predator, and it made the immortal males a little intimidating. Then again, Ruvon valued his mind, not his muscles, and the intensity of his intelligent gaze was as intimidating as, if not more so than, the swagger of the other immortals.
"The coffee's good," she said, needing to fill the silence. "Stronger than what usually comes from the vending machines."
"That's because it's a double shot," he said. "You can choose that when you order coffee."
How did he know that she liked her coffee strong?
He'd been watching her, she knew that, but she hadn't known that he'd been paying attention to small details like that.
It was flattering, but also a little creepy.
"Do you come to the playground often?" he asked.
"This is the little ones' favorite place in the village, so when their mothers need a breather, either I or one of the older kids brings them here."
