Arlon’s hands had suddenly gone clammy. “I don’t…”
Garrett looked him over. He seemed to read Arlon’s unease just as easily as he read his movements on the sparring mat. “Is it the going into town part or the going with others part that’s freaking you out?”
The frankness of the question made him straighten. His voice emerged tight and clipped. “I’m not freaked out.”
Garrett gave him an unamused look. “Arlon.”
He blinked. There was no real threat, but he’d gone on the defensive without thought. He forced out an annoyed breath. “Both?”
Garrett hummed as he pushed away from the wall. “What if I came with?”
Arlon scowled. “You said you wanted less people.”
“When I said ‘less people,’ I meant I was hoping to just spend the day with you and Bri,” Garrett chuckled.
Something warm pooled in Arlon’s chest at that declaration. It helped soothe the knot of his uncertainty. “Oh.”
“So, what do you say? I’ll go if you do.”
Any other time, Arlon would have tapped out, but Garrett was a fortifying presence. Besides, spending time with him and Bridgette was the only thing Arlon had wanted out of today, too.
“Alright,” Arlon said before he could talk himself out of it. “Let’s go.”
They hurried up to their rooms to change into something more substantial than sparring clothes before they went to the courtyard. Bridgette was there to meet them, though she had donned a sun hat to go with the airy summer dress she wore. With her was a small group of three wizards that Arlon knew by face, if not by name.
A Kenitkan man with a strong jaw stood beside Magda and Bridgette, his smile bright against his dark brown skin. They were talking to a willowy Lenear man, but as Arlon and Garrett approached, all eyes turned to look their way. It made Arlon’s skin prickle, and he followed a half step behind Garrett as they approached.
Bridgette raised an eyebrow at her husband, but Garrett just grinned. “Changed my mind.”
Bridgette hummed, amusement tilting her lips. “Arlon, this is Edrei, Magda, and Dmitry.”
“We’ve met,” Magda said with a smile. “It’s good to see you again, Arlon.”
“Likewise,” Arlon said. After the cold reception he had given her the last time they talked, he assumed the woman wouldn’t want anything more to do with him.
“I’m glad Bridgette finally lured the recluse out,” Dmitry said before he swept forward to offer a hand. “It’s good to officially meet you, Arlon.”
Arlon wasn’t sure he liked being thrust into the middle of such attention, but after only a moment’s hesitation, he took the Lenear man’s hand. His head barely reached Arlon’s shoulder, and his hand felt so delicate that Arlon was afraid he’d break it. Yet when Dmitry turned that bright smile up at him, Arlon was struck by how beautiful the man was. Golden-brown hair curled around his ears, matching his skin that seemed to glow like shined copper.
“Dmitry’s been dying for an introduction,” Bridgette teased.
Dmitry’s pretty face flushed dark, and his smile turned sheepish. “When the handsome staff member starts wrestling Garrett in the evocation yard, it’s hard not to take notice.” He cleared his throat as he released Arlon’s hand. “Like I said, it’s good to officially meet you.”
Arlon blinked down at the slender man in surprise and didn’t know what else to say but, “Good to meet you, too.”
Edrei put a hand on Magda’s shoulder and said, “Are we ready?”
“Let’s go,” Bridgette said and led the way out of the courtyard, twining her arm around Dmitry’s.
Garrett nudged Arlon’s ribs before nodding towards Dmitry. “I think you’ve got an admirer.”
Arlon gave a noncommittal grunt, but as they headed down the road towards town, he noticed Dmitry cast a few glances back his way. When Arlon caught his gaze during one such look, Dmitry’s eyes went wide, his cheeks flushing before he quickly turned away.
Arlon’s lips quirked into a grin. Garrett’s hunch didn’t appear to be wrong, and it was a bit of a thrill to realize he could fluster the man with little more than a look.
“How are you feeling after last night, Garrett?” Edrei asked, pulling Arlon from his thoughts.
“You should be asking Bridgette, not me,” Garrett chuckled.
