Page 20 of Bound By Honey

"Look, why don't you admire the new glass jars we just got in? I know you have a soft spot for the blues," he said suddenly with a nod. "I'll finish up here and have your ingredients ready for you by the time you’re done."

Will's encouraging smile was enough to make her relax. His feelings for her went beyond friendship, but she didn’t feel the same way. She nodded gratefully as she moved toward the shelf he had mentioned.

Beautiful clear, blue, and green glass bottles and jars of varying sizes and shapes, each topped with a cork or wooden lid, filled the shelf. Sage examined them carefully, admiring the intricate detail on each jar while her mind wandered back to thoughts of the Charming Four. An idea formed in her mind.

She had already planned on billing all of the items she was purchasing to the guild, even though they had yet to show her a prepped space for her to store her ingredients. A space had been promised and they couldn’t expect her to pay for stocking it, could they? Suffice it to say, she shouldn’t feel bad about grabbing containers to store them in as well.

The fresh smell of rain mingled with the sharp, acidic, and minty aromas of herbs piled on the counter. Sage inhaled the fragrant scent and fresh herbal tea from a teapot brewing nearby.

"What do you think?" Will asked from behind her.

“I think these jars would be perfect for storing my ingredients,” she said, pointing to the blue glass jars. "Do you mind having them and the ingredients delivered for me?"

Will nodded. "I think that's a great idea. Pick out your favorites, and I will have them sent over."

"Thank you, Will. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime, Sage. I'm always here to help." Will's eyes twinkled with affection.

Sage grabbed the jars she wanted and started a collection on the counter, making a mental note that she would need to ask about getting a set of shelves in her room to store all of this.

"Where were you having these delivered to?” Will asked, eyeing her curiously.

Sage was unsure if she should tell him the truth. But lying was not an option. After all, he only knew that she worked there. Not that it was home. She took a deep breath and exhaled before revealing her address to him.

Will's face changed as he dropped a jar of bright red mad honey onto the countertop with a loud thud. "You're working for the Charming Four?!"

"Yes," she said, keeping her tone nonchalant.

"They're dangerous, Sage," he said, his voice full of worry. "You should stay away from them."

"I can take care of myself, Will," she said with more confidence than she felt. "Besides, I need the money."

He shook his head solemnly. "If you need the extra money that badly, you can just work here. You know my father has offered before."

"I'm fine!" Sage snapped. "It's a good opportunity, and I need to do this on my own. I'm sorry, I need to go. I'm due at the library soon." She forced a smile and waved as she walked away. "Thank you, Will. You're the best.”

The bell of the door dinged as she exited the apothecary. She felt guilty for snapping at him like that. She knew he was only looking out for her and appreciated the thought, but it also felt suffocating. She was an adult. She could do this.

***

Sage hurried back home, eager to see if the packages had arrived. She searched near the main entrance and in her room but found nothing. Disappointed and still somewhat frustrated, she made her way down the hallway when she heard a voice calling her name.

"Sage!" Asher shouted from the end of the hall. "I've been looking for you."

She stopped in her tracks, surprised that he was looking for her and curious why. He motioned for her to follow him to a room she hadn't seen before. She had yet to take the time to explore the house.

Asher gestured toward the shelves. "I bought you some supplies and set up a space for you to work. I know I sleep better if I don't have to sleep where I work."

Sage's eyes widened in amazement as she saw all the items neatly organized. Her blue jars were stacked on a row of shelves against the wall with plenty of space for more. Books sat on partially filled shelves, and a desk sat in front of a floor-to-ceiling stained glass window. A large table sat in the middle of the room with various tools on top.

"This is amazing!" Sage walked around the room.

"I'm sorry it took so long for me to get it set up; I ran into some complications."

"What kind of complications?" Sage asked curiously.

"It doesn't matter now," he said, smiling at her enthusiasm. "I can see how important your work is to you, and I want to ensure you have everything you need." He paused. "You know, I'm always around if you need anything else or just want someone to talk to."

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