Page 14 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

“Oh, I’m sorry, are the rest of us not keeping you adequately entertained? Are we failing you?”

This was said with so much attitude he knew she wasn’t serious.

“Completely,” he therefore said. “I think I may need to look around for new and better friends.”

She clasped her hands to her chest and flopped dramatically back onto the blanket.

“You have slain me with your cruel words.”

Perian laughed again, and after a moment, Renny tilted her head and said, “Kee says it could use some work. I’ll keep trying.”

She sat up again.

“It’s good to have life goals,” Perian agreed with a nod.

She pointed at him. “Listen to your own advice. Your entire life doesn’t revolve around him, does it?”

“It… shouldn’t,” Perian conceded.

“Wow,” she said, making a face at him. “You’ve got it bad.”

It was Perian’s turn to groan and collapse back onto the blanket. With a laugh, she flopped down next to him.

“I know,” he told her. “I’ve never felt this way before, and I’m clearly still figuring out how to keep functioning like a normal person at the same time. I mean, I think it’s normal to have everything feel big and overwhelming at the beginning.”

“That’s how it feels right now?” she asked, sounding more sympathetic.

He nodded. “I like him so much. And I like you and Kee and Molun and Arvus and Nisal and Delana and… most of the people here, really.”

In a sing-song voice, Renny pronounced, “One whole week without Cormal.”

Perian couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, there is that. I’m pretty sure Brannal took him for that reason.”

Renny nodded matter-of-factly. “They usually take turns. But I would have sent him if Brannal thought about leaving him behind.” She glowered. “Fireball to the face deserves amoatto the face.”

True to her word, Renny had not tried to have Cormal thrown into the dungeon, but it was equally obvious she had notforgottenwhat he’d done, and she was definitely not impressed with Secundus and how he treated Perian.

He blew out a breath. “I guess I’ve never been in the castle without Brannal. I know you and a bunch of my friends are here, and you aren’t all about to ignore me for the next week, but I just feel a little… unmoored. I know that’s silly.”

She patted his arm. “It’s not silly. He rescued you and brought you here and took care of you, and now he’s not here. It’s hard for me to remember what my life was like before Kee got stuck with me. I don’t know how to help him, and I don’t know anymore what life would be like without him.”

She sniffed, and then huffed a laugh.

“Thank you,” she said, clearly not to Perian, then filled in, “Kee says I’m an idiot and of course, I wouldn’t bewithout himeven if everyone else could see and hear and touch him.”

“And you’d have me. Even if I’m pining a bit because Brannal isn’t here.”

Renny clucked her tongue. “Really, it’s embarrassing. What are you doing?”

He snorted. “I know. I have no shame. When I miss someone, everyone knows about it.”

“And when you don’t miss someone, does everyone know about that, too?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

“I’m just going to enjoy the peace and not needing to worry at all.”

She shook her head. “We should have a party.”

“We are definitely not going to have a party,” Perian said firmly, because he could practically see the idea gaining traction in her mind.

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