Page 53 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

She helpedhim get his shirt on, although really, he only got twinges when he tried to use his left hand, but she was insistent.

“You only have twinges because you’re giving it the rest it needs. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

He subsided, got helped into his vest and coat as well, thanked her for her time, and headed for the training yard. He had some investigating to do.

He hadn’t been sitting at the sidelines for very long before Bennan jogged over. “I was starting to think we scared you off last night.”

“What, with being friendly and welcoming at dinner?” he asked with a laugh.

Bennan flashed a smile. “Very loud and boisterous?”

“Maybe I like a bit of loud and boisterous,” Perian said.

Someone walking past them made a sound of choking laughter, and they both laughed as they realized how that had sounded.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Bennan said with a wink.

There was nothing like flirting with someone who happily flirted back. They spent a couple minutes chatting, Perian updating him on the positive prognosis for his wound, and then Bennan headed back to work.

“Before I get yelled at for flirting again!” he called loud enough that Onadal clearly heard him and rolled his eyes.

“You clearly have some extra energy this morning,” the captain of the Warriors said dryly. “I’m sure you want to lead everyone around the track three times.”

“It certainly puts them in a good position to enjoy themselves,” Bennan said with a wink.

The Warriors fell into line and started their jog. Perian couldn’t fail to notice the redhead had found a spot right near the head of the pack where he was going to have ample opportunity to enjoy that view.

They were out of sight most of the time they were jogging, but each time they came back into view, Perian saw that the redhead had maintained his position. After the final lap, Bennan took the opportunity afforded by being sweaty after the race to divest his upper half of clothes once more and pat himself with a towel.

It was such a nice display that Perian got distracted for a minute before he remembered to glance around. The redhead had positioned himself where he could look without appearing too much like he was looking.

They definitely,definitelywanted one another. Perian felt like he could sense the attraction from here.

Accordingly, when it was time for him to leave, he asked Onadal if he could borrow Bennan for a few minutes.

“To help me carry picnic provisions. Because I’m injured.”

Onadal looked like Perian had not sold that very well, but he yelled for Bennan anyway.

“You’ve been conscripted,” he said, thumbing a finger in Perian’s direction and then heading off to his novices.

Bennan grinned at Perian. “Oh, am I being put to work?”

“You’re going to help me carry stuff because I needed an excuse to talk to you.”

“You donotneed an excuse to talk to me,” Bennan assured him.

Perian smiled. “I want to know what’s going on between you and the cute redhead man who keeps staring at you.”

Bennan didn’t even try to pretend he didn’t know who Perian was talking about. His shoulders slumped a little.

“Absolutely nothing is happening between us. I don’t think Chamis is really interested.”

Chamis! Now Perian had a name.

He scoffed. “He isdefinitelyinterested. He could not be more interested if he shouted it from the middle of the training yard.”

But Bennan was shaking his head. “No, look, I know it sometimes seems like he’s interested. I picked up on that, too; I’m not blind. He seems to like the way I look. But when I flirt specifically with him, it doesnotwork. He just shuts down or doesn’t notice orleaves. I don’t want that.”

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