Page 136 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“Is same, how I’m liking to hear about your cooking? Nikolai asked with a playful smile.

Elliot’s cheeks heated.Maker’s marks, they are like salt. Very important.“I-I guess so.”

Nikolai chuckled and then gently hand nudged Elliot forward so that they started walking again.

Despite the cool breeze, Elliot was warm all the way through.

They got down to the end of the street like that, then stopped at a stall serving coffee. After procuring steaming hot cups, they started back up the other side of the street.

Which was when they ran into a stall selling handmade stuffed animals.

Elliot froze like a deer in headlights when he saw it, struck by the sudden terror that Nikolai would make a comment, pointed or even cruel.

But he was silent at Elliot’s side. When Elliot glanced warily over, Nikolai was observing the stall with curiosity on his face, not disgust.

Elliot couldn’t help it—he turned back to look at the table. He couldn’t seem to stop himself. His eyes went to it, magnetized.

The stuffed animals displayed were clearly handmade, but in the way that something of incredible quality might be handmade. Each toy was impeccably well-crafted, and they had an expensive look about them. Were these really made for children?

Or were they…?

Were they made foradults?Was that a thing? Stuffed animals made with adults in mind?

Elliot realized that he’d stopped walking. Nikolai remained still and silent beside him. Was he upset? Annoyed that Elliot was looking? Embarrassed?

Elliot turned his head cautiously, and found that Nikolai was looking at him,his face clear of derision or annoyance. He just seemed… curious. His brows ticked up as if to say,do you want to go look?

Elliot didn’t. Of course he didn’t.

Yes he did.

Elliot’s head swiveled back to look at the table, telling himself he’d take one last look before he kept walking.

But then his eyes landed on one of the stuffed animals in particular.

It caught his eye because it wasenormous.A polar bear so large it wasn’t even sitting on the table, but on a mat beside the table. It had to be at least five feet tall, with big, thick paws anda lifelike snout. Even on the ground the polar bear managed to tower over other stuffed animals.

It was ridiculous.

It wasamazing.

Elliot’s hands curled in at his side. The polar bear’s fur looked so soft, and the stitching on its face was sweet without being juvenile. It had a bow tied around its neck, baby blue, which matched the face stitching and the coloring on the bottom of its paws.

Before he realized it, Elliot had started inching toward the table. Nikolai followed right beside him, hand still on the small of his back. Elliot almost shivered.

It was like being in a different universe, standing there with Nikolai. He kept wanting to flinch, expecting the snide comment at any moment.

Childish.

Why do you want baby toys?

But—but Nikolai wouldn’t. Nikolai had accepted Apricot. He’dboughtElliot Sheep and Max.

Nikolai wouldn’t judge him just for wanting to look. Nikolai wasn’t cruel.

There was another woman, probably in her mid-twenties, who was fawning over the foxes on the other side of the stall. As Elliot edged up to the table, he couldn’t help peeking a look at her. She didn’t seem at all conflicted about her love for the stuffed animals. She was gushing to the owner of the booth, the maker of the toys, about how darling the foxes were. The woman had two in her arms, a red fox and an arctic fox, and was trying to decide between them.

Elliot couldn’t get over how shameless she was. As if being an adult picking out a stuffed toy wasn’t anything to feel bad about. He felt in awe of her.

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