Page 25 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
I guess so. Chances are he’s straight. And even if he’s not, I still don’t know if he likes me. But he accepted the invitation, so that’s something, right?
And a further question is … why do I trust this near stranger so quickly?
There’s something about Kalle, though. Even with how otherworldly he is, it feels like I’ve known him for a long time.
We walk back to the hotel so I can grab my skateboard from where I stashed it in the café, and then we head to my place, which is only six blocks away. Kalle’s cloak billows behind him as we walk along the sidewalk. I love the juxtaposition of how he looks like a knight—and is accompanied by an elk and a fox—while we’re walking past a Prius.
“How often do you come to Princedelphia?” I ask. “Apart from now, I mean.”
“Not very,” Kalle says. “I’ve been here a few times before, but mostly I stick to our realm and stay in the castle.”
“I really want to see the castle,” I say. “I’m picturing you living in something out ofSleeping BeautyorCinderella. With a ballroom and a library and thrones.”
“From a fairy tale? Well, it has those things, but it’s just … home. I’ll show you sometime.” He sounds eager.
Is that a real invitation, or is he just being polite? Would I be visiting as a friend, or would he ever take that cloak off so I can see his physique? Because I’m anticipating a muscled body under his clothes, and I’d love to see it. If he wants to show me, that is.
Now I’m overanalyzing everything.
No one seems to be watching us as we walk, although a dog comes up to Kalle, and he stops and talks to it. The dog licks his face, and Kalle laughs. Then he pats its head, and we continue on toward my apartment.
“So, what did the dog tell you?” I ask.
“He said that he’d heard I was looking for my brother, but he didn’t have any news. I shouldn’t be surprised word has gotten out. In fact, that’s what I was counting on,” Kalle says, his tone serious.
“Is it worse to have no information or …” I pause. “I don’t know how to finish that sentence,” I admit. What if Mats is injured?
“If you’re asking whether I think that Mats is in danger, I don’t. If he’d been kidnapped, someone would have contacted us for ransom. They would not be keeping it quiet.”
“But can you rely on that? It seems flimsy.”
Kalle looks up at the darkening sky. “I just feel like he would’ve been found by now.”
“Perhaps.”
“I think it’s more: Mats has had a tough life because of his abilities, and he often wants to get away. If I get annoyed with how much the animals chatter, I can’t imagine how he feels. But part of me wonders if maybe he’s running away because of the wedding.” Kalle sighs. “That seems cowardly, though, and he’s not a coward. So is there something else going on?”
A woman with a child comes toward us, and we step to the side to give them room on the sidewalk. As we do, I brush against Kalle’s shoulder.
I’ve hardly touched him before, but I like the way he feels next to me. And I like the way he smells—like fresh pine needles.
“Sorry,” I say, moving away again once they’ve passed.
Kalle places a hand on my arm. His warm, strong hand is a comforting weight. I wish he’d never remove it, but of course he does. “Do you have any allergies?” I ask as we turn up the walk to my building.
“No. But in the forest, we are almost all vegetarian.”
“That’s interesting. I kind of figured you, at least, wouldn’t want to eat anything you can talk to.”
“Exactly.”
“Fair enough. I can cook pasta and vegetables. Like a pasta primavera. Does that sound good?”
“Sounds great,” he says.
Kalle follows me up the stairs to my second-story studio, and I usher him inside.
“So, this is it,” I say, my voice an octave higher than usual.Get it together. No big deal that my crush can see my bed.I clear my throat. “Kitchen, table and chairs, couch and television, and bed. All in one room. There’s a little bathroom over there.” I point as I shrug out of my flannel.
