Page 112 of The Garnet Daughter
I purposefully concentrate on pressing the correct buttons to prepare Ferren’s favorite on the machine. “Do I?”
He crosses his arms and presses himself a little closer to me. “I knowIam.”
“That’s to be expected with all that is going on.” I make wide eyes at him, trying to send him a hint to sense the air in the room.
The machine beeps, and he quickly reaches in and takes the steaming mug out for me. My fingertips brush against his as I grab it from him.
“Careful,” he whispers, and I forget for a moment we aren’t alone.
“Thank you.” I stare up into his pretty green irises, the lines around them a little more pronounced than usual, evidence that he has been smiling more.
“The reason for my distraction is I’ve been thinking about our flying lesson, what we need to focus on next time.” His eyes flick down to my lips, lingering there for too long.
“Flying lesson?” Ferren’s voice is so close it startles me.
She reaches out for the hot tea in my hands, probably confused why it is taking so long when I offered to make it for her. She already looks more grounded, the worry in her eyes faded.
“Oh, sorry.” I smile and take an intentional step back from August. But I don’t answer her question. I’m too embarrassed that she might have seen how intensely we were looking at each other or somehow figured out what he meant.
She wouldn’t care, likely congratulate us even. ButIcare and I am not ready to let anyone else know while I am still getting used to being with August myself.
“You’re teaching Calliape to fly?” she asks him.
“She’s a natural, twice now, but I’d love to do more.” August smiles devilishly.
“Twice!” Ferren seems so excited for me, having no idea the double meaning.
We should be concentrating on bigger matters, like prepping for the conjunction, but August is having too much fun.
“Landing protocols and a brief takeoff,” he says.
“Very brief!” I say with too much excitement, seeing an opportunity to tease him back. “So brief it was surprising.”
He throws his head back in a barking laugh instead of shutting his little game down, my words somehow encouraging him because . . . of course they do.
“Well, I demonstrated a perfect landing the second time,” he tells Ferren, but she looks utterly confused.
“That’s wonderful.” She smiles at me. “I’m going to go through some of the other texts while 99 and August meet with Lord General.”
“Oh, alright. Will you send them to August’s data pad if you find anything?”
She nods.
“I should probably find Selene.” I tuck a curl behind my ear nervously. “So she knows I’m alive.”
“She’s in the Estate, normally one of the training courtyards. I will ask 99 to inquire with the commanders posted there.”
“Thank you.”
She touches my shoulder before leaving the mess hall, her expression gentle, like she knows how my interaction with Selene might go.
I begin to make my own cup of tea, needing to calm myself now just as Ferren needed it.
“Do you want me to go with you to speak with Selene?” August asks behind me.
“That won’t be necessary.” I spin to face him.
“You look angry,” he says.
