Page 47 of Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards
He swallowed hard.
“You know what?” Nia suddenly said, rubbing her chest. “The wine I had isn’t sitting right. Maybe I shouldn’t risk it. Loch, can you sit this one out with me?”
Lochlan blinked at her, relief sweeping through him like a tidal wave. “Of—of course. No problem at all.”
“We’ll see you when we get off!” Ivy brimmed with excitement as she tugged Becket toward the waiting cart.
Becket glanced over his shoulder, his grin turning wicked. “You’re missing out, Lochlan,” he teased, but his expression softened when his gaze flicked to Ivy.
As Ivy and Becket climbed into the swaying cart, Lochlan exhaled and turned to Nia. She was already smirking.
“Thank you,” he said as they walked toward the exit, stopping near the metal gate.
“I should be thanking you,” she replied, bumping her shoulder playfully into his arm.
“For what?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, her voice light and teasing. “I’m pretty sure you’re the reason Becket just happened to show up at the restaurant. You kept me from stabbing anyone with a fork, paid for dinner, and—oh, let’s not forget—got rid of Daniel.”
Lochlan’s mouth opened to respond, but no words came. His face grew uncomfortably warm as he managed a small, bashful smile.
Nia bumped him again, her laughter as light as the breeze that ruffled her hair. Together, they watched the Chaos Cyclone spin wildly, its colorful blur whipping against the night sky. The sight should have made his stomach churn, but it didn’t. Instead, he felt weightless—like he might float away.
After a few minutes, Ivy and Becket made their way over, Ivy’s hair tousled and both of their faces lit with wide smiles. Becket leaned in to say something to Ivy, making her laugh, bright and unrestrained. But it wasn’t Ivy’s reaction that caught Lochlan’s attention—it was the way Becket looked at her.
His friend was looking at Ivy the same way he probably looked at Nia.
The thought unsettled Lochlan. Becket had always been like a wildflower—impossible to pin down, thriving only where the soil was loose and the roots could run shallow. He wasn’t the kind of person to take root and grow alongside someone else. And yet, he watched Ivy like she was sunlight—something vital he was leaning toward without realizing it.
“That was amazing!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around Nia. “Where to next?”
“I’m starved,” Nia declared dramatically, clutching her stomach.
Ivy tilted her head, eyebrows knitting together. “I thought your stomach was bothering you?”
Lochlan watched as Nia feigned a pout, her expression so exaggerated it wasn’t even close to convincing. Ivy laughed, nudging her with an elbow. “If you were scared, you could’ve just said so.”
Nia scoffed, rolling her eyes. “If I don’t get an apple cider donut in my hand soon, something bad might happen.”
“We wouldn’t want that.” Lochlan’s gaze scanned the booths. “The donut cart’s five stalls away.”
When he looked back, Nia was watching him, her expression unreadable. Not quite surprise—something closer to wonder.
Their eyes met. He held her stare, waiting, until she glanced away biting her lip.
Ivy grabbed Becket’s sleeve and tugged him away. “Come on, let’s give them a moment before they combust.”
“Can you not do that?” Nia huffed.
Lochlan raised an eyebrow. “Do what?”
She gestured vaguely at him. “Make it hard for me to stick to my plan. It’s like you’re doing it on purpose, but I know you aren’t.”
“I’m not,” he admitted, frowning thoughtfully. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“That makes it even worse.” Nia sighed and pulled her hair up, fingers combing through it in frustration.
Lochlan reached into his pocket and handed her a hair tie.
