Page 44 of A Winter Crush
She looked straight at Wareth, pulling herself up. “Ori was very upset last night.”
Wareth nodded. “I…” He swallowed. “Ori didn’t deserve that.”
She didn’t blink as she stared at him. “I will be watching you.” With a final glare, she turned to Ori. “My offer to send him away is always open,” she said in the nymph tongue. Then she guided Aunty Lela towards the cave.
“What did the human do?” Aunty Lela whispered. “Didhehurt our Ori?” She looked back at Wareth, eyes narrowing.
Bracing himself, Ori met Wareth’s gaze. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see you and talk to you.”
“Well, here we are talking.” He folded his arms across his chest. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted to say that…that I…” Wareth rubbed the back of his neck.
Usually, Ori was more patient when Wareth struggled to find his words, but he was tired, and he didn’t want to do this. He looked back at the cave, wondering if he should have taken Aunty Yelan up on her offer.
“I… I just needed you to know… I’m sorry,” Wareth blurted. “I’m so sorry, Ori.”
Ori stared down at the snow-covered ground. “You hurt me,” Ori whispered.
“I know.” Wareth stepped towards him. “And I know you’re still angry at me. You have every right to be.”
“I needed you and you hurt me,” Ori said.
“I know,” Wareth said. “I’m sorry.
“And I wish I could take back everything I said last night. I wish instead I’d just held you and told you I was there for you.”
Ori wished Wareth had done that too. But he hadn’t. Instead, he’d lashed out, and Ori couldn’t just let that go. Even if he wanted to.
“It wrecks me that I didn’t look after you when you needed me,” Wareth said. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about how you weren’t there and—” He huffed. “—I kept thinking you’d left me like Rin did.”
Ori was tired of hearing about Rin. “I’m not Rin! And I don’t know what I can do to prove that to you.”
“I know. I know you aren’t him.” Wareth’s voice was strained. “I know. It’s just… I don’t have any excuses. I shouldn’t have behaved as I did.” He stepped towards Ori, raising his hand and reaching out to him. But then he froze and dropped his hand.
“You needed me, and I wasn’t there for you. I’m sorry. And I’ll never not regret it. You’re so good, Ori. Too good for me. You’re kind and sweet, and so full of life. I don’t know what you ever saw in me.
“But I was so lucky to have you. You deserve better. So much better. I just wanted you to know how truly sorry I am. I ruined everything. I want only the best for you. And I hope your brother is recovered.”
“He is.”
“I’m glad,” Wareth said.
For several moments, neither spoke. Despite everything that had happened, Ori still felt the urge to go to Wareth, accept his apology, and let himself be embraced. He was hurting, and even though Wareth had been the cause, he still yearned to be comforted by him.
“And…and even if you don’t want anything more to do with me, I wanted you to have this.” Wareth took off his rucksack and pulled out a small package wrapped in paper. A red ribbon was tied in a bow around it. “It’s for you. It’s a Solstice gift.”
Ori took the gift, turning the brown paper over in his hand.
“Open it,” Wareth said.
Apprehensive, Ori undid the bow and unwrapped the paper, revealing a wonky, uneven bowl. Ori frowned.
“It’s from the first day you were on the wheel,” Wareth said.
“But I thought you threw it in the bucket.”
