Page 5 of A Winter Crush
“He’ll be there,” Sariah said firmly.
“Good,” Ori said.
Wareth finally looked up and almost lost his breath at the sight of Ori smiling brightly at him. He held one of Wareth’s plates pressed against his lean chest. “I look forward to seeing you there.” Ori’s voice sounded slightly breathless. Wareth wondered if that was what Ori sounded like when he’d just woken.
Needing to break away from Ori’s gaze, Wareth turned back to the mug. It was finished. At least, at this stage. He grabbed the metal wire, attached to a button, and pulled it along the wheel, separating the clay from the wood.
“Oh. I didn’t bring anything to trade for the plate!” Ori said.
“Don’t worry about it!” Sariah’s voice was bright. “It’s a gift to you. A Solstice gift.”
“Really? Thanks! That’s so kind. You know what, I can bring something tomorrow. Do you like dried ellfish?”
“I’d say you don’t have to, but that sounds wonderful! I haven’t had ellfish since the spring.”
“I’ll come back tomorrow, then. And I’ll bring the fish.”
“Wonderful! We’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Sariah said.
Ori walked towards the door. He paused in the doorway as if waiting for Wareth to acknowledge him. Finally, he gave up and turned away. Wareth watched Ori’s bare feet disappear from the corner of his eye out into the snow beyond.
Finished with the mug, he put it on a board and grabbed another ball of clay, slamming it onto the wheel.
“That poor boy,” Sariah whispered.
Wareth didn’t rise to the bait.
She sighed.
He would not respond.
“That poor, sweet boy,” she said and sighed again. She touched his shoulder.
“Why?” Wareth looked at her. “Why is he a poor, sweet boy?” he snapped.
She smirked at having gotten him to answer. “Well, he obviously has a crush on you. He’s probably all heartbroken.” She looked out the door, towards the forest where Ori had gone. “He probably had to work up the nerve to approach you, big, gruff ogre that you are. And you just grunted and ignored him. You were barely even aware of his presence.”
Wareth had definitely been aware of Ori’s presence, but he didn’t voice that.
“I don’t know why he would have a crush on you,” Sariah said. “You’re the grumpiest person I know.”
A crush? “I don’t know either.” Why would Ori have a crush on him? It made no sense. He put the mug on the board and let the wheel come to a gradual stop. He stood and took the wooden board holding several mugs towards one of the shelves.
“Maybe it would be good for you to spend some time with him,” Sariah said, following him.
“He’s too young. I’m forty-three. He’d be what, half my age?” And Sariah was right: he was sweet. Too sweet for a bitter man like Wareth.
“Well, I’m not saying you have to marry him. But sex, at least. I’m sure his youth will be handy for that.”
“I’m not interested in that sort of thing.” Maybe he would have been, once upon a time. But now he just wanted quiet, peace, and to be left alone. And for this conversation to end.
“I worry about you,” she said with that gentle tone she used when she was concerned. “Ever since Rin left, you’ve been all alone. And that was a long time ago.”
Now he really wanted this conversation to end. He hated talking about Rin. Both born in Ores, Rin and Wareth had been inseparable as children. It had seemed like fate when they’d fallen in love as teens. Together, they’d been taught pottery by Rin’s grandfather.
Wareth had assumed they would spend their lives together and would run the studio one day. Then they would grow old together in their little village in the mountains. But then, almost twelve years ago, all that had changed.
“Laurel said in her letter that she’s found me a job in Bordertown,” Rin had said one night as they’d sat by the wood stove in this very same room. “I’m going to take it.”
