Page 154 of False Comeback

“It looks like a weapon,” Crossbody said, cocking his head.

Ianthe nodded. “That would hurt if you hit someone around the head with it.”

“That is actually a thing,” I told them both, “in the human world. Pretty sure I once saw Freddie using one to—Anyway, that doesn’t matter. I don’t have this as a weapon. I, uh… I actually… took some coins from your room.” I gave Crossbody a wincing look. “I saw them in this big gold pot and grabbed a handful just in case we needed to bribe any guards or whatever to get out. I’m not a thief,” I added vehemently, squaring my shoulders. “Never stolen a fucking thing in my life. Uh, before this, I mean. Well, except that time my laces broke right before a bout and that goblin fuckhead prick Sal from the Redcap Rollers left his skates unattended while he went to the bathroom, and he’s such a smug asshole anyway so I—”

“Vince.” Crossbody gave me a hesitant smile. “It’s fine. If they were in my room, they were technically mine anyway, so…”

“Yeah, of course.” I immediately held the sock out. “I just didn’t want you to think I was—”

“I don’t.” He ducked his head to kiss my cheek, his mouth lingering there for a second before he stepped back and reached into my greying sweat sock to pull out some coins. “Thank you. I’ll go get us the galettes.”

I could sense Ianthe watching me as he swept his hand down my arm, briefly squeezed my fingers, then walked off toward the little bakery. When I glanced over and caught her gaze, her mouth quirked into a smile.

“Well.” She chuckled, her dark brows lifting. “He really meant it then.”

“Meant what?”

She hesitated, watching me carefully and pursing her lips, before gesturing at a low stone wall at the edge of the path. “Just something he said to me. Let’s sit.”

I watched her make her way over, then reluctantly followed and perched on the bumpy wall beside her. Behind it was a meadow with tall grass and long stems of softly coloured flowers swaying in the gentle breeze. The smell of fresh bread and something herbal and savoury, almost like rosemary and garlic, was wafting through the air from the bakery Crossbody had gone into.

But I was suddenly too jittery to enjoy any of it.

“What did he say to you?” My voice was rough with nerves, and I blushed when Ianthe glanced over with a sternly raised brow.

“Trying to pry secrets from me, Vince the ghoul?” She nudged my arm with her elbow jovially. “You know, it’s foolish to make deals with the fae.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe back in the old days. But the ones who live in the human world just go into finance, mostly.”

“I’m not a fae from the human world.” She grinned at me. “And neither is Elvis.”

I chuckled, suddenly a little wary. “Uh, yeah. That’s true.”

“You are sweet together.”

I couldn’t contain my snort of amusement. All of our co-workers would have keeled over from laughing so fucking hard if they’d heard anyone refer to Crossbody and me as “sweet together.”

“Why is that funny?” Ianthe’s brow creased with confusion as she watched me.

I shook my head, sobering up. “No, it’s just that—Sorry. It’s just… We kind of hated each other before, uh, this. I mean…” I shifted uncomfortably, scraping my calloused palms over the rough surface of the stone wall. “I was an asshole to him for years.”

“Ah.” To my surprise, she chuckled. “Yes. That tried and true method.”

I glanced over warily. “What do you mean?”

She nudged me again. “Boys have been acting that way to the ones they are sweet on for centuries, Vince.”

This time, my snort of amusement was full of derision. “Well, I’m not a little boy. And no, I didn’t act that way toward Cro—Elvis just because I actually secretly…”

I trailed off, heat creeping into my cheeks as I thought about it. Really thought about it.

I mean, I’d always found him… objectively attractive. But of course I had—he was objectively attractive. He was objectively hot as absolute fuck. He was objectively gorgeous, with an objectively perfect ass and beautiful face and long, objectively sexy legs—

“Thought so.” Ianthe cackled and nudged my knee with hers. “And now you are in love.”

I hunched over a little, rubbing my face. “I mean, we’re… uh…”

“Oh, you can’t try and downplay it.” She nudged me again, this time knocking her shoulder into mine. “I just heard him thank you. Twice.”