Page 10 of A Winter Admire

“I’m well.” Sariah smiled.

“Me too,” Wareth mumbled. Wareth was handsome, in a big, rugged, intimidating, older-man kind of way. A very different appeal than Sinoe, who had an almost ethereal quality to him. Edwin still couldn’t believe that someone like Sinoe would want to spend time with him. And Edwin still couldn’t believe he’d turned Sinoe down.

“Sorry, what was that?” Edwin asked. He’d been so lost in thought that he hadn’t realised Sariah was speaking.

“Mila mentioned that you received a letter from your family. How are they?”

“Oh. They’re well. My sister has an apprenticeship. She is training to be a milliner.”

“What’s a milliner?” Wareth asked.

“Um… It’s…”

“They make hats,” Sariah said, coming to his rescue. “That’s right, isn’t it, Edwin?”

“Hats,” Edwin repeated. As if he knew. But hats had something to do with clothing and fashion, so it sounded right. “I think so?”

“I hope you don’t miss them too much. It can be hard when people leave.” Sariah glanced at Wareth, who stared into the distance, jaw tight. Edwin remembered something about Wareth’s partner leaving for Bordertown. It had happened years ago when Edwin was young.

He wondered if Wareth was lonely in Ores too. It could be difficult in the mountains, especially when people kept leaving.

“Yes… Well… I’m fine really,” Edwin said. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I should get going.”

“Of course. Take care, Edwin,” Sariah said.

“You too,” Edwin said.

“Bye, Edwin,” Wareth said as the two walked off.

Edwin hurried through the village, trying not to let the discussion of his family bring him down. He’d seen the most beautiful oread twice now. And twice he had chosen to speak to Edwin. Perhaps he had even invited Edwin to walk with him. He’d go into the forest again tomorrow. Hopefully, he’d see Sinoe again. Edwin smiled.

“Why are you smiling so stupidly? Don’t you know how ridiculous you look!”

Edwin’s smile dropped.

Blizzard’s tits! And he was so close to his cabin.

He turned to see Torin and Ulir, leaning against a wooden fence, watching him. He should have been on the lookout. Then he could have walked a different way and avoided them. But he’d been distracted and too lost in his thoughts.

Edwin turned away and continued, determined not to engage.

“Aren’t you going to compliment Torin on the Solstice gift I gave him?” Ulir said as they fell into step on either side of him. Despite telling himself not to, Edwin couldn’t help but glance at Torin’s chest and notice the Solstice gift.

Edwin sped up.

“Don’t you think it suits me, Edwin?” Torin asked and chuckled.

Why can’t they just leave me alone?

“Didn’t you try to give him something similar, Edwin?” Ulir shook his head. “But that couldn’t possibly be right. How could someone as plain, and pathetic, as you ever think anyone could care for you?”

Edwin was almost running now. Mercifully they stopped pursuing him, but their laughter hounded him to his cabin. As if Torin’s rejection all those years ago hadn’t hurt enough, now they had to constantly remind him of it.

He yanked the door to his cabin open, stumbled inside, and slammed it shut. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the door, trying to get his breathing under control.

But maybe he did need the reminder.

Hadn’t he just been thinking about how there might have been some hope for him and Sinoe? He dropped his head against the wooden door with a thunk. He hadn’t learned his lesson. Edwin still thought that he—pitiful, worthless, Edwin—could find love with someone so beyond him.