Page 250 of Phoenix's Fire

"You throw it farther," she said.

"Okay," I said before heaving it as far as I could.

Then Ayla reached up to touch my arm. "See? I can only get it half that."

I looked over at her and smiled, realizing this was okay. She was figuring things out, but I hadn't messed it up. And when her eyes found mine again, I thought I might even have a chance. Me, the boring brown guy. For the first time in my life, I didn't feel like that was something to regret.

Seventy-Eight

Ayla

Kanik liked me. Helikedme! I was struggling not to look like a stupid girl as I stood between him and Zasen as we waited for the town meeting to start. Holly sat patiently between me and Kanik, giving me the tiny bit of distance I needed to keep from giggling like a fool.

But Zasen kept looking over, proving I wasn't doing as well with hiding my excitement as I'd hoped. Trying to play it off, I reached down to pet Holly, then looked around.

"Will Meri be here?" I asked.

Which made Zasen relax. "Jeera, Brielle, and Lessa know where we'll be."

"And me," Drozel said, pushing in to take the spot behind me. "Nice dog, Ayla. She's less terrifying when she's not pulling people off their feet."

"Thanks!" I beamed, pretty sure that was a compliment.

"And your friend's a nice girl," he told me. "She's been helping Lessa with her sewing. Pretty sure she's getting paid for it too."

I huffed. "She got a job before I did?"

"You have a job," Zasen said. "Militia."

Which was when another body pushed between the people in front of us. "Pardon me. Trying to make it back there. Excuse me, please." And Omden wove his way back to stand beside Drozel. "Hey, babe."

Without shame, Drozel leaned over to kiss his boyfriend, making me glance away. No one else seemed to care, though. I was still trying to figure out all the rules for relationships up here. I'd always been taught it was shameful to giggle about it, and that it was scandalous to touch like that in public. Such things were for the marriage bed only.

That was why I was trying so hard not to seem excited, but Drozel madeit clear the rules I knew weren't the right ones. That made me stop trying to hide my smile so much.

Rymar had already headed up to the stage. From all directions, people were making their way over, so when a tiny little hand tugged on mine, I wasn't surprised at all to find Tamin on the other end. When I looked down, he pulled again.

"Mama says you have to stand with her," he explained.

"Well, okay then," Zasen said, shifting places with me so I could move closer to my sister.

"Hold this," Saveah said, passing Taris to me. In doing so, she leaned in. "So how was the alcohol?"

I glanced back, checking the people around us, then moved even closer so I could whisper, "I kissed Rymar, and Kanik likes me."

"And Zasen?" she asked.

"Hm?" Zasen replied, clearly having heard his name.

Saveah waved him away. "Get your nose out of my gossip. Girl things over here!"

Which made Zasen turn his back to us and strike up a conversation with Kanik, Drozel, and Omden. Kanik still had Holly, and I was now holding the baby, so I decided this was okay. But Saveah? She tugged me even further away, putting a small gap between us and the guys.

"And Zasen?" she asked again.

"He kissed me a while back." I was sure I'd told her that before, but didn't want to make her feel bad if she'd forgotten. "That was when I realized it's okay, and Rymar let me practice. Then I said the wrong thing, and when he was explaining that, the guys overheard, and so Kanik told me he likes me too."

"I see," she said, smiling at me like I'd done something special or funny. "So what do you think about that?"