Page 229 of A Taste of Vanilla

Oliver narrows his eyes at me. “You caused this. Take responsibility.”

I can’t stop staring at how beautiful he really is.

Warren’s smile fades, but not in the bad way. It merely softens. Quiets.

My heart trips over itself.

I drop my gaze. “Roll initiative.”

The battle is chaos. Wonderful, beautiful chaos.

Marley attempts to steal the sacred spoon back from the monk who stole it from her after she stole it first. Lisa’s paladin refuses to kill anyone in a religious kitchen, so she starts using nonlethal smites and moral disappointment instead. Dev casts a charm spell and accidentally makes one monk fall in love with Oliver’s tavern keeper, who isn’t even present in the scene. Warren’s fighter doesn’t attack first. Instead, he protects the flour stores.

By the end of the night, the party has saved the flour stores, uncovered a monastery plot, accidentally started a rumor that Olin is romantically involved with a monk, and adopted a mule.

Oliver insists that he’s never going to host again, while Marley is already online ordering her own dice.

Lisa collects character sheets carefully and places them in my binder.

I fold the map slowly as Warren comes to stand next to me.

“May I?” he asks.

I look at him as he gestures to the map.

“Yeah,” I reply as my heart flutters.

He takes one side and helps me fold along the creases.

“You liked it?” I ask.

His blue eyes meet mine. “Yeah, I did.”

“It’s silly.” I smile shyly.

“No, it’s not.”

“Warren, you don’t have to say that.”

“I know.”

“It’s just a game.”

“It’s not just a game to you.”

Around us, Marley and Dev are arguing about their characters while Oliver stacks glasses at the bar. Lisa is gathering her things to get home.

Warren lowers his voice. “You built a world and considered every possible thing.”

I blink.

“That’s not silly,” he continues.

“The river is shaped like a spoon,” I whisper.

“Yeah.”

“The lake is cursed.”