Page 7 of A Sanctuary from Shadow
“What?” I tried not to snap.
“I just thought—you know how shy you can be.”
“You thought I was too shy to ask you for a ride home?” I asked, even as my mind rejoindered:Probably would’ve been. “That I needed my uncle to do it for me?”Never would’ve stooped so low.I would’ve taken the train before I did that. And I hated taking the train.
“Well, yeah. You’ve always been so timid.” He shrugged, fittingly sheepish. “I always thought it was sort of cute.”
Were my ears broken? I usually had impeccable hearing.
“Please don’t take offense. I was obviously wrong.”
I digested his apology, relaxing. “Not completely,” I admitted. “I know I’m not the most outgoing person you’ll ever meet.”
Briar’s smile softened his chiseled face.
“Sorry my uncle roped you into his scheme.”
“It’s a shame his scheme failed, though. I was looking forward to a two-hour car ride with you.”
“Why?”
Briar laughed at the question. “You’re fun to talk to, Amy. I mean, whenever you feel comfortable enough to speak.”
Right then wasn’t one of those times.
“Hey, so if you don’t need a ride, then I don’t have a reason to go home either. I know you want to study tomorrow—but are you free on Sunday?”
I stared at him like he was a spider monkey emerging from a vending machine. “I am, but the chapel still doesn’t have a Danann service, Briar.”
Sure, he’d attended circle week after week with his parents when we were children, but he’d never seemed the devout type. That he might’ve sought out another parish for weekends he remained on campus bemused me. “Did you find one in the area? I didn’t think there—”
“No, Amy.” Briar chuckled. “This isn’t about circle. I’m trying to ask you out.”
“What? Are you joking?”
His brow furrowed. “Why would I joke about that?”
“But—what about Laurel?”
Laurel Woodrush was another Danann we’d grown up with. One of the lucky few whose Danann features were blunted to the point of normalcy. She had thick, wheaten hair with a voluptuous figure. And she’d always made damn sure I remembered my flaws, nicknaming me Sasquatch as a child.
“Laurel and I have been broken up for months now,” Briar answered. "We tried long distance. It didn’t work.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I wasn’t but thought I should say something.
“The stars just didn’t align for us.”
Dananns, as a people, were big believers in fate, while I thought my future a sum of my choices—like the romance heroines I'd glorified to my friends. I so wanted to emulate those fearless fictional women, but I couldn’t quite muster the courage to transform my desires into reality.
Lucky for me, I didn’t need to.
Briar’s grin returned. “So—about that date—?”
Minutes later, I returned to my lunch table, triumphant.
My friends’ eyes all shone, mirthful and curious. “What did the walking Harlequin cliché want to talk about?” Olivia asked.
“Not much.” Smug as hell, I smashed a fry into my ketchup. “But I’m glad we’re going shopping tomorrow. I need to find something to wear on a date.”
