Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Oh, just a cart boy at the market who has a big fat crush on Eira,” Grandmother revealed with a wink at her granddaughter.
Ryu picked up an apple out of the wire basket that sat in the middle of the kitchen table and inspected it before shining a dirty spot out on his shirt. “Oh, really?”
“No, he does not!” Eira snapped back at her grandmother, feeling her cheeks get hot out of embarrassment, or the continued heat that radiated from Ryu’s direction.
“Hush.” Grandmother waved her off. “He does, too, and you know it.”
Okay, fine, she did know it, but for some reason, she didn’t want Ryu knowing it. She just wanted the fire that was rising inside of him to be smothered.
This time, her voice was a bit smaller as she helplessly lied, “Does not.”
Ryu took a vicious bite out of the apple. His tone felt poisonous when he said, “I guess I’ll be the judge of that.”
“All right, great. Time to leave,” she muttered under her breath before running out this time. She kept running, right out of her home and down the path, toward the market, needing to desperately get away from Ryu’s warmth that was starting to make her sweat.
“Slow down, darling,” Ryu said, catching up. “I didn’t think you’d be in a rush to get back home.”
Dammit. Eira slowed, knowing he was right. Taking a few calming breaths, she focused on the cool breeze blowing on her skin.
“Are you okay?” he asked in concern.
“Yes, I just got too hot.” Still feeling suffocated, she rolled her long sleeves up to her elbows in an attempt to cool down.
Ryu didn’t miss the burn scars that trailed all the way up on her left arm until they disappeared under her sleeve. Swallowing hard, his jaw flexed, now understanding. “You don’t like to get hot because of the burns.”
There was no point in confirming his assumption, because they both knew the answer.
“We can go back—”
“No,” Eira stopped him, pleading to continue on their journey. “I can’t go back to my room anytime soon.”
“So, you did have another dream,” Ryu confirmed his thoughts from yesterday. However, instead of making her turn back, he continued walking and went back to eating his apple, giving her some relief.
Having the subject changed helped to cool her almost instantly.
“I … did,” she admitted, unable to lie to him.
The silence that came over Ryu when he tossed his core to the ground frightened Eira a bit as they continued side by side. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, as she could see he was deep in thought.
Feeling like she should have lied, she made a silent promise to herself just to lie to him next time he asked. Making Ryu unhappy killed a part of her.
She desperately tried to figure out what to say to stop his mind from going a mile a minute, but she only had one thing to say when the market finally came into view.
“Any chance you’ll stay here and just let me get the root?” she hoped while pulling out a tissue from her pocket to blow her nose.
Ryu simply shook his head. “Not a chance in hell, darling.”
Dang it. That was exactly what she was afraid of as he took off.
Trying to be the one to catch up to him now, as his strides were about two times as long as they were before, she thought, Maybe I can just pretend he’s not here today. Ryu doesn’t know what he looks lik—
“Hi, Eira!”
Uh-oh.
10
Betrothed to You
She cleared her throat nervously as she walked up to the cart. “Hello, Kenji … Grandmother says hi.”
The sweetest smile crossed his lips. “Tell her I said hello back, of course.”
“I will.” She sniffled, thinking it might not be so bad after all as Ryu just stood there, watching the harmless exchange.
“Oh no, Eira. Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m fine.”
Holding out the small root for her to take, he continued, “Well, you don’t sound too well. After work, I could bring you some of my spicy soup. It really helps clear out the sinu—”
“She’s good,” Ryu assured him, snatching the root from his clammy little hand before Eira could take it. “This is it?” Ryu asked, holding up the pathetic root before throwing it down on the cart. “I think it might be more beneficial if you gave Eira several big roots at a time.”
A stunned Kenji took several moments to gather himself. “S-sure.”
Eira, who was in just as much shock, watched as Kenji fumbled to wrap a few newer and larger roots together while he attempted to make small talk with Ryu.
“I’m sorry. I don’t think we met. Who—”
“Ryu,” was the only information he offered to give, and Kenji took the hint.
“H-how’s this?”
“Well, it’s a start,” he said, satisfied enough before placing some money down on the cart. Then he dropped the bundle into Eira’s tote.