20. Zeth #3
“Good to see you two together again,” Ben said, and I believed he meant it. He looped his arm through Rich’s. “We’ll have to catch up later, perhaps at the bonfire?”
“Or around town,” I answered and waved them off, almost sad to see them leave.
I was still getting used to social visits that didn’t have hidden agendas.
No one wanted a business deal or increased social status like they did in the City.
These were just acquaintances chatting and enjoying a river party. I turned to Amby, “That was nice.”
“Mm,” Amby hummed. He was already eating, bent over his bowl. He had been hungry. Finishing his bite, he said, “Rich’s much nicer than he used to be.”
“Yeah, I thought he was going to beat me up when he first walked over.” I pulled my bowl over to start eating. With a mouthful of potato, I mumbled, “Not many fond memories. Most of the kids at school weren’t kind. Just you, Arthur, and a few others because of you.”
“One thing I’ve learned, my love, is that you only need a few friends in life to be happy.”
Trying not to choke on my food, I got out, “Are you quoting Anna?”
His eyes widened. “What?”
“In case you didn’t notice, she’s a walking anthology of wise sayings.”
Amby covered his mouth to stifle a laugh that scrunched his face. Then he pushed me playfully with his arm.
I chuckled and went back to eating until my bowl only had an oily mix of water and butter on the bottom.
I pushed it aside to pick up my cup. I swirled the clear liquid slowly, as the auctioneer taught me, to evaluate how it clung to the sides of the pottery.
Quite well, so it was either high proof or sugary.
Taking a stinging sniff convinced me it was the former.
I shook my head from the fumes and debated drinking. That’s when I remembered Millie.
A quick look around confirmed she wasn’t drunk yet. She sat closer to the shore at a table with Amby’s sisters, Arthur, and two others. She was fine at the moment, so I turned to Amby.
He was just lowering his cup, and it appeared empty as he set it down with a sharp snap, like he was having an enjoyable time.
Maybe the drink wasn’t as strong as I imagined.
Taking courage from Amby, I raised mine and tipped the liquid over my lips, letting it fall to the back of my throat.
The burn was instant. I coughed and sputtered until tears stung my eyes.
I couldn’t even manage a fuck . How had Amby drunk that with no problem?
“Zeth?” Amby’s hand patted my back. “You alright? You’re supposed to swallow, remember?”
Laughing didn’t help me breathe through the fire that was my throat.
It certainly didn’t stop the tears, especially once I started laughing at myself in earnest. Suddenly, two more cups appeared on the table in front of us.
I glanced up to find a man with darker skin and black hair curling to his shoulders standing before us.
He watched us curiously with bold eyes that looked like they’d seen many regions of the Commonwealth.
“Oh, why thank you,” Amby said, smiling up at him. “Good to see you again, Nathaniel.”
“Always a pleasure to see you, Amby,” Nathaniel replied, his Leoneas accent smooth as butter. He gripped the edge of the table and leaned over it to get closer, jutting his ass out. I didn’t like him, even if he was eyeing me sensually with approval. “Who’s your handsome friend?”
“This is Zeth Washer. Zeth, this is Nathaniel Rios. He and his mothers run the distillery here.” Amby nodded at the man, seemingly unworried about Nathaniel’s obvious flirting.
I tried to speak, but it only came out as a rough cough. Damn Nathaniel’s strong liquor.
“Looks like you’re enjoying the fruits of my labor, Zeth Washer. Here’s another drab on me.” He pushed the cups closer with ringed fingers. “Drink up, boys. I like my parties to go late, and my guests to be loose.”
Nathaniel stood with a deep chuckle and wandered off to another table, kissing the cheeks of everyone there. He was quite the character. And here I thought my pea comment sounded inappropriate for mixed company.
“Good friend of yours?” I asked Amby as soon as I could mumble out the words.
“Everyone knows Nathaniel. He’s an acquaintance.” He leaned his elbow on the table so he could stare right at me. “You don’t have to worry about him. Or anyone else. I see what I want right now.”
I moved closer, glad to hear Amby’s reassurances. The soft glow of love in his eyes drugged me far quicker than liquor, and I found myself admitting, “I see what I want too.”
“Oh, good, because when we get alone, I…” Amby’s gaze shot over my shoulder, his brow creasing. “I see our sisters walking this way.”
“Shit,” I swore softly. I shielded the side of my face with a hand to hide, but Amby took it a step further by kneeling under the table. I blinked at his half-ass actions, but when he pulled the edge of my sleeve, I joined him, grunting as I sat on the flagstone tile.
“What are we doing?” I whispered.
“Hiding. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”
I snorted and tried to get more comfortable with my head sideways. “We look ridiculous—”
“Shh!” Amby pressed his finger against my lips to shush me.
Growling playfully, I grabbed his wrist and opened my mouth to lightly bite the pad of his finger.
Amby gasped and eyed me sharply, but by the way his lips tugged up in the corners, I could tell he enjoyed the rough play. I leaned forward to—
“Ambrose Heath Somerset, what on earth are you doing down there with Zeth Washer?” came a familiar voice, and we both snapped our heads around the table with guilt.
Emiline stared at us with her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.
Beside her, Arthur laughed loudly at us, while Millie stood on her other side, raising a curious eyebrow.
“Oh, um,” Amby started, moving to sit on his knees. “We just…” He turned to me, as if needing my help. “I was looking…”
“For his glasses,” I finished, and straightened the frames on Amby’s face. “See, good as new. You should sneeze a little more carefully next time, Amby.”
Millie wasn’t the only Washer who could bend the truth. I bent it so far, I broke it. Millie narrowed her eyes at me, so I sent her a charming grin while I helped Amby get to his feet with me. “You’re right, Mils, this is a fun place. Are you all going swimming now?”
Arthur motioned over the distillery. “We’re all heading that way to watch the tomfoolery. They just got the rope swing back up. It broke last year.”
Rope swing? That sounded like a horrid idea.
“I’ll jump off it,” Amby said, his face glowing with excitement. “It’s been some time since I swam in the river.”
I was about to object when Emiline beat me to it, “Amby, it’s freezing .”
He waved her off before turning to me. “Join me?”
My first thought was the cost of my medical bill when the rope broke again. My second thought was fear for Amby’s safety. And the third… he was so damn cute when he gazed at me with those expressive brown eyes. That’s why I said to Amby, “Aye, let’s go freeze our asses off.”