34. Zeth
Zeth
Tapping the side of my pants, I enjoyed the spring of wadded paper.
A pocket full of money and another pleased customer; the festival was going well.
We set up our tent in the crafters’ row and quickly sold one of Amby’s side tables in the first hour.
Next went two chairs. By noon, the festival became busy with families, and most of Amby’s decorative knick-knacks went out to good homes.
Now, we just sold his second side table. I waved the nice man off as he made his way into the bustling festival foot traffic.
Other festival goers peeked into our tent, and none of them mattered as much as the clever man standing on the other side of the dining set he’d crafted.
I couldn’t stop staring at Amby. His green suit tried for casual, yet gave off an upper-crust impression, especially paired with those gold-rimmed glasses and shiny, auburn curls.
There was no mistaking Amby’s elite past, but here he was with me, the poor washer boy, selling his handicrafts to the townsfolk of Everdeen.
With the hint of a beard on his strong jawline, he’d never appeared more handsome.
I just wished he didn’t look so nervous.
Even now, he rubbed a thumbnail as the crowds passed.
He fumbled here and there today while answering questions about the types of wood he used and how he joined them.
Yet, I had faith he would get better at talking about his work.
And if he wanted to just build after this, then that was fine, because I memorized all his answers.
Once our shop opened, he could freely enjoy the solitude of his workshop while I tended to the customers.
I already enjoyed bragging about him to the shoppers.
Haggling prices was second nature, and boy did I miss it.
I never felt so useful as I did now, helping Amby.
When the crowd disappeared briefly, most of them shifting to other booths selling candles, soap, honey, and trinkets, I turned to Amby and leaned my arms over a chair back. “No need to worry, darling. They love your craft. You’re a great success.”
“This is a nice start,” Amby replied, facing me across the table. “Thank you for having such faith in me. I wouldn’t have been able to do this at all without you. You have a knack for talking with people.”
“It’s all about listening to what people want. For example, I can read you and…” I squinted at him in play, and he bit his lip adorably. “Ah, there, you’re telling me you want a kiss.”
Amby tapped the side of his face. “Right here, on my pretty cheek.”
I growled at Amby’s boldness and stalked around the table until I could tug him against me for a light peck to his cheek. Lingering there, I inhaled his vanilla musk scent before whispering into his ear, “Now I get to pick the next spot.”
Despite the warmth of the tent, Amby shivered delightfully in my arms, and I was tempted to kiss his lips right there.
But now wasn’t the time, or place. Amby’s dad had us too nervous to attempt a public courting kiss.
Even after a week, his rejection still bothered us.
I could wait for that to heal, but I chafed to claim my boy.
“Well, looks like you two are doing well,” came a new voice, and I jumped slightly at Emiline standing with Arthur in our tent. “Did you already sell the end tables and rocking chairs?”
Amby slipped out of my arms to face his sister. He answered her while pushing up his glasses, but he couldn’t hide that lovely pink tint on his cheek, right where I had just enjoyed kissing him. He glanced back at me to ask, “Right, Zeth?”
“Yes,” I answered sweetly without a single clue as to what Amby just said.
He chuckled, seeing right through me, and I basked in the soft sound.
I fisted his shoulder in play and turned to tell Emiline, “See anything you wish to buy before it’s gone?”
“Yes, isn’t this dining set marvelous, Arthur?”
“It’s a beauty,” Arthur agreed with her enthusiastically. “I love the designs at the corners.”
Arthur looked genuinely impressed as he moved his large frame closer to examine the smooth surface we used last week for our delicious lovemaking. Seeing how Amby glowed, I couldn’t help but have some fun.
I leaned over the table to push on it with both hands. “Amby outdid himself on this one. It’s well made. Nice and sturdy.”
Arthur nodded, but it was Amby’s widening eyes that had me amused. I winked at him as I slapped the mahogany hard to make sure Amby felt that delightful sound.
“It holds up well,” I explained to Arthur. “No matter how much weight you put on it.”
Arthur gazed longingly at the table, oblivious to our sexual banter.
Then Amby coughed politely, and when his lips tugged up, I grinned at him.
I wrapped my arm around his shoulder while his sparkling eyes found mine.
It was satisfying to be connected again like this, like old times, but better. So much better.
“Yes, uh, great presentation. That set turned out to be very solid,” Amby said, his voice cracking slightly. “Would you… like it for your house, Arthur?”
I snorted with humor because Amby actually dared to sell our table to our friend while I had just been playing around.
What if Arthur and Emiline married and invited us over to dinner, and we exchanged pleasantries while I sat there remembering how much I enjoyed filling Amby up against it?
Dear heaven… How would I survive such a family dinner? Amby’s daring was going to kill me.
I had to be blushing now too as I stepped aside while Amby gripped the top of a chair to pull it out for Arthur to try. I rested my hand right next to Amby’s. He sent me a smile before turning to Arthur with a price for the full dining set.
Arthur sat with a heavy sigh and wiggled in the chair. He seemed satisfied with how well it held up and asked, “Well, since I know you and your family, perhaps you could throw in a discount?”
“Arthur!” Emiline slapped his arm. “Amby and Zeth are trying to make profits. I’m sure they’d sell it to someone else at full price.”
Amby interjected, “No, it’s alright. The table’s been sitting a while.”
I nudged Amby’s hand with a gentle cough. “You’re supposed to haggle up, darling, not down.”
“Hey, don’t talk Amby out of the discount,” Arthur groaned. “I thought we were friends? I’ll take the set before the price changes.”
“Sounds like a deal.” Amby nodded at him. “Five percent off. Family and friends discount.”
“What, only five?” Arthur said in mock offense.
“What he means is, he’d be delighted to take it,” Emiline said. When Arthur went to protest, she raised her brow.
Arthur chuckled and held out his hand to Amby. “Well, can’t say no to that. I’ll take it.”
Amby practically shook with excitement over selling his major piece. Arthur stood to join Emiline and wrapped his large arm around her waist, and Amby regarded them sweetly, clearly glad his sister found someone so good.
My stomach decided to make itself known at that moment, gurgling a protest louder than the bustling festival sounds. I rolled my eyes, and Arthur nodded at me.
“Sounds like you need to eat. Have you had lunch?”
“No, only breakfast,” I answered.
“We could both use a bite,” Amby agreed, no doubt feeling just as hungry.
Emiline waved out past the tent. “Then you two go wander off. Arthur and I can handle your booth.”
Before Amby could object, I grabbed his hand and tugged him to follow me. He sputtered prices for the few items and thanked his sister and Arthur before exiting with a swing of our hands.
“So… food?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” I answered quickly and followed the delectable aroma of meat cooking over stone pits.
I remembered past festivals as a kid, watching townsfolk enjoying their charred beef on wooden sticks while I had nothing.
It wasn’t a sad memory, just the truth, and it made me all the more appreciative of my blessings as Amby paid for two sticks and handed one over to me.
Thanking him, I devoured mine while Amby also dug right in. The grilled meat was savory and tender to chew. I enjoyed it immensely as we watched the festival goers moving from tent to tent.
“I’d like some sweets,” Amby said, nearly finished. “Maybe we can find you some fruit.”
His thoughtfulness made me smile around my last bite. I nodded, and we walked through the food stalls. I wanted to find him the cake he used to talk about wanting for his birthdays, with whipped cream and strawberries.
When we found the cake stall, Amby pointed out all his favorite desserts in the painted picture menu while we waited in line.
I couldn’t care less about the food, but I was excited to please and feed him.
I wanted him happy and well taken care of, even pampered.
It wasn’t about money; it was about the joy of sharing a moment.
Amby’s excitement over the free roses I’d plucked from Anna’s garden had felt just as wonderful as buying him cake.
His wide, brown eyes encouraged me now as I paid for the dessert and took the wooden bowl from the vendor. It had a huge dollop of frothy cream and a single spoon, exactly what we both wanted. I led Amby to a private spot between two tents and scooped some cream to hold out for him to eat.
His gaze snagged on my daring grin first before dropping to the spoon, and fuck me for loving the blush that filled his beautiful cheeks.
He was so handsome as he leaned forward and opened that sassy mouth of his to eat the cream from my spoon.
Goosebumps raced along my arms. I couldn’t get enough of watching his lips close and tilt with happiness. Then he groaned with delight.
Oh hell… I could feed my good boy all day.
“It’s wonderful,” Amby said, licking the cream off his lips. He stole my spoon to dig into the cake properly. “Do you want some of the strawberries?”
I was about to manage a reply when he found a piece of the red fruit covered in whipped cream and put the whole thing in his mouth to lick it off. Then he captured it between his thumb and finger to offer it to me.
I felt outright carnal as I opened my mouth to take the strawberry, licking it free from his grasp. His eyes raked over me as I took my time enjoying the taste of the fresh fruit.
When Amby laughed, I wanted to cherish his mouth. He held so many wonderful ideas and clever quips behind those lips. I was lucky to be the one he felt comfortable enough to open up around, who had him sharing his whole body, heart, and mind.
I reclaimed the spoon and fed us both from the bowl while we watched the crowds pass our little hiding spot. A few people spotted us, some of them catching on that we were both together.
Once done, we discarded the bowl and pushed out into the open.
I offered my arm, and Amby looped it through his and leaned his head on the side of my shoulder.
It encouraged me that he wanted to walk through the festival like this.
I enjoyed our casual chatting over the vendors and games as we passed their booths and tents.
“Oh, Zeth, let’s try ring toss,” Amby said, tugging on my arm.
“Nuh-uh, your aim with darts was just as bad as mine.”
“You know I was drunk that night.”
“If only I had such an excuse,” I chuckled and let him pull me over to the game.
Twenty-four glass bottles stood in three rows, daring us to win.
We paid to play, and the vendor handed out four rings each to toss.
Between my far-flung throws that hit the back of the tent, and Amby’s ringing glass, we managed to score enough points to win a prize.
Amby picked out a necklace of colorful wooden beads, and I placed it around his neck.
“Look at you, so pretty,” I hummed, imagining him in nothing but the long strand.
He blushed and took my hand to intertwine our fingers.
After that, we made our way toward the Everdeen Oak in the distance.
The giant tree sat at the far edge of the festival with colorful ribbons that fluttered in the breeze from its low branches.
Many of the ribbons were already gone. In the distance, dark clouds were rolling in.
As much fun as we were having, an approaching storm was going to dampen my mood, not to mention the whole festival.
Hopefully, we could exchange our ribbons peacefully, because I always wanted to give Amby red, for love. It meant more to me now than ever. He had my heart, no matter what his dad said or did, even if he disowned Amby.