Fate in Suspension (Horn & Haven Book 1) by Archer Kay Leah

Author:Archer Kay Leah [Leah, Archer Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ashborne Stardust Press
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER 13

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This wasn't what Tai'd had in mind.

"You might want this." Gates handed Tai a wooden fork. "Could make a difference."

"Probably." Tai glanced over the food containers crowded together between him and Gates, their bench barely visible beneath. They sat off the wide pier-side path, away from passersby, while voices and the chatter of birds having a go at each other carried over from the park behind them. On the other side of the path, Lake Mijra-Ayne extended out to the horizon, calm and quiet, rippling up close to break against the pier. Like little whispers bringing secrets to curious ears, the water lapped at whatever it could reach and left behind fragments the lake saw fit to part with.

"This is okay, right?" Gates chewed on his lip and gazed over their lunch. "I kind of hijacked the whole thing. I should've—"

"Hey." Tai teased Gates's lip out of the gentle assault with the tip of his thumb. "This is nice. And you're right: I need to eat. Better than strapping Lonce to a shuttle booster. Mostly."

Gates laughed softly. "True. That'd get you a few decades of trouble." He dug into his meal, rummaging around the large food container he'd procured from one of the restaurants they'd stopped at. After chewing for a few moments, he pointed his fork at Tai. "Though he was more of an ass than I thought he'd be. I'm guessing your cousin would have some chosen words for that. Probably see him to the moons and back herself."

"Something like that." Tai frowned at his own lunch. They'd visited three small restaurants, all Gates's choice. He'd sounded so confident at the parking garage, and there was little more Tai wanted to do than give Gates the run of things.

Tai hadn't expected to end up by the lake, having a mid-afternoon picnic. The quiet suited Tai, though, his anger simmered to ripples no different than the lake's surface, and the food smelled appetizing. Noodles of three different types lay in his container, joined by cold, savoury fruit salad on one side and hot, shredded root salad on the other. Breadcrumbs and thick, tangy gravy with fried beans formed a layer on top of that, topped with breaded balls filled with vegetables, herbs, and grains, covered in syrup and a mix of mild spices. He'd even snuck a rolled sweet pastry on the side, curious about the oozing filling that looked like three different coloured jams piped alongside each other—red, orange, and blackish-purple—with nuts, sprinkles, and edible glitter in the mix.

All in all, a far better lunch than he deserved, but Gates… he'd chosen it with care. With concern.

Gates, his sub. Maybe even his friend if Tai ever got over his damned suspicions. This had been his idea, his attempt to soothe the hurt.

And all Tai wanted to do was kiss him for it.

Not a peck on the cheek. Not a simple taste of lips. No, he wanted messy. Filthy. He wanted to lose his breath and die getting it back.

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