Ties of Blood and Bone by A. E. Lowan

Author:A. E. Lowan [Lowan, A. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07FZC63QN
Publisher: Phoenix Quill Books
Published: 2018-07-27T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Well, I don’t like it.” Etienne stabbed at a piece of crab in his green curry probably harder than was entirely called for. He was still working on mastering chop sticks.

Jessie shared a glance with Cian over her mixed vegetable stir fry and sighed. Somebody was going to have to actually talk to him about it. May as well be her. “That’s the fifth time you’ve said that. What don’t you like about it? You aren’t dating her.”

Etienne stopped chewing and scowled.

Cian’s brows rose slightly, and Jessie could imagine him diving for cover behind Noel’s baby seat.

Jessie dove for a piece of tofu with her chopsticks and used it to point at Etienne. “You could, though. You know that.” She popped it into her mouth, point made.

It was Etienne’s turn to sigh and he took a sip of his beer.

She wrinkled her nose at the smell of it. She despised the scent of alcohol of any sort and took a long drink of her soda to waft away the odor.

He glanced at Cian and then shook his head, looking miserable. “I can’t. It’s complicated.”

Cian reached out and brushed his fingers along Etienne’s knuckles. “Why is it complicated?”

Jessie felt a pang of guilt. She’d only wanted Winter to have a good time, not to hurt Etienne’s feelings. But who knew what was going on with him from moment to moment? He never talked about anything personal besides fighting and the forge.

Etienne didn’t pull away from Cian, but he also didn’t encourage his touch. He simply sat there, staring at his beer.

Noel began to fuss, kicking his tiny feet, and after a moment it was obvious what was making him uncomfortable. Cian squeezed Etienne’s hand and stood up. “Stinky baby calls. I’ll be right back.” He freed his son from his reclined baby seat and hefted the diaper bag on the way to the restroom.

Jessie gave the young faerie prince a smile. His English was coming along beautifully, no matter how Etienne might complain about his attitude from time to time. It wasn’t attitude. It was growing independence. So there.

She refocused on Etienne, tenacious as a terrier. “So, what’s complicated.”

“Merde,” he muttered and hid behind his beer. “It just is.”

“Is it complicated with Cian, too?”

He finally fixed his gray gaze on her, irritated. “Very.”

It was Jessie’s turn to scowl. “How can I help you if you won’t talk to me?”

He murmured something in Faerie Gaelic and took another bite of his dinner.

Jessie’s expression was arid. “English, please?”

“‘It’s none of your business.’”

Jessie threw her hands into the air and got back to eating her stir fry. “Okay, fine, whatever.” She nipped her chopsticks with a bite and sighed. “But I’m still here when you want to talk.”

Etienne snorted. “What do you know about this? You’re—” He stopped, thinking.

“I know plenty. I know all about totally being into someone you don’t think you’re good enough for.” And she wasn’t. He was brave and strong and kind and amazing, and she was a walking dumpster fire of insecurities and alcoholic parents.

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