The Reckless Oath We Made - Bryn Greenwood Page 0,75

much of LaReigne it made my stomach hurt. We read together a lot when we were kids. Something to do on a cold or rainy day. Or when Mom was feeling strict and wouldn’t let us leave the house. We would curl up together on her bed and take turns using each other as a pillow. One of those things we never did once we were adults.

I put my hand on the bed to shift my weight a little, and I left it there until I needed to turn the page in my book. When I went to put my hand back on the bed, though, Gentry’s hand was in the way, and I accidentally touched his pinky finger with mine.

“I’m sorry.” I thought it was an accident, so I moved my hand, but the next time he turned his page, he put his hand back on the bed close enough for our pinkies to touch again. It reminded me of those dating games I wasn’t any good at, but I didn’t imagine Gentry was any good at them, either.

“Do you want to hold my hand?” I said.

I figured I’d get some variation on I am thy servant, but he said, “Yes.”

He scratched his neck for a couple minutes, but after he finished, he put his hand on top of mine where it was on the bed. We stayed like that until I had to turn the page. Then I put my hand on top of his. Whichever one of us needed to turn a page, that person’s hand went on top, like the slowest hand stacking game in the world.

Gentry read faster than I did, so his hand was on top more often. It was pretty banged up, covered in scrapes and bruises. He had a big scar on his thumb, and the nail of his ring finger was black. His palm was calloused, from sword fighting and castle building, I guessed.

I was trying to think of what to say—Thanks for everything and I’m going to do something reckless in the morning—when Charlene came pushing Elana down the hallway.

“Sir Gentry, will you read me a bedtime story?” Elana said.

“Certs, my sister. Wilt thou hear it also, Lady Zhorzha?”

“No. I’m gonna keep reading my book,” I said.

From the way Charlene smiled at me, I knew it was the right answer.

Like he had before, Gentry closed his book without a bookmark. Then he stood up, still holding my hand, and bent over it. I wasn’t sure if it was because Charlene and Elana were watching, but he held my hand for nearly a minute, before he lowered his head and pressed his lips against my knuckles.

“I shall sleep ere I labor for my lord Bombardier, so I bid thee good night, my lady,” he said.

I let that decide me. In the morning, I would get up and go to Missouri.

CHAPTER 30

Zee

I didn’t take any THC drops at bedtime, because I was worried about oversleeping, but if I’d slept better, I would have gotten out of bed and left on time. Instead, I was still packing when I heard the front door open and Gentry saying good morning to Elana and his parents. Trang was already gone, and I should have been, too. I carried my backpack out to the front room, planning to say thanks and goodbye. Gentry was standing in the kitchen with a glass of orange juice.

“Lady Zhorzha,” he said. “Preparest thou to depart for the house of thine uncle?”

Somehow I’d thought since we didn’t talk about it the night before, he wouldn’t remember we’d talked about it at all. It probably would have been better to lie to him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“Yeah, I thought I’d leave this morning so I can get there before dark.”

“What road wilt thou follow?” Gentry set down his juice, took out his phone, and opened the map app like we were going to discuss roads and travel time. Which was why I couldn’t lie to him. He was so good.

“Well, have some breakfast before you go,” Charlene said, as she carried dishes from the dining room to the sink.

“I’ll just get something on the road,” I said.

“I’ll pack you something.” She started digging around in the cupboard for a plastic container. She was going to do it anyway, so I set my backpack down and decided to go to the bathroom one last time before I left.

When I came back to the kitchen, Charlene had stopped in the