Page 119 of Aine

He gently pats the leaves of the unripe carrot he just ruined before carefully pulling the one I pointed out. It looks good, and I hide a grin as he begins to search for more. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s excited when he finds one, a cheer erupting from his lips as he takes in its ripened state.

The loud noise has me flicking my gaze toward the beasts, unable to prolong the inevitable any longer. I fully expect them to be glaring from where they linger in the fields, but to my utter relief, most aren’t paying us any attention.

The few looking over nod in greeting, Alex going as far as to lift his arm and wave wildly. I find myself relaxing, and I feel a genuine smile spread across my lips as I timidly wave back.

Damien falls silent as he watches my reaction, his anxiety reaching me as my lip begins to quiver and a tear spills over my cheeks. They’re happy tears, though, and I think he knows this as he squeezes my hand.

My voice is shaky as I turn to him.

“We’re going to need the wheelbarrow.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

AINE

“She’s having abad day.”

I frown, unhappy with Damien speaking about me like this. I’m not having a bad day. I just don’t want to do the things he wants me to do.

Avia nods and writes some notes in her notebook. I hate that stupid book of hers. She’s always making notes about me and forcing me to do things I don’t want to do. She’s always judging.

Damien sighs before bringing both hands to his head and rubbing his temples. He seems stressed, no doubt an effect of my less-than-stellar attitude these past few days.

We had such a fantastic time cleaning the garden together. He laughed and smiled and seemed so happy as we moved through the rows. His joy made me realize I’m no good for him. Damien deserves to be with somebody who can make him feel like that all the time. Not the once in a blue moon I’m able to force myself to step foot out of the house.

I know he’s confused by my recent attitude, but there’s no way to explain why I’m being so mean. He’d only argue and try to convince me my thoughts aren’t true and he’s happy.

I have to help him realize and come to terms with the fact that I’m not the one for him.

“I don’t know what to do to cheer her up. I’ve tried everything,” he says to Avia, prompting her to write more of her infuriating notes.

Avia seems conflicted as she brings the pen to her mouth and bites down on it. I bet it’s rattling between her teeth as she worries it between them. Damien hates that noise, but he doesn’t comment on it.

“Have you tried taking her to the gardens again?” she asks. “It seems you both enjoyed that last time.”

Damien throws his head back with a dry laugh. “Of course I have! I thought we had a great time, but she’s been miserable from the moment we returned. I thought maybe one of the beasts looked at her wrong, but Alex talked to them and it doesn’t sound like anybody did anything to upset her.” His frustration grows as he speaks, the emotion pulsing into me through the bond. “Every time I ask if she wants to go, she responds with a curt ‘No’ and refuses to explain why.”

My jaw clenches, guilt bubbling up as I hear him talk about his troubles. I thought he’d have given up by now. It’s been almost four whole days of radio silence from me, the only responses he gets being rejections.

Still, he sticks around, his resilience surprising me to my core.

Owen and Henry would’ve beaten me black and blue by now, but all Damien does is sigh quietly to himself and sit silently in a corner.

This morning has been especially dreadful. He was in such a good mood when he woke, his voice loud as he bounced around my bedroom waiting for me to pick out my clothing. He wanted to make me a special breakfast, something his mother only made on birthdays when he was a child.

It killed me to pretend I hated it, refusing to put more than one bite in my mouth before getting up and making myself a bowl of cereal.

He was visibly upset, but it wasn’t enough to ruin his morning. My guilt consumed me as he apologized and promised to stick to the basics from now on. Later, when he asked if I’d like to do a puzzle, he was met with ano. That answer didn’t change when he asked me to partake in three more activities with him.

He’s been quiet the remainder of the day, only speaking up to tell me he was going outside when Avia arrived.

Damien shoves his hair out of his face. “I don’t understand why she’s so mad. She went from practically worshiping me to hating me at the drop of a hat.” He huffs.

My lip trembles at the hurt in his voice, and I step closer to the window to hear better. Avia, ever-so-vigilant, snaps her head in my direction. I duck below the window as her eyes meet mine, knowing I was too slow as she urges me to come outside.

I consider refusing her request, but Damien’s broken voice has me reeling and I find myself following it without thinking. Damien watches me like a hawk as I stand and make my way to the front door. He continues to stare as I exit the house and walk down the front porch steps.

Avia remains silent until I’ve come to a halt next to Damien. He rests his hand on the small of my back but drops it with a wince when I shake him off.

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