Page 27 of Dragons & Dumplings

"All right, but only if we can also have a do-over for the cheese scones I burned."

"Absolutely." I meet his gaze and smile, sharing a moment that's just for us. It's going to take a moment to work throughthe reality of him leaving, and I'm going to miss him every day, but I know that this is a good thing for him, and I can't stand in his way, even if it hurts me. And I definitely shouldn't let any of that get in the way of making the most of the time we have left together, because it's going to run out sooner than I want it to.

Chapter 12

My bag bumps against my leg as I rush down the grand staircase and into the kitchen. Ember makes some unhappy noises from my shoulder, but I ignore her. I can't believe I'm running late to say goodbye to Nate after spending so much time trying to make sure I wasn't.

The kitchen we usually bake is empty and my heart sinks. Ember doesn't have any of the same qualms and jumps off my shoulder to make her way over to the oven, where she curls up happily. I leave her to it, glad that she's going to be content while I say my goodbyes, it's one less thing for me to worry about.

I hurry out of the kitchen door just as Nate turns around. Surprise flits over his face even as I throw my arms around him. The touch takes him off guard for a moment, maybe because we don't normally do this, but then he closes his arms around me and holds me tightly.

He smells of comfort. Of the only person I'm truly myself around, and the person I least want to leave the castle. Except that I know I have no right to ask him to stay. Silent tears rolldown my cheeks as I hold him, completely unaware of anything around me.

"Evie?" he asks softly. "Are you all right?"

"Of course not," I respond as I pull back, wiping my sleeve under my eyes and hoping that chases the tears away.

"Here." He pulls out a handkerchief and holds it out to me.

"Thank you." I use it to dab my eyes, wishing he wasn't seeing me like this, but grateful that he's the only person who can see me this way. "I'm going to miss you."

"Me too," he says. "I'll be back soon."

"In a year, maybe more," I point out. "It's a long time."

"I know." He looks at me with a strange expression on his face.

"Will you write to me?" I blurt out.

"You mean, will I send you recipes?"

"No. I mean, yes. I would like that. But willyouwrite to me," I ask. "I don't want to go a whole year without talking to you." Every time I've thought about that reality, I've ended up frozen.

Surprise flits over his face. "I'll write to you," he promises. "So long as you plan on writing back."

I laugh through my tears. "Of course I do."

"Good."

"Oh, I erm, brought you a present," I say, remembering that I'm still carrying the leather journal I got him in my bag. I pull it out and hold it to him. "For you to write down all of your discoveries. If that's what you want to do. You could sell it if you don't like it, I don't mind."

He raises an eyebrow. "Don't you?"

I clear my throat. "I would like it if you used it for your recipes and notes, but you really don't have to."

"Thank you." He takes it from me and opens the front page, finding where I wrote an inscription for him. "I will definitelyuse it for recipes and notes." The way he looks at me feels like it means something, but I'm not sure what.

I let out a shaky breath, glad that my gift is a good one. I worried constantly since it was delivered that he wouldn't like it.

"Nathaniel!" Mr Matthews calls from the carriage.

"I think that's my cue," Nate says, but he doesn't move.

I nod, not really knowing what else to say. I want to ask him not to forget me. Or better yet, not to go, but my mouth stays shut. I refuse to ruin this for him. It's an amazing opportunity, and one I don't want to ruin for him before he's even less.

Instead, I wrap my arms back around him and listen to the rhythmic beat of his heart. His hand touches my back, and I find a surprising amount of comfort from the touch.

"I'll think of you when I'm baking," I murmur into his chest.

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