Page 11 of Evergreen

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I literally just met him. I don’t know what his dick looks like.”

Nerion raised an eyebrow. “I would’ve known in the first ten minutes.”

“You and I have very different dating styles.”

“Okay, so you didn’t fuck him yet,” he nodded. “Is he at least cute?”

I thought about it for a moment, calling up the image of him in my mind. “He’s handsome,” I nodded. “Fit, dark hair, stubble, and a strong jawline. Oh, and he’s got pretty green eyes.”

“You are so innocent,” Nerion laughed, shaking his head. “Do me a favor, when he comes back to work tonight, give him a good once over. And if he’s not at least nice to look at, let me torture him.”

I smiled at Nerion’s persistence. “I think you’ve got enough entertainment with Teddy without adding Cass Reed to your list of victims.”

“Fine, fine,” he conceded, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “But I’m coming back tonight and I’m going to judge him based on his appearance alone. That’s non-negotiable.”

“Of course it is,” I said, turning my attention back to the planters. “You’re nothing if not consistent.”

“I’m trying to get you laid,” he said. “You helped me and Teddy get together, so I at least owe you that.”

“Thanks.” I just shook my head. “I love your enthusiasm.”

Nerion wandered deeper into the greenhouse, his artist’s eye already cataloging the wreckage. I could practically see him composing paintings in his mind. He stopped and studied the way the light filtered through the broken glass, the contrast of charred wood against the pale winter sky, the organized chaos of destruction and potential rebirth. It was very on brand for him.

“You know what?” he said after a few minutes of comfortable silence. “This is actually perfect.”

I looked up from my work. “How is any of this perfect?”

“The greenhouse,” he gestured broadly. “It’s got this broken beauty to it. Like a battlefield after the war’s over but before anyone’s started cleaning up. It’s got potential. Energy.” He turned to me with that familiar spark in his eyes that meant he’d found his muse. “I’m going to paint this. Every stage of it. From destruction to renewal.”

“That’s actually not a terrible idea,” I admitted. “You could document the entire restoration process. Make it a series.”

“Something like that,” he nodded. “I’m thinking of turning it into something weird and mythical and scary. Like the ruins of the acropolis or Atlantis or something. Give it a weird liminal post-apocalyptic edge.”

“Does that mean you’re going to be spending a lot of time here?”

Nerion clapped me on the shoulder. “You know it buddy. And maybe I can help you get a little more than just sub-par magical help from this guy.”

I shot him a look. “Nerion⁠—”

“What?” He held up his hands innocently. “I’m just saying, you’re both going to be here together for hours every day. Might as well make the most of it.”

“We’re here to work,” I said firmly, but I could feel the heat creeping up the back of my neck. “Not to... whatever it is you’re suggesting.”

“I’m suggesting nothing,” he said with that infuriating smirk. “I’m just observing that you’re going to spend more time with this guy than you spend with me, and I think that’s tragic. So maybe try to enjoy his company? Have a conversation that doesn’t revolve around debris removal?”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I muttered, turning my attention back to the planters before he could see how much his words were affecting me.

The truth was, I hadn’t really thought about Cass as anything other than the person responsible for destroying my work. But now that Nerion had planted that seed, I couldn’t help but notice things. The way his frustration had manifested as determination this morning. The fact that he’d actually stuck with the barrier spell even when it was clearly difficult for him. The way his green eyes had looked almost vulnerable when he’d admitted he didn’t know any magic besides weather work.

“Earth to Linden,” Nerion said, waving a hand in front of my face. “You’re thinking about him right now, aren’t you?”

“No,” I said too quickly.

Nerion’s grin widened. “This is going to be a lot more fun than I anticipated.”

Leave it to my best friend to make everything more complicated than it had to be, even if he meant well.

Chapter 6