I found I didn’t want him to pull his hand away, and toyed with my braid to try and distract myself from how that one little touch had made me feel.
“None of your concern,” I said, giving Emberly a look that said ‘don’t you dare say anything.’
Emberly gave me a sly grin, but kept quiet.
We continued winding our way through the trees as we delved deeper into the jungle. Rosenshield remained up front with Ivan, pointing out plants as we moved along. The two graduate students followed while Liam, Emberly and I stayed in the back.
“Have any more pranks up your sleeve, Doctor Pendragon?” Emberly asked.
“You told her?”
“Of course I did. She won’t say anything.”
Emberly smiled. “I definitely won’t.”
Liam sighed. “No more pranks right now. I’m taking a page out of Doctor Thornheart’s book and I’m going to be professional on this little trek.”
“Sure you are,” I chided.
And in that moment I realized I didn’t want him to be professional. That I was enjoying his little quirks and pranks. I was having fun. Perhaps Emberly was right. Perhaps it was Liam bringing that out in me…helping me relax.
We continued for miles, hiking through lush thickets. Ivan had to cut through countless thick vines blocking the way and we often had to climb over fallen trees and large roots bursting from the ground. It wasn’t an easy journey and I was drenched in sweat from the humidity thick in the air.
The path had become so narrow, the trees and shrubs denser, we were now walking single file. I followed Emberly and Liam brought up the rear.
“How are you doing up there, sunshine?” Liam asked.
“Marvelous,” I replied sarcastically.
“Are you drowning in your sweat too?”
“You could build a small pool with the amount of perspiration on my body.”
Liam chuckled. “You’re actually funny sometimes. What a delight.”
“Well, now I can rest easy knowing Liam Pendragon thinks I’m a delight. My life goal is fulfilled.”
“Were you this sarcastic with all your otherboyfriends?”
Other boyfriends? What a strange thing to say.
“Unlike you, I don’t have an endless list of former suitors.”
The path widened and Liam caught up, now walking next to me. “My list is not as long as you seem to think, Cerise,” he said with a serious undertone. “You’ve been judging me based on what you’ve heard since day one. I thought we agreed not to judge each other.”
“We did. But you can’t tell me you didn’t do the same with me. Doctor Thornheart, the dour professor who expects perfection from everyone. The bitter hag who will always be alone because her ego is too big to let anyone else in.”
The moment those words came out of my mouth, I winced. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Whoa,” Liam said. “That’s not what I think. And that’s not what people say about you either. Where didthatcome from?”
I didn’t speak and focused on the path before me, stepping over a branch.
“Ambrose,” Emberly said from in front of us.
Irritation flared at Emberly mentioning my ex, but I didn’t deny it. Liam had mentioned before that he believed Ambrose had been emotionally abusive. I’d never thought about it that way but I supposed he was right. He often belittled and chastised me, telling me I’d never find anyone and I would be alone forever. It’s part of why it took me so long to end the relationship. When you hear something frequently enough, you start to believe it, and for a long time, I felt as though I couldn’t do any better.
“He was really awful to you, wasn’t he?” Liam asked.