9. Olwydd

CHAPTER 9

OLWYDD

These past few days, I've been on cloud nine. Actually, scratch that—I'm so high up, I'm practically in the stratosphere. My mate finally stopped running from me.

I volunteered to assist with the upcoming school play and while I build sets with a few students, I can't help but steal glances at her across the auditorium cave as she rehearses lines with another group of young Squatches. She's stealing glances at me to, and every time our eyes meet, an electric charge shoots through my veins.

"Uncle Olwydd, you're doing it again," Osian's voice breaks through my Bambi-induced haze.

I blink, tearing my gaze away from my beautiful human. "Doing what?"

"Staring at Miss Bambi with that goofy, lovesick look on your face," Elis chimes in, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"I do not have a goofy look," I protest, puffing out my chest.

"You totally do," Osian pipes up, grinning mischievously.

"Yeah," Jac agrees. "It's like this." He proceeds to make the most ridiculous lovesick expression I've ever seen, complete with batting eyelashes and a dopey smile.

I swat at him playfully. "Alright, you little stand-up comedians. Less mocking your favorite uncle, more painting that backdrop."

I can't even get mad, because they're right. I'm unable to wipe the besotted grin off my face. These past couple days have been amazing. We've spent almost every evening together, talking, laughing, and... other activities that I don't want to think about right now because my soulstone will start up and rock the house down.

I want to ask her to move in with me, but there's this nagging voice in the back of my head that keeps whispering, "Take it slow. Give her time. Don't scare her off."

"Uncle Olwydd, you're drooling again." Osian's voice cuts through my thoughts and the other kids giggle.

"I don't drool!" I shake my head, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. "Now, where were we with this castle design?"

As we work on sketching out a formidable fortress (complete with a moat filled with imaginary alligators, at Jac's and his best friend's insistence), I notice we're going to need some serious carpentry work done.

"We're gonna need someone who knows their way around a bandsaw for this," I muse, scratching my chin.

Elis's face lights up. "Oh! My dad could do it!"

"Great idea." His dad, my brother-in-law, Amlawdd, runs the carpentry shop here in Grotto. I have no doubt he'd be thrilled to lend his expertise. "Your old man's pretty handy with wood."

"Yeah, that's what Mom tells him every morning," Jac states innocently.

A few of the older boys chuckle like true pubescent Squatches, and I shoot them a that's-enough-of-that glare.

Across the room, I catch Bambi's eye again. She raises a brow, a smirk playing on her lips, and I swear my heart does a backflip.

"We'll have Miss Bambi decide exactly what she wants and we'll give the specs to your dad."

"I'll sketch out some designs tonight," she calls over, her voice like music to my ears.

"Sounds perfect," I reply, probably grinning like an idiot again. "I'll run them over to Amlawdd's shop tomorrow."

"Ugh, you guys are so gross," one of the kids groans and a few of them make exaggerated gagging noises.

"Uh!" Chuckling, I clutch my chest in mock offense. "You wound me, truly."

"Uncle Olwydd, you're so dramatic," Osian rolls his eyes. "Stop trying to steal the spotlight."

"Hey." I strike a pose. "I could play a very convincing tree."

The kids burst into laughter, and I can't help but join in.

As the rehearsal winds down and the kids start heading home, Bambi and I find ourselves alone in the auditorium. She saunters over, a sway in her hips that makes my mouth go dry.

"So, Mr. Tree," she teases, poking me in the chest. "Think you can help me clean up?"

I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close. "I don't know. What's in it for me?"

She pretends to consider this, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, how about... the satisfaction of a job well done?"

I shake my head, grinning. "Not good enough."

"Okay, how about..." she stands on her tiptoes, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispers something that makes my soulstone hum so loudly, I'm pretty sure they can hear it in the next cave over.

"Deal," I manage to croak out, my voice suddenly caught in my throat.

We make quick work of tidying up the auditorium, stealing kisses and playful touches along the way. As we're about to leave, Bambi pauses, her hand on the light switch.

"You know," she says, a mischievous glint in her eye. "We have this whole big cave to ourselves..."

I don't need to be told twice.