29. Adelbert
Chapter twenty-nine
Adelbert
After a day spent touring the store and for the sisters to catch up, we all head to Everett's house. The women sit out on the balcony to watch the sunset and the Strip light up—apparently one of Sadie's favorite sights—while Everett and I are in the kitchen downstairs, preparing bibimbap for dinner.
"So, have you made a move on Florence yet?" Everett asks abruptly, trying to catch me off guard.
"That is none of your business," I grumble as I julienne the carrots.
"So, that's a yes?" Everett tilts his head and places his head in my field of vision.
I move the carrots aside and start on the zucchini, frustrated by how weak my magic feels here. Not like I would use my mage hand in front of Everett and Sadie, but it feels like a missing limb.
"We have not physically touched. At all," I finally answer.
In front of me, Everett leans an elbow on the island and props his chin in his hand. "I feel like you're avoiding the question, but I'll allow it. Does Florence know how much you like her?"
I scoff, "What? How could you possibly deduce that?" I keep my movements smooth and unaffected, but I know Everett can hear my racing heart.
His trademark smirk appears on his face and he leans back, crossing his arms over his chest in a very arrogant manner. "You have not stopped staring at her since you arrived. Every time she laughs, your head snaps up. Even when you pretend you're listening to what I'm saying, your eyes always glance back to wherever she is in the room."
My eyes almost flick up to the stairs where I can sense Florence is, but I refocus my effort on chopping the zucchini into fine strips. The pull to her has become stronger with each hour that has passed since our dinner on the Terrasse . I inhale deeply and put the knife down to brace my hands against the counter, hanging my head forward.
Everett's brows furrow and he turns pensive. "I'm pretty sure Florence likes you too. Why don't you guys give it a shot and see if there's something there?"
"I can't." The answer is ripped from my throat. "She deserves to be happy somewhere with a nice human man who can give her everything I cannot."
Everett straightens his stance and his hands ball into fists. Shaking his hands as if he is struggling not to shake me, he hisses, "Stop being so fucking self-sacrificing. Don't you think the fates know what they're doing? You two were put together for a reason." Everett slaps a hand to his chest, passion fueling his words. "Look at me and Sadie. Perfect fit. No one else gets me on so many levels. And I'm sure it's the same with Florence. But that woman will never make the first move because—" he points his index finger at me to emphasize his next words "—she. Gets. You."
Not waiting for a response from me, Everett charges ahead. "Do you know how hard it was for Florence to come to Vegas? She misses Sadie so much, but she never asked you to fly her out here, because she knows the pressure you put on yourself. That your father puts on you. And she doesn't want to add to that pressure. Because… she understands you ."
His words hit me like a sledgehammer to the heart, and my stomach somersaults. My body slumps and my chin dips to my chest.
Everett rounds the island between us and places a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"You deserve happiness, Bertie. I literally hear your heart beat faster when she smiles. Your head might tell you one thing, but, just this once, let your heart lead. Allow yourself to feel love."
Whispering, I confess, "That first moment I saw her on the island, it felt like my breath was snatched right out of my chest. She dazzled me with her beauty, but it's her soul that has enchanted me."
"So do something the fuck about it," Everett says with a friendly slap to my shoulder.
Imploring him to understand, I ask, "How can I? How can I limit her to a life in the forest? Being tied to me means she's stuck there. I don't have anything to offer her."
Everett takes a step back and his brows draw down over his eyes. "You really don't see what a catch you are, do you?"
I scoff and reach for the zucchini, ready to get back to chopping vegetables. Shaking my head, I put it down again.
"What do you mean? I'm a grumpy elf without a sense of humor whose future has already been determined."
Everett comes to stand next to me and leans a hip against the island.
"Has it?"
I turn to look at him. "You know it has."
Tapping his fingers on the tabletop, he scrunches up his face then relaxes it as he shakes his head. "The fates just intervened and gave you a mate. Chosen from among billions of people across the world. One special person. And you're choosing to turn your back on her for some kind of altruistic reason? Have you ever considered asking Florence what she thinks about being chosen? That by not choosing her you've essentially taken her choice away from her too? Think on that."
Without another word, Everett leaves the kitchen while I'm frozen in place. My whole world just turned upside down.
I thought I had it all figured out.
Maybe I don't.