Niamh froze, her hand hovering uncertainly in the air.
She could see the disappointment flicker in Elmer’s eyes.
Hurting him was the last thing she wanted. But the truth was, she wasn’t ready to start something new–not right now.
Which meant she couldn’t accept Elmer’s feelings. And by turning him down, she knew she was bound to hurt him anyway.
Her hesitation, her tangled emotions, didn’t go unnoticed. Elmer didn’t push or complain; instead, he simply reached out and–rather unexpectedly–took hold of her coat sleeve.
Niamh’s eyes widened as Elmer gently tugged her forward by her sleeve.
They made their way through the crowded amusement park, and Niamh couldn’t help but think they must be the only two people here holding onto each other by the sleeve–like an awkward couple in a coming–of–age movie.
They were well past their teenage years, and yet in this moment, the gesture felt as shy and tentative as a first crush.
“What’s so funny?” Elmer asked, noticing the way Niamh kept stifling a laugh.
“It’s nothing,” she said, shaking her head. “Just… look around. Even the teenagers here aren’t as innocent as we are.”
Elmer followed her gaze and spotted a pair of high schoolers in uniform, wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing passionately beneath the strings of festival lights.
He looked away with a half–smile, half–sigh.
Niamh scratched her head, suddenly wondering if she was being too uptight. Holding hands with Elmer wasn’t exactly a declaration of love. But she still couldn’t bring herself to do it, not when she knew she didn’t feel that way about him.
So they continued, sleeve in sleeve, shuffling forward in line for the Ice Caves.
Waiting in line without a phone to pass the time would normally be torture, but tonight Niamh didn’t mind. The place was lit up, the light catching on all the sculpted ice–crystal castles, glittering animals, fantastical shapes–turning the whole world into a kaleidoscope of color and light. She felt like she’d stepped into a dream.
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Chapter 447
“Feeling any better?” Elmer asked suddenly, breaking her reverie.
She blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
He didn’t hedge. “You’ve seemed so tense since you got back from Varythia. Like you’re a coiled spring about to snap.”
“1…”
He shook his head, gentle and sincere. “I’m not prying. I just want to help, if I can. Help you unwind, even just a little.”
And in that moment, Niamh understood. So that’s why Elmer had invited her out to the Winter Carnival so late at night.
“Thank you, Elmer,” she murmured, cheeks coloring as she dropped her gaze.
He really did get her. Ever since she’d returned from Varythia, her mind had been racing–plotting ways to make Marina pay for what she’d done. It had weighed on her, darkened her mood, and Elmer had noticed.
“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” he said softly. “Whatever you decide to do, I just want you to remember… you’re not alone. I’m here.”
His words were warm and steady. He pulled off his white knit beanie and carefully settled it onto her head.
Niamh felt her cheeks grow even warmer. But then, suddenly, she went still.
“Could you two move up?” someone called from behind.
Startled, Niamh snapped back to the present, apologized, and shuffled forward with Elmer. But he noticed her gaze was still fixed on the crowd they’d just left.
“What is it? Did you see someone?”
She rubbed her eyes, squinting into the distance, making sure she wasn’t imagining things before she answered.
“Elmer, I… I think I just saw Lana.”
He didn’t look particularly surprised. The Winter Carnival at Lontaris World was the biggest event of the season; it was hardly shocking that Lana Guthrie would show up with friends.
Still, Elmer wondered if Niamh’s reaction was more about who Lana was with–or the fact that she hadn’t invited Niamh along.
“Can you check for me?” Niamh said, nudging his shoulder. “There, by the ice
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Chapter 447
slides. I’m not sure if it’s really her…”
Elmer obliged, craning his neck to scan the bustling line by the glittering ice slides, searching for any sign of Lana in the crowd.
He actually managed to find her.
Elmer’s eyes went wide as saucers.
Now everything made sense.
Ch
