14. Almost split up (but didn’t)? for an OTP of your choice!
The smell of coffee was everywhere. I mean it was a coffee shop, but damn it seemed stronger than normal. Or maybe that was just because Ama was nauseated and her senses were in overdrive. Gods, this was awful.
I don’t know if I can do this. Oh, gods, I have to do this.
The shop was busy as per usual, and also in keeping with tradition, Bindy was taking orders behind the counter.
She was smiling at customers and asking their names. She was flitting about like a floating feather, which was strange considering the destruction Ama had seen her cause only a few days ago. Her hair was braided and hung on her shoulder, and there was a bit of green paint in it.
Ama walked up to the counter and nearly had a heart attack right there.
She waited for the person in front of her to place their order and step away. Bindy would see her any second.
The sound of a cup falling and shattering on the ground echoed through the shop. Yup, she sees me.
Ama made eye contact with her and saw that Bindy wasn’t blinking or moving. She was totally frozen in place, her hands still hanging by her side like she was just about to hand someone their cup.
Ama’s voice seemed to shake her out of it, and Bindy shook her head and pulled her towel out of her apron to wipe up the floor. She knelt down, swiping at the pool of brown liquid, and stared straight down.
Ama went around the counter to help, to talk to her.
“What are you doing here? I thought you said never again?” Bindy’s gentle tone was gone, replaced with biting words that were filled with as much poison as her venom.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Just go. I’m at work,” Bindy stood back up and turned away, addressing the customer whose coffee she dropped, “I’m so sorry. I’ll make you another one. Just have a seat, and I’ll bring it out as soon as it’s ready.”
The woman nodded, clearly sensing the tension, and went over to a chair in the corner.
“Bindy, please. I just want to talk.”
She spun around. “Talk? Talk? I can’t believe you. I called after you, ran after you, for a solid hour, and now you want to talk?”
Ama couldn’t breathe for a moment. She had no idea Bindy had come after her, let alone wandered around for an hour. Ama had just done her best to disappear into herself. She’d just found the closest cave and laid there.
Bindy stepped up to Ama, her sapphire eyes burned. “What?”
“I was wrong.” Ama swallowed.
Bindy was clearly waiting for Ama to be more specific.
“About you. About me. You’re not weak. You’re not too sweet to be able to deal with all this. And I’m not equipped to deal with it any better than you are. I was so, so wrong. We need your help. You’re an asset in this bloody war.”
Ama had never pleaded before in her life, gods did it suck.
“That’s nice.” Bindy turned away and walked toward the espresso machines.
She snapped around, her voice cutting. “Feels great, doesn’t it? To call out after someone who just won’t listen to you?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. But-”
“But nothing. I don’t really give a rat’s ass what the team needs right now. Apparently, I’m not good enough. They didn’t seem to care that you kicked me out.” Bindy’s glare could kill a man.
“They did, actually. Hope reamed my ass for it. She said to come back with you or else.” Ama tried to force a smile.
Bindy just cocked a crooked smirk, “Really? Well, she clearly has good taste.”
“Bindy there isn’t a soul alive who wouldn’t love you. And I... I...”
Her eyes were wide. “You what?”
They’d talked about this. How Ama had never said the L word. Never. Her family situation was crappy, she’d never really dated, and it was just never a word to use. But now...
Her mouth fell open, and Bindy ran at her so hard, so fast, Ama almost fell over.
“You idiot. Why did it take you this long?” Bindy had grabbed her face and was looking right into her eyes, her soul.
“I don’t know. I was scared and dumb and more scared. But no more. I love you, Belynda Hall. And I need you to come home.”
Bindy smoothed a hair across Ama’s forehead. “Amarantha. Think you’ll be able to put up with me?”
“I’ll do everything in my power to make this right, to make you happy.” Ama squeezed Bindy’s hand.
Bindy’s smile lit up everything around them. “I love you, you silly Lamia.”
She took Ama’s hand and set down the towel she was still holding, “Take me home.”
Ama couldn’t stop the ridiculous grin. She just escorted the beautiful girl to the door.
“Folks,” Bindy yelled out to the room, “Mark is in charge now, and we’ll be closed tomorrow. I have to pack.”
Whoever Mark was Ama didn’t know, but she appreciated that fact that she didn’t hear any objections.
They were going home, together.
