The Stars in Your Skin

CHAPTER 16

Neteyam is awakened by a gentle but persistent poke. For a beat he doesn’t know where he is. Then, he remembers he’s in Naawri’s home.  “Hey sleepyhead,” she says from her kneeled position next to him. Her mesmerizing gaze shines with light from the bladder lantern, a sweet smile curls her plump lips, and several of her braids fall over her shoulder.

He can’t help the smile that dances over his lips.  He wouldn’t mind waking up to this all the time. “Hey.” He sits up when she rises. She crosses to her workspace and bends to retrieve a basket.  He averts his eyes. He yawns and stretches, enjoying the relaxed feeling pulsing through him.  He rubs the sleep from his eyes.

She chuckles. “Aren't you adorable.” She walks over to him.

The grin she gives at his mock offense melts him. He rises to his feet, giving another stretch. “Unacceptable, children are adorable.”

She gives a nod, a playful glint in her lovely eyes. “I see.”

“But I will accept handsome.”

 “Oh really?”

He steps closer, a daring smile on his face.

“Well what about gorgeous?”

Emboldened he says, “I’ll accept it but only if you take beautiful.”  And there it is. A dusting of purple paints her cheeks, the sight tugging at all of his heartstrings.

She shakes her head, and huffs out a laugh. “Not funny Neteyam.”

His brow knits. “Who says I’m joking?” He catches her eyes. “You’re beautiful both inside and out.”  He means every word of it, but her expression changes to some sad thing he can’t quite put his finger on.

“You shouldn’t say things like that,” she all but whispers.

“Why?” She doesn't answer, instead all but shoving the basket into his arms.

“You should go before you miss dinner.”

What the heck was going on? “Nawri I–”

“Please.” He eyes her curiously before conceding. He exits the home taking a moment to enjoy the residual coziness of the Syemu home. Did he do something wrong? He gives Rayka, who sits outside the tent finishing her foodwraps, a nod.

She only squints at him.

Tsahey, she probably heard all of that. He scratches the back of his neck before heading home, ignoring the looks he garners from her neighbors. He meets Kiri on the way home. She sends him a baleful stare.

“What the heck Neteyam? You’ve been gone for hours. I had to cover for you. Twice.”

He apologizes to her. He drops the basket off at home and heads to dinner.

Sateya watches him with irate eyes when he drops down next to her.  He nearly salivates when he sees the crusted teylu in the large bowl his mother passes to him. Finally! He takes only what he needs, silently praying there’s some left over later. He passes the bowl to Sateya.

“Why were you at the Syemu home for several hours?”

Well, that was quick. “I had to retrieve my mother's basket and it wasn’t done when I arrived so I stayed.” He picks some fungi onto his plate.

“For four hours!” Even though she whispers it her tone loses none of its sharpness.

He passes her a bowl of yerik tails without taking one even though the meat glistens with spices and juiciness. This was a new side of her.

“What were you doing there that long?”

“Does it matter?” He smiles at the child that pours him a drink.