Chapter 188 - Was This What Girlfriends Did? (1/2)

Blaise had already surpassed the first hurdle. He was Abby's boyfriend, whatever that meant, and couldn't afford to mess that up. No matter what, he had to convince her that he cared enough to marry her.

A long time ago she told him that her previous courtsh.i.p.s (he realized now that they were boyfriends) didn't work out because they hadn't cared about her enough. He had to prove that he cared more than them so she wouldn't call things off with him too.

He had to think about what he knew she liked. Music…sweets from the bakery in town…children. Come to think of it, there had been flowers in her hair likely put there by children nearly every time he had seen her during the summer.

The mountain had cooled down significantly—there were speculations of the first snowstorm being soon—but there were still a few scattered patches of wildflowers here and there. He could pick her a bouquet to place on her nightstand.

Blaise had been very young when his sisters were being courted but he remembered there always being wildflowers around the inn from their suitors. That could be a thing boyfriends did, right?

Abby was nearby making jam with a large group of women and he wanted to say hello to her but Carrick had eyes like a hawk. He would get in trouble for slacking off.

When lunch finally rolled around he had every intention of going to spend his break with her but she beat him to it. She proudly presented him with a thick slice of bakery bread covered in raspberry jam.

”This came from the first batch of the day so it's not fully set yet but it's in better condition than the others. It should still be delicious, if a bit runny. I figured it would help the rations go down a little easier.”

Was this what girlfriends did? Many of the wives or fiancées of Kanta men currently working construction were doing the same thing.

The label was still a bit confusing to him. If he understood her intentions correctly, it was meant to be more casual than being betrothed or married to see if they would suit each other. But right now he very happily accepted the feeling of having a sweetheart regardless of labels.

”Thank you,” Blaise said fervently after a few bites. ”You were right; it is delicious.”

Abby smiled in satisfaction before sitting down next to him with her own slice. ”The construction seems to be coming along pretty well. When do you think it will be done?”

”Hopefully before the first snow. We are about halfway done and it has taken a few weeks with everyone working together. I would not want to have to dig all of the snow out or risk damaging the piano.”