the birthday party was precisely what rhydian expected from his older brother, silas: obstreperous, kaleidoscopic, and entirely too disorderly.

rhydian black was one of the reluctant adults who were present. the singular reason he was attending was kalypso lupus-black. his rambunctious niece had appeared at his door two days prior, curly-haired and wide-eyed, asking with all the hope in the world if ‘uncle veggie’ would come to her birthday party. and he’d complied.

surely, his predicament could not worsen.

and yet, moments later, rhydian was standing with his left ankle bound to your right one—by an aggressively pink ribbon. his jaw was clenched and his mouth was a stern line; of course it was you he had been tethered to, for the ‘three legged race.’

he couldn’t discern whether he was to blame the universe or silas.

though you had not yet antagonised him, rhydian caught the faint twitch of your mouth, and decided that he did not like it. as a matter of fact, he liked you even less—massively on principle. after all, you were affiliated with a family his own despised. it was unfortunate that you shared none of their transgressions. regardless, guilt by association was a perfectly reasonable stance.

“do stay out of my way,” rhydian seethed, tightening the knot that fastened him to you.

marlene blew a deafening whistle.

it went downhill instantaneously.

rhydian attempted to lead. the hot pink ribbon bit into his ankle as you both staggered manically across the grass.

then, promptly, ground swayed beneath him. he felt the tug of the ribbon, the sudden lurch of your body—and gravity proved victorious.

rhydian’s back hit the ground first, his breath snatched from his lungs. and you had the audacity to land half atop him, elbow digging into his ribs. for a moment, all he could register was the scent of grass and the fire of embarrassment.

a shadow crept across black’s unnecessarily handsome face. “brilliant,” he bit out, disbelieving. “are you bad at everything, or is it just children’s games?”