Gabriella instinctively reached up, brushing a hand against her curls as she laughed, the motion as natural as breathing. Her hair had always been her shield, soft spirals cascading down to cover what lay beneath. It wasnβt something she thought about most daysβjust a part of who she was, something to hide in plain sightβbut moments like this, when her guard slipped and laughter came so easily, reminded her to keep it in place. βUnbelievable,β the witch muttered, shaking her head at Togameβs over-the-top display. Her curls bounced slightly with the motion, but she didnβt let them shift too much. The last thing she needed was for her little secret to peek out now. βYouβve got jokes, huh? Iβll remember that the next time you need saving from some heavy lifting.β
Her steps quickened as she gestured toward the next corner, a grin still tugging at her lips despite her attempt to sound exasperated. βItβs a left up here,β she said, stealing another glance at him. His relaxed stride, the way he carried the bags like they were nothing nowβit was strangely reassuring. Like no matter what else might be going on in his head, heβd make sure things got where they needed to go. Her curls shifted slightly as the evening breeze picked up, and she instinctively tucked them closer to her face, fingers smoothing them down with practiced ease. βAnd for the record,β she added, her tone playful but just a touch self-conscious, βif you even think about juggling those bags, youβre on your own.β