17

You and Tobias both breathe a sigh of relief. When you catch his eye, however, you don't think he looks quite ready to relax. In fact, there's a distinctly guilty crease still pulling around his mouth.

"Now, I do seem to remember you telling us you'd already finished these weeks ago," Maxie says teasingly, but grins to let Tobias know they're not serious. "No, I'm kidding. It really means a lot that you'd help us out, kiddo—and you too, Huknock."

"Yeah—what they said," Zoe tells you both with a smile. "But where did you get everything from? I didn't think you ever did much painting, Tobias."

You feel yourself freeze. You're pretty sure Tobias has had a similar reaction.

"Uh—I don't know. I just had them lying around," he says pretty convincingly. Maxie doesn't question it and goes back to looking at their banner. Zoe, however, lingers her gaze on Tobias's face, a hint of a frown on her forehead.

"Really? I don't remember seeing any," she says, glancing down at her own sign. "I thought you always preferred drawing."

Tobias shrugs.

"We must've had some more," he tells her, looking her in the eye and managing not to flinch.

After what seems to you like a frighteningly tense pause, Zoe nods, apparently accepting the story. She doesn't say much more except to thank you again for the sign before heading off to finish setting up her stand. Before you can leave as well, however, Maxie (who was too busy with the dogs to really hear the last conversation) addresses Tobias.

"I know you already helped us out a lot, but I could use a hand getting everything ready before noon," they say with a pleading expression, gesturing to a large box full of enough stuff for a dog-sized obstacle course. "I promise I won't keep you forever. Would you mind helping me out?"

Tobias doesn't seem enthusiastic about the idea, but after a second, he agrees. After quickly promising to catch up with you a little later (though from the way he seems reluctant to meet your eye, you get the feeling he's not really in the mood), he gets to work helping Maxie, and you start back towards the rest of the fair.

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