Page 91 of Our Radiant Embers

“Tomorrow,” I told him.

It felt like a promise I desperately wanted to keep.

* * *

I collected Cassandra at Amit’s place. He was a nice guy with velvet eyes and a great smile, and if I had to venture a guess, I’d wager he knew I was gay. He’d never asked, though, and I hadn’t volunteered.

We threw Cassandra’s bag into my car so I could drive her home. As expected, she turned to fix me with an expectant stare as soon as we pulled away from the kerb.

“So.” The word carried great weight.

I glanced into the rear view mirror. “Well, now that’s generic.”

Honestly, I should have known better than inviting her to rise to the challenge. She snorted. “Did you fuck him?”

Well.

“You could say it was mutual.”

“Oooh, bring on the details.” She whistled softly, then leaned over to flick my ear. “How was it?”

“It was nice.”

“I will skin you alive,” she said calmly, “if you don’t start talking in the next five seconds.”

“Wow, so much violence. I thought you spent the last three days reaching for your inner zen.”

“Adam.” Just that—my name, stated in a pointedly patient tone. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye before focusing back on the road. Nerves were buzzing in my fingertips, and each time I blinked, I saw Liam in the passenger seat, bright as the sun.

His magic is growing stronger, and I’ve never seen anything like it. Also, I really, really like him.

“We cooked,” I said slowly. “And we saw some seals. Then we shagged.” It didn’t even begin to capture the messy tangle of bones and blood and soft feelings that sat in my stomach, my chest light and my head heavy.

Morning coffees. Liam’s lips damp against my cheekbones. The ever-changing pattern of the waves.

It took a long second before Cassandra responded, the weight of her focus clinging to my profile. “You like him,” she said, her voice gentle.

I puffed out a sad laugh, sighed, and followed it up with a shrug. “It’s irrelevant.”

”Honey, it’s not.” She brushed her fingers down my shoulder. “It’s the very opposite of irrelevant.”

”It’s impossible,” I amended. “Sheer, utter madness.”

She was quiet for a beat before she said, quiet but firm, “Feelings don’t listen to reason, babe. They just are.”

I couldn’t think of a single thing to say in response, so I stayed silent.

17

LIAM

“So are you, like, in love with him?”

Laurie’s question startled me out of contemplating the mixed vegetables on my plate. So far, my family had been remarkably restrained in their commentary, which really just meant they’d been saving it up for dinner when we all united around the table.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I told her. As far as denials went, this was a hastily built sandcastle trying to withstand the incoming tide. And wow, look at that—even my metaphors featured beaches and the sea. Go figure.

When I glanced around the kitchen, all eyes were on me. Right. So, I had two choices: delay the inevitable by means of evasion or admit defeat right off the bat. I’d never been the type to go down without a fight.

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