Eirwen rather suspected itdidmatter, but something else mattered more. “Cole, you are one of the best people I’ve ever met.”
He paused. “Be serious.”
“Iambeing serious.”
“You remember what I was like five years ago–”
“Exactly! I knowjusthow bad you can be, and I know just how much you’ve changed. And how hard that must have been for you. It’s easy to be good when your life is easy–”
“Mine was, though.”
“Was it? Your father ignored you, you were taken from your home against your will, you lost the only man who ever treated you like a son, and you’re trying to overthrow your ownmother, the one person who has always cared about you. And you’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do. How many other people could do such a thing?”
Cole swallowed, his silence heavy with the weight of her words. “You could.”
Eirwen sighed. “You’re a good person, Cole. You are every bit as good as I am, and even though you absolutelyinfuriateme at times, I do find you just a little bit funny and charming.”
Cole chuckled. “I thought I was supposed to be cheering you up?”
“I’m all right now.”
“You don’t need to shelve your own pain all the time to deal with others’.”
“Why not? It works well.”
“At what?”
“Helping me deal with it.”
“Deal with it, or ignore it?”
“Is there a difference?”
Cole sighed. “Quite a bit, actually. Are you finished with your bath?”
“Almost. Why?”
“Let me know when you’re decent.”
She climbed out, drying herself quickly, and squirming into the loosest, warmest clothes she could find. “I’m ready,” she said.
Cole walked into the tent, pulling her into his arms, and kissed the top of her head. “Whatever you need,” he said, “whenever you need it, I’m here.”
“Same,” she said, snuggling further into him. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you, too. But right now, this is actually pretty good, if... if I can stay a little longer?”
“You can stay there forever, if you like.”
“Cole…” She glanced upwards, deep into the depths of those dark, utterly beautiful eyes. Eyes she could fall into, because they were open, open to her.
He cupped her cheeks. “If anyone catches me in here, I’m dead.”
“I was alone with you in Oakley’s clinic.”
“That was before,” said Cole. “Things are different now. And the others know it too.” He gazed at her. “Thingsaredifferent now, right? I didn’t imagine that, did I?”
“No,” said Eirwen, burying herself in his chest to avoid answering. “You didn’t imagine it.”
“Snow… you don’t like the fact that you like me, do you?”