Cole nodded, face still buried, and Brennan held him as long as Cole would let him.
Eventually, Cole pulled away from the hug.
“My Uber’s gonna be here any minute now, and I wanted to—hold on—”
He started digging through one of the bags, opening the suitcasecarelessly into the snow, and finally presented a well-loved green paperback.
Brennan bit back a grin. “Oh god,” he said. “We’re nerds.”
“I think we already knew that, babe,” Cole said. “But, why?”
Brennan conjured his own package to pass to Cole.
“We both got each other books.”
Cole laughed.
“Well, obviously,” he said, and thrust his book out so Brennan could trade the package for it.
The little book was dog-eared, sticky notes protruding from all directions.Fablehavenby Brandon Mull.
“Thought you might want a break from all the vampire stuff, at least over break,” Cole said.
“I appreciate that.”
A car crackled over ice as it slowed to a stop next to them, and Cole cursed.
“Shit, I should—”
“Yeah,” Brennan said, waving him off. “Don’t worry, open mine on your own, we’ll talk later.”
“Yeah. I’ll text you.”
“Good. I’ll call you.”
“Good.”
“Okay.”
Cole’s eyes were locked on Brennan, swaying into his space like an invitation, and Brennan wouldn’t deny him anything.
The driver honked at them.
Cole’s laugh was bright and flustered. He dropped down from where he’d pushed up onto his toes and covered his face.
They separated after a long moment and Brennan loaded Cole’s bags into the car while Cole charmed the driver with small talk through the window. Brennan shut the car’s trunk with a slam and Cole darted over for a last fast, tight hug.
“See you, then,” Brennan said.
“Yeah,” Cole said. “See you.”
With the driver waiting, there was nothing else to do but let him go. Cole got into the passenger seat instead of the back, a choice made onlyby socialites and murderers, but Brennan knew by the time they got to Boston Logan, Cole would have befriended the driver and uncovered his life story.
There was a rush of affection, ofthat’s my personthat made Brennan’s stomach drop. Cole gave one last little wave, then closed the door behind him, and the car drove off.
He knew this was where he had been headed all this time, but it was still terrifying. To be who he was, and to be in love with Cole.
On the inside of the front cover ofFablehaven,Cole had written:
