Page 383 of Eternal
Vik crouches down next to me, rubbing behind one of their ears. “They love you.”
“I love them too.”
Damir wraps his arms around me from behind, lifting me slightly off the ground. I squeal.
“I have a surprise for you,” he murmurs against my ear. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
Another surprise?
I wave at Kat and Vik as he pulls me toward the bike. “I’ve got some stuff to do these next few days, but I’ll be back.”
“Come for your birthday,” Kat says, hugging me.
Damir squeezes my hand. “I’ll bring her. Don’t worry.”
And then we’re gone, the night cold and bright behind us, the dogs still barking in the yard, and me… pressed against his back on the bike, wondering how long this little bit of peace will last.
After a few minutes, we pulled up outside his apartment, and he parked the bike in front of the building. As we walk toward the door, I spot a small box sitting on the doorstep.
“There’s a box here,” I say, squinting at it. “What are you planning?”
He shrugs, picks it up without a word, and reaches for my hand without letting go of the package. “Come inside first. You’re too curious, partner.”
The door clicks shut behind us. I finally let go of his hand and slipped off my jacket. He sets the box down on the coffee table, then disappears into the kitchen. A moment later, he returns with a water glass and fills the vase beside the box, where a fresh iris is already waiting.
It makes me smile.
The way he keeps buying irises for me. So I can see them, smell them... maybe love them again. He promised he’d help mefall for them, even after everything. And somehow, he’s doing it. It’s…sweet. I think this is what people call romantic.
He’s awful with plants, flowers especially.
But he still tries.
He even bought vinyls in secret. Thought he was being clever, but I saw the bag two days ago. Then it disappeared. Maybe he’s hiding it for my birthday, I don’t know.
Now he’s leaning against the table, hands tucked behind his back, grinning.
I narrow my eyes. “What is it?”
He smiles, shyly. The kind of smile that makes something tender ache inside me.
“Patience is a virtue.”
“Good thing I have no virtues.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Oh, I know that.”
I smile without meaning to. I don’t think he realizes how easily he makes me smile, when it used to hurt so much. Smiling got me hit.
Life taught me, early on, that joy was dangerous.
I used to be a happy kid. Until I wasn’t.
He holds out his hand, palm up. I take it without hesitation. He pulls me closer, and the package is already in his other hand.
“Close your eyes for me,partner,” he says, brushing his fingers gently under my chin.
“I’m not a kid, you know.”
