Page 55 of Code Mages & Empty Pages
“Can you…” She held her arm out to me so I could close it for her.
“Sure.” I fiddled with the little clasp for way longer than necessary. In my head, I rehearsed what I wanted to tell her. I’d written it down in a note on the train and memorised it, but my nerves choked me.
I thought of my huge Varg character.
Comte wouldn’t chicken out. He would tell Roe how he feels. Be brave and tell her!
“Thanks, Luc,” she muttered when I slid the tiny hook through the ring and raised her wrist to her heart.
“I want you to stay, Roe,” I blurted out before my courage left me.
Dawn froze. Her breath hitched in her throat, and her tears pooled in her dark eyes.
“What?”
I swallowed. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. “I want you to stay.” My voice shook, but I pushed on. “I had plenty of time to think in Carranbrae, and I hate the idea of you moving out. I almost had a panic attack when I thought you were gone already.” I waved a hand vaguely at the front door. “Your car wasn’t in the yard.”
She made tiny choking noise. “I just parked on the other side of the road so I didn’t have to make the turn in traffic,” she whispered.
I managed a wobbly smile. “You always do that when you’re stressed.” My hands shook, so I shoved them into my pockets, then yanked them out again.
Before I could think better of it, I pulled her into a hug. Relief flooded me when she sank into my embrace. Ruffles weaved around our ankles, purring even louder, as if he understood exactly what was happening and added his stamp of approval.
Dawn let out a watery laugh and pressed her face against my chest. “Are you serious?” she managed to blubber.
“I’ve never been more serious in my life. I know I said I didn’t want a relationship, and that it was just for the benefits. But that’s not true anymore. You and Ruffles are my family. Please stay with me.”
Her hands trembled on my back. A snuffly sound, half laugh, half sob, escaped her, and then she started to bawl.
Oh, my sweet Roe.
“I was so scared I’d come back and have to live in the house without you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to lose you, Roe.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t want to leave. And I don’t want to lose you either.”
I wiped the tears from her cheeks, kissed the wet skin, and tried to ground us both. “This house is not home if you’re not in it.”
Dawn met my eyes, and I knew she saw straight through all my defences.
“You’re the one quest I never want to finish, Comte.” She sniffed.
Nerd.
I loved her even more for speaking my language. “Same, Roe. I want to campaign with you forever.” We looked at each other, then giggled, and she squeezed me even tighter.
Ruffles leapt onto the counter, lightly swishing his tail in the air, and gave an approving chirp. “Even the cat’s on board,” I joked.
Dawn wiped her face on my shirt.
I hugged her waist even more.
“You know, if you need more shelf space for tea, I’ll clear out a drawer. Or two. Hell, you can have the whole cabinet if you want. I’ll even let you buy another kettle.”
She burst out laughing, the sound raw but full of relief. “That’s love right there.”
“Yes, it is.” I kissed her hair, feeling lighter than I had in years. “And next year we’ll transform the garden. I have plans, but I’ll need your help to execute them, Roe,” I told her in a fake-stern voice, the one I used when I played my Varg warrior.
“We’ll work on it together, Comte.” She squeezed my ass and grinned. “Teamwork makes the dream work, right?” she quoted me.
