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I folded my hands on my lap. “Go ahead.”
“You and Magnet are a good fit.”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’d say it feels awkward to be visibly affectionate toward each other, but shockingly, it isn’t.”
She smiled. “Zeppelin worried more about that than I did. Then again, like you, I came close enough to dying that I learned to appreciate every new day.” She looked around the room at those who’d returned with plates of food and taken seats. “That is especially true for Oleander. I think she’s stared death in the face more times than we’ll ever know. Conversely, it’s softened her in a way I never dreamed possible.”
“Magnet and I…it’s new.”
“I’m going to give you some unsolicited advice. When it’s right, you know it. And no matter how much energy you spend trying to talk yourself out of it, or thinking it might not be real, you eventually realize there’s no point. What’s meant to be happens anyway.”
“Thank you, Verity,” I said when I saw Zeppelin and Magnet heading our way.
“If that’s more of what Zep poured earlier, you better get some food in your stomach,” she said, looking over at the glasses of amber-colored liquid the two men held.
“Good idea.”
Magnetand I had just finished dishing plates of food when I heard Ehren saying hello to everyone.
“Still okay with this?” he asked.
“Oleander believes bringing Ehren back is for the good of the mission.”
“If you feel uncomfortable in any way?—”
“I will handle it professionally, sir.” I winked, but I could tell my words stung.
“My apologies,” he muttered.
“For what? Looking out for me? Caring about me? Sorry, but I don’t accept.” While I was still smiling, Magnet wasn’t.
“It’s more than that, you know?”
I set my plate down and put my hands on his forearms. “It is for me too.” I picked my food up. “Come on. Let’s get this over with so we can go to bed.” I winked again, and this time, he smiled.
“Hello, Schön,” said Ehren when we came face-to-face.
“Hello.”
“I hope we’ll be able to?—”
“We will. You should get something to eat.” I scooted around her and made my way back to the sofa where Magnet and I had been sitting. I wasn’t as ready to face her as I’d thought and definitely not prepared for us to say a few words and let bygones be bygones. As I’d told Magnet, I’d handle my interactions with Ehren in a professional manner. That didn’t mean I saw us as ever becoming friends.
However, I likely would’ve said the same thing about Verity, and look at where we were now. Grey had actually commented on how well she and I worked together.
“How’d your conversation go?” Magnet asked.
“You were right behind me. It wasn’t much of one.”
“I meant the one you just had with yourself.”
“It was a good pep talk,” I said, smiling again.
“I’m going back for seconds. Anyone want more?” Zeppelin asked.
Both Magnet and I thanked him, but our plates were still full.
A few minutes later, after I’d finished eating, Verity called me over to where she’d been standing earlier.