Page 73 of Delta

"I was bein' interesting and tellin' you something about myself." He arches an eyebrow. "Most women I've known are always after me to use more words, share more about me."

I lean into him hard, making him stumble to the side. "I'm just fucking with you, Rush. I do want you to share."

"Hard to tell when you're jokin', sometimes."

I snort. "The laugh didn't give it away?"

"I mean, people laugh when they're saying something true but mean."

"That wasn't mean, Rush. At least, I didn't think so. You were a homeless orphan, which is, in my understanding at least, not a socio-economic status that engenders a law-abiding lifestyle."

Rush shrugs and nods. "I suppose that's true, innit? But it's true mainly because the world ain't a fit, proper, or safe place for homeless orphans. Folks don't know what to do with the likes of us."

"No, I suppose most people don't," I agree.

Rush scans the signs and points at one. “Here we are, this is us."

We enter the cafe and Rush orders us meals. We find an open booth and sit on the same side, facing the doorway.

Rush, on the outside, glances at me. "Never sat in a booth with someone like this, both of us on the same side. Not sure if I like it or if it's weird."

I laugh. "Same, to be honest. I kinda like it, though. I can do this." I curl my hand around his bicep and rest my head on his shoulder.

"Well, that's a good point, that is." He turns his head to mine, inhaling my scent, and presses a soft kiss on the top of my head. "Coz then I can do that."

I feel my heart flip at the casually tender affection he's showing me, something I wouldn't have expected from a man like him in a million years. "Rush," I whisper.

He sniffs a soft laugh. "You say my name like that a lot. I never quite know what to make of it." I feel his attention, his thoughts going deep. "Why've you forgiven me so easily, Bryn?"

I sit up, sighing. "I take after my mother in a lot of ways, Rush. Sadly, I didn't get her tits and ass, but I did get her mercurial temperament."

"Okay, two things here," Rush says. "One, I've not met your mum, but I personally think the tits and arse you've got are pretty fuckin' spectacular. An' two, what's mercurial temperament mean?"

"My mom's a lot curvier than I am, is all I'm saying. I'm tall and lean like my dad. But I'm glad you like my body, Rush."

He snorts. "’Like’ it ain't quite the phrase I'd use."

"No? What would you say, then?"

"Fishin' for compliments, are you?"

I nod, laughing, as I mime casting with a fishing pole. "I'm not good at fishing for fish, but I'm great at fishing for compliments."

"Fair enough. I actually hate fishing. Boring and pointless. I want a fish, I’ll pop down to the grocery and buy one. Waste of fuckin' time sittin' around in a stupid tin boat throwin' hooks about hopin' some manky fish is idiot enough to try an' eat one."

I cackle. "Same! Now, deep sea fishing is a different story. That can be fun."

"Wossat like then?"

I grab his hand and squeeze. "Stick around and maybe we'll take you."

He looks at me. "Bryn, I…"

Our food arrives then, and we both begin eating.

I see the doubt on his face, hear the hesitancy in his voice. "Rush, listen to me." I set my fork down and take his other hand in mine, pivoting on the bench to face him more directly. "I forgive you. Okay? Maybe no one else on the planet will ever understand why, but I do. What you did was not done maliciously. You're not a bad man. You're a good man in a bad situation faced with no good choices. You did a bad thing for a good reason. When I say I have a mercurial temperament, I mean I get angry fast, but I let it go just as fast. My anger burns hot and intense, but it cools off in equal proportion. When I'm happy, I’m over the fucking moon. When I'm sad, it's like the world is ending. When I'm horny, I could fuck all day and all night and never get enough. So yeah, I was shocked and hurt and angry when you told me the truth. But Rush, the important thing is that you didn't follow through—you saved me. You fought for me, as you have since the moment I met you, regardless of your original intentions. And you did tell me the truth."

His eyes drop, full of intense emotion he's visibly uncomfortable with. "Bryn, I…fuck me, mate. I've no clue what to say. I'm not good with emotions."