Page 24 of Did It Have To Be Gnomes?! (Carry A Faerie #1)

After what he’d told me happened to him, I figured he wouldn’t judge me, but it was nice to know for sure I was right.

He asked, “Are you doing okay after everything that happened in the basement?”

Pulling away, I glanced at him, taking him in for several long beats before I gave him a nod and leaned back on my hands again. “Honestly, I’m freaked out, but I’ll be alright. I’ll probably have nightmares for the rest of my life, but it’ll be fine.”

He snorted. “I think I’m gonna have nightmares too, so I can imagine you’re going to.”

I shoulder-bumped him, then I yawned really big before I could look away from him and had to sit up so I could cover my mouth. How embarrassing. I’d yawned, like, right in his face. Apparently, I was meant to constantly make a fool out of myself in front of this man.

And he wanted to take me on a date?

He’d probably change his mind by the time we were done here.

With a sigh, I rubbed my face again, then dropped my hands and stared at them in my lap. “Thank you for helping me in there… so many times. I… I’m sorry I kept freaking out.”

Winter touched my back and began rubbing small circles there. It felt so good, like he was radiating warmth wherever he touched. I wasn’t used to casual touches. My parents had never been touchy-feely kind of people, even before they realized I was an empath.

And once I was old enough to advocate for myself, I’d steered clear of all touches. When extended family tried to hug me or rub my back like this or anything else, I’d freak out from the onslaught of their emotions.

My dad’s mother had been the only one I could stand getting hugs from. Actually, I’d liked her hugs because they were always filled with so much love and affection for me. Other people… other people were always so fake, and I couldn’t stand it.

And then, even as an adult, I’d stayed away from others for the most part. I’d tried to date a few times, but it never turned out well because I hadn’t liked a ton of touching, and my partners always got frustrated with me.

I’d never realized how much I was missing out on until Winter started with all these casual touches. It felt good. So fucking good.

When he left me, when he decided he didn’t need or want me as a friend, it was going to be so hard to let go of this.

The thought made me want to cry, but I decided not to focus on that. He was here right now, and I needed to soak up everything about him while I still could.

No more sad thoughts. Winter was here, and he was rubbing my back and giving me hugs and… yeah… that was what mattered.

He quietly said, “You don’t need to apologize, My-my.”

I huffed out a small laugh. “Oh god, don’t start with that nickname.”

He snorted. “Seriously, though, no need to worry. I’m sorry you were so freaked out, but I can’t say I’m sorry you wound up in my arms so many times. In case you missed this part—I kinda like you.”

“Kind of is a massive understatement,” Lyric called over.

“Hey! I thought you were sleeping.” Winter glared at them even though they weren’t looking.

Lyric waved an arm in the air, and I assumed they were waving Winter off.

Winter caught my gaze and gave an amused eye roll. “Anyway, it’s true. I like you, and I liked, uh… saving you.” Now it was his turn to blush, and I couldn’t help but grin at him.

“So White Knight is the perfect name for you, then. Good to know.”

He snorted, and Lyric called over, “Definitely the perfect nickname. He has that White Knight Complex thing I read about in my fantasy books. He’d fit in perfectly with them. We’ll have to throw you up in a tower and tell Win to save you. Maybe throw in a dragon or something too.”

“Lyric,” Winter said with exasperation. “Stop. Talking.”

“Can’t help it. When I’m awake, my mouth automatically moves.”

That made me chuckle.

Even though I really wanted to speak to Winter alone, all of Lyric’s commentary was amusing, and I liked seeing the two friends interact together.

They were like how I’d imagine two siblings would act.

I didn’t have any siblings, so I wouldn’t know, but if I did, I’d wish they treated me the way these two treated each other—teasing but with a lot of love and affection.

“By the way,” Lyric said, “I’m not looking at you guys, so if you wanna, like, kiss or make-out or whatever, I won’t peek, promise. I mean, I can’t close my ears, so maybe don’t go too far or whatever, but kissing would work.”

“Lyric!”

Winter’s face looked so mortified I could do nothing but laugh loudly. After a few seconds, he joined in.

We chatted quietly for a little while, and I honestly didn’t think I’d ever been more comfortable with another person.

Maybe it was because I couldn’t feel his emotions so I didn’t know if he was feeling annoyed or bored or whatever about me.

It was… refreshing not to have another person’s emotions rolling around in my head—and my heart—and mixing with my own.

“I think I hear a car,” Lyric said, cutting Winter off as they sat up. “You hear it?”

Winter and I both froze and turned toward the driveway. It took only half a beat to hear tires rolling over gravel.

“Shit.” I jumped to my feet and headed for the pathway we’d taken here. “We gotta hurry before that kid gets too close to the house! What if the gnomes start jumping out the windows or something?”

Winter caught up to me, jogging with a wide grin. “It’s gonna be okay, Miles. We’re gonna figure this out together.”

Together.

Wow.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had someone help me with work… or with anything in my life.

My heart lurched in my chest.

Winter was such a sweet guy.

Even if he didn’t stick around long-term, I’d just have to enjoy the time I had with him.

And if I pretended that he meant he wanted to date me—and not just do the whole date-leads-to-a-one-night-stand-thing—well, no one needed to know my secret hopes.