Page 89 of Puck My Life

“Anyway, this is for you.”

“Why?” I ask, not meaning to say it out loud.

“Because I believe in you.”

So simple. I take the guitar; she smiles at me. I don’t think I’ve ever appreciated her smile before. Then she turns and leaves, and I have a horrible sensation I’m losing something precious.

PRESENT

It’s been six days. Malcolm and Deacon were dropped off to catch a bus yesterday to go meet the Omega Storm. I could care less. Vae has been avoiding me, and I have planned and plotted a foolproof way to get her back in my clutches. Apparently, one drive from bringing her to heaven on my fingers back to our house had her brakes on hard. There was an Uber waiting when we got home, and she’d given me a flimsy excuse and bailed.

I was frustrated, but not enough to break the fragile trust I’d started to build.

But today…I’m through waiting.

Vae rocks up to the house, rushing through the front door.

“Raynor!”

I smile as I hide in the dark of the lounge where she should overlook me. As soon as she goes rushing past, I sneak out and lock the door, pocketing the keys.

I follow her as she goes from room to room, and when she can’t find me in mine, she slumps, and, I swear, I see all the happiness go out of her.

She turns, her eyes widening before she schools her expression and steps towards me.

“You said the house was leaking?”

“I lied.”

My clear admission rocks her.

“You…lied?”

“Yes. I lied.”

She is delightfully offended, her mouth opening in a cute little circle, her eyes glinting. “You lied to me?”

I take a step towards her, and her eyes get wide, shooting to the space between us before she shuffles back a little bit.

It’s adorable.

“Vae, you’ve been hiding.”

She stops breathing; her hazel eyes are so beautiful when she’s panicking. I step closer again.

“Are you concerned about what we did? Did you hate it?”

Her face flushes with colour, and her eyes drop to the left.

“No, you didn’t. You loved it, so you thought I regretted it?”

Her eyes lift to mine, wide, frightened, hypnotising.

“You silly, silly omega.”

Her perfume fills the hallway, but she’s still so unsure. I ease back a bit.

“Come have dinner with me, and let’s watch their game together.” I have to force my voice into my normal tone, without all the intent to hunt her down. I’m pretty sure if I keep doing that, she really will run.