Page 103 of Solar Shadows

No, he really wanted to hug me, inching closer.

And I let him.

He wrapped those arms around me, his presence a balm to my senses, everything about him radiating shelter. My tensions unknit as I hugged him back, leaning into him.

It took substantial effort to keep a dam up against the waterworks.

He stroked my back, saying nothing, being the rock I’d been looking for all my life. I hated to admit it, but it was true.

We hugged for ages, until the murk cleared away enough for us to finally move into my room. To talk about the phone call initially, but then I kept going, spilling details on my past, on the things that hurt me, on the strength I’d summoned to forge my path to fame and fortune.

Ollie listened, so kind, so lovely. A far cry from the ice cube I thought he was.

We’d both misjudged one another massively.

When I stopped waffling, I apologized and leaned back on my hands, head titled to the ceiling.

“Talking is exhausting,” I said.

“Thanks for telling me,” he answered. “I’m sorry you endured so much crap.” He shook his head. “How could they say those things to you?”

I sat forward. “Because I let them. I never really pushed back as hard as I should. Even the Christmasblow up wasn’t as nuclear as it should be. And this might sound crazy, but I do miss them. I still love them because they’re…family.”

I couldn’t shake off twenty-five years of them being a part of my life as easily as I’d like. There was a lot to work through, a lot to talk about. And that fucked me off because they didn’t deserve any of it, especially David. I should burn the bridges, leave them in the past. I’d done it with others who’d sold stories about me, those I thought were friends. So why not the Davenports? They hurt me, and I was an Aurora, never truly one of them.

Yes, because life is so easy breezy and not complicated at all.

I rolled my eyes at my internal voice and got to my feet. “I guess we both know what it’s like to be rejected, eh?”

I paced, scratching at my left arm.

Ollie pushed himself off the bed and took my hands. I stopped pacing, catching my breath.

“I’m sorry I thought the worst about you,” he said.

He looked so adorable. “Don’t be. Like I’ve never judged anyone before. That’s what we do as a species, isn’t it? No one is innocent of passing judgment. If they say they are, they’re a liar.”

He smiled, keeping hold of my hands. “We need to talk about us.”

The warmth remained in his face, which I took as a good sign.

“Okay.” I licked my lips. “You start.”

“I—”

A knock sounded on my door, cutting him off.

Someone’s timing was super shit.

“Isaac?” Riley called from the other side.

Okay, he always got a pass.

“Excuse me a second,” I told Ollie.

“No problem.”

Still warm, no return of aloofness.