I wasn’t surprised she’d said something so…shallow.
Books aren’tjustbooks; they arelife. Adventures and romances and histories – they are a beautiful escape.
But I wouldn’t expect Mommy here to understand any of that.
Myles waved a hand at the boxset I was holding, and then glanced at the woman. “If you want, we can give this to you so that you can–”
“Oh, no!” She shook her head elegantly. “Please don’t. It’s nothing she can’t handle.” She then finally gave me her undivided attention. “You have a keeper in your hands here,” she said adoringly.
I do, I signed around a genuinely giddy smile, because Myles really was a keeper.
The woman’s eyes widened as she stared at me. Her complexion paled, and she struggled with her words as she continued to look at me.
And there, on her ashen features, was the one thing I absolutelyhatedseeing from people who meet me for the first time.
Sympathy.
I must have stiffened against him, and he must’ve sensed it, because Myles wrapped an arm around my waist before pressing me so close to him that I immediately relaxed against his warmth.
“It was a pleasure to meet you,” he said to the woman, who licked her red lips and swallowed as she finally took her gaze away from me and nodded at Myles.
“Yes, a pleasure.” With a quick wave, she all but ran away from us.
Once alone again, I closed my eyes and sighed.Breathe, I told myself.Breathe,Carina. It’s okay, just breathe.
These things usually didn’t affect me much – people’s reactions and their uncertainty in how to behave in front of me – but I guess sometimes they just…hitme, and hit me forreal.
Why is it so hard to believe that therearepeople like me out there in the world? Wouldn’t it be nice to simply accept and appreciate our nature? A little ease and understanding are more than enough. That’s all I ask for.
We’re unique in our own ways, and I’d really appreciate it if we weren’t treated like disjoined parts of the society, but instead be seen as its cohesive variables.
That shouldn’t be so hard to do, right?
“Hey.” Myles ran a hand up and down my back. “I’m here.”
I looked up at him, patted my chest once, and then tapped the tips of my fingers to the side of my forehead twice to say:I know.
He placed a knuckle under my chin and brought my face close to his. “You’re perfect, Rina, just the way you are,” he said against my lips, and then erased the space between us by pressing a chaste kiss on my lips.
And that – that was enough.
Morethan enough.
22.Avalanche In The Calm
Myles pushed open the door and motioned for me to step in. With a smile, I entered the condo, and sucked in a breath as I looked around the beautifully rustic interior of his home.
Everything felt so natural and pleasing to the eye – from the wooden walls and beamed ceiling to the massive window in the center of the living room. From the classic leather couches to the plush ivory carpet on the floor.
As the two of us took off our boots next to the threshold, Myles shut the condo’s door and placed the books and grocery bags he was holding, under the coatrack next to the entrance.
A faint smell of his cologne, along with the scent of burnt wood, hit my nose, and I sighed. I could almost imagine a silent lake beyond the house instead of the busy, traffic-laden street of Chicago as I watched the snow fall on the closed glass window.
Once we’d left the bookstore, Myles had suggested we go somewhere for lunch, but I didn’t want that. I wanted to cook something for him, because other than desserts and cakes, I hadn’t exactly made anything savory for him, especially a meal. And also because I wanted to reward him for his heroism atB&Nearlier.
It was only necessary, of course.
Because going to my house and making him lunch was out of the question – due toAvô, obviously – I’d asked Myles if we could go over to his place. He’d said yes immediately. Although, he’d suggested we order takeout instead of me cooking, but I’d refused.
