If it’s anything less than forever, I don’t know if I’ll recover.
We put our orders in, her blueberry pancakes and me, two of the businessman’s breakfasts.
“And how do you want your eggs, Andri?” Lerana asks me as she scribbles on our ticket, nose buried behind her notepad.
I open my mouth, but Daphne answers before I do.
“Over easy,” she says simply, as she unwraps the roll of silverware in front of her.
Lerana shoots her eyes over to me, eyebrows waggling, but thank god, Daphne doesn’t notice.
It’s strange how in just a few days someone can learn your preferences, how that information can be stored away so easily and recalled later. It didn’t hurt that we had a few flats of eggs that were supposed to be slated for the lodge’s continental breakfast to make our way through…I’m calling a win a win.
“Got it.” She taps her pen one more time to the paper. “I’m glad you seemed to weather the storm okay.” Lerana gives us both a knowing smile and heads over to a table that walked in while we were ordering.
When I look back at Daphne, she’s got her hands cradling her chin, elbows on the table.
“You know, I think she might be catching on that there’s something going on between us.” She winks, flicking the crinkled paper napkin roll at me. I bat it away, and reach for her hand, holding it in mine.
“Something?” I ask before I can stop myself, the word slipping out softer, needier than I intend.
“Something wonderful.” The smile she gives me isn’t an answer, not really—just a little curve of her lips that knocks my balance out from under me. My knees actually loosen.
“You know,” I murmur, brushing my fingertips along the delicate underside of her palm, “you seem different lately. More sure of yourself.”
She exhales a tiny laugh. “Well, it’s easy when you’ve got someone willing to support you.” Then she immediately winces, her whole face scrunching. “Okay, wait—that sounded wrong. I didn’t mean financially. I mean, you have helped—god, that’s not—ugh.” She yanks her hand back like it’s burning her. “I swear that’s not what I meant.”
“Hey.” I keep my voice low, steady. “I’m not doing anything I don’t want to. And I hope that’s true for you too. We all needhelp sometimes. Getting to help you?” I shake my head. “It’s not a burden. It’s… honestly, it’s a joy.”
Before she can respond, Lerana swoops in with two coffees and a tiny dish with plastic cups of creamer, clattering them onto the table like she’s trying to break the tension on purpose. I almost thank her.
But then I catch Daphne, quick as a blink, swiping away a single tear with the side of her finger. Not sadness—relief. Like no one’s ever let her rest her weight on them without expectations.
And a knot in my chest tightens, warm and protective and maybe a little bit foolish. Maybe it’s the mate bond I’m not even sure I have…but it’s something.
Something wonderful.
We hold hands as we leave the diner and walk down Main Street toward the gondola. We pass the skating rink right as the Zamboni is exiting and heading back to its barn.
“They sure dug the rink out quickly,” I note offhandedly.
“You know, I’ve never been ice skating.” She peeks at the rink from around my body. “I bet I’m no good.”
“I’m actually terrible at ice skating, I don’t have the ankles for it at all.” I laugh.
“There’s no way you’re bad at something!”
“Oh, like a damn baby deer as soon as you strap blades to my feet—hey, we’ve got time, wanna try?”
“Ice skating? Didn’t you just say you were awful?” She laughs in disbelief.
“I am! But it doesn’t mean you’ll be.”
She looks at the ice and back at me. “Sure! As long as we can grab hot cocoa from the snack bar—I’m game!”
I drag her toward the cedar shack where the skate rentals are, and whip out some cash to pay.
“Didn’t think we’d get anyone to skate today, since the tourists have split,” the gangly teen minotaur complains as he gets up from the stool and takes one of his earbuds out.
