She nodded. "Okay. What happened after that? Why didn't you mention it?"
"The honest answer is going to piss you off," I said.
"More than I already am?"
"Good point." I cleared my throat. "I forgot about it. I was more concerned with Dumont and then being kidnapped by humans. Ava brought it up when Caleb returned from Dallas and advised me to tell you about him, but so much happened."
Merry crossed her arms over her chest. "Your excuses are that you were selfish and you forgot?"
I winced at the stern tone in her voice. "Well, when you say it like that, it sounds really bad."
Her lips tightened as she glared at me. "Seriously?"
"I really am sorry. I screwed up. I should have said something."
"Yeah, you did screw up." She studied me for a long moment. "But I suppose I can understand considering we were dealing with a rogue vampire, spying humans, and then being kidnapped."
Wait, what?
"Yes, I'm letting you off the hook," she said. "I figure at some point in our relationship, I'm going to screw up and I'll want you to be sympathetic and understanding rather than bitchy and whiny." She inhaled and let it out with a sigh. "So, I'm trying to give you what I would want from you when that happens."
I took a step forward and put my hands on her waist. "I'm not going to ask you if you're sure because I don't want to give you a chance to change your mind."
She shook her head and leaned her forehead against my shoulder. "I'm not going to change my mind. Against my better judgment, I love you, you big lughead."
I kissed the top of her head, unable to think of what to say.
"Anything to say to me?" she mumbled against my shoulder.
"Um..."
She pinched my side and I yelped. "Okay, okay. I have no idea what to say."
Merry lifted her head and squinted at me. "Considering I've seen into your head, do you want to reciprocate those words?"
Oh.
"You know I love you. I've never tried to hide that," I said.
"Yeah, but the words are important, too. Even if I can read your mind."
I kissed her. "Understood."
When I lifted my mouth from hers, Merry said, "For our first fight, this went pretty well."
"I agree."
"Does that mean it's time for make-up sex?"
Every time I thought I had a handle on how her mind worked, she threw another curve ball at me. Merry gave a little hop and wrapped her legs around my waist, which made me laugh. At least until she whipped her shirt over her head.
"Jesus, Merry. We're outside in the middle of the day."
Her bra followed, leaving her naked from the waist up, her pale skin gleaming in the afternoon sunlight.
"So? Your nearest neighbor is over a mile away, right? Unless you're worried about drones and spying humans."
She didn't give me a chance to respond before she kissed me again.
