The ride to her townhouse was quiet. He put his hand on hers where it rested in her lap while her other hand was on the wheel. Astra turned her palm over and wrapped her fingers around his.
He reminded himself that she wanted to fix the situation. She’d apologized and so had he. They had things to discuss but he was hopeful that they could work things out.
She pulled into her neighborhood and parked in front of her townhouse. Rune released her hand so she could shut off the car. In a few moments, they were inside her house, and it smelled fresh and clean, as though she’d just scrubbed it down.
Other than a pile of blankets on the couch and an empty chip bag and soda can on the coffee table, her place was spotless.
“Do you want some wine or a glass of water or something?” she asked, rubbing her arms with her hands.
He really didn’t, but she seemed a little nervous, so he said, “A glass of wine would be nice.”
He followed her into the kitchen and watched as she opened the fridge. His mouth fell open at the number of bottles on the shelf. Astra turned, a bottle of white wine in her hand, and saw him gaping at her fridge.
She laughed. “My sisters came by, remember? They all brought wine. Several bottles each.”
“Wow. Did the four of you drink any of them?”
Astra laughed again as she opened the cabinet to grab a couple of glasses. “Yes, we did. After we polished off a pitcher of Bloody Mary’s.”
“Remind me not to challenge your sisters to a drinking contest.”
“I thought vampires couldn’t get drunk because of their metabolism,” she said, pouring wine in the glasses.
“Supposedly, we can’t, but I wouldn’t want to test that theory with your sisters. I’m pretty sure Sylvie would draw a dick on my face if I passed out.”
Astra cackled and brought him a glass, holding it out. “See? You understand my family so well already.” She paused and licked her lips. “Let’s go into the living room and talk.”
When they walked in, she seemed to realize that her couch was covered in blankets and there was trash on her coffee table. Her cheeks flushed and she set her wine on one of the side tables as she hurried to clean up the small mess.
“Sorry. I’ve, uh, not felt like myself this week.”
Rune watched her disappear into the kitchen with the empty can and chip bag. While she was gone, he gathered up the blankets and dumped them in the wicker basket where they were usually neatly folded.
Astra returned and glanced at the basket. He could tell she wanted to fold them and tuck them back in neatly, but she didn’t.
“Let’s sit,” she suggested.
Rune joined her on the sofa, and she turned toward him, lifting one of her legs up and bending it so that her thigh rested on his. He’d missed her touch over the last five days. More than he’d realized.
Astra rolled her wineglass between her hands before she took a deep sip. Then, she looked at him and said, “I was behaving like a coward,” she confessed. “And I was in denial. Sylvie said it well before you ever did, and she was right.” Astra swallowed hard. “Now that I can see it clearly, I’m embarrassed. That’s also part of the reason I didn’t call you this week. Embarrassment.”
“You shouldn’t ever be embarrassed around me. Neither of us is perfect.”
She met his gaze. “Maybe not, but I am a warrior, a creature known for bravery, and for me to be a coward…it’s humiliating.”
“It’s not humiliating. Now that I understand how close you are to your family, I can also understand why you were hesitant to do something to upset your parents that way.”
“I’m glad you understand because I still don’t. I told myself I was willing to stand up to my parents for you, that I didn’t care what they thought, but I did.” She shook her head. “I’m forty-five years old. I shouldn’t give a damn if my mother or father approve of the man I love. I can choose my own partner.”
He put a hand over hers. “If my mother was still alive, I would care very much what she thought about my wife. But I also wouldn’t let it stop me from marrying someone if I felt her thoughts were based on false logic. And I would keep encouraging her to accept my spouse.”
“Wife?” Astra repeated.
It figured that would be the word she picked out.
“I don’t think either of us has casual feelings toward the other. Do you?”
Astra shook her head.
