His walls threaten to return, but he pushes them back. She loves him. She’s just nervous. It’s all right for her to be nervous.
Perhaps he should ask so they can discuss it instead of dancing around it.
Unless she really doesn’t want him to know.
That seems unlikely, though.
Talk about it. That’s what they need to do.
“You can tell me,” he says. “Whatever it is you and Tharios discussed. You don’t need to be afraid. Not of me.”
And just like that, the worry on her face unknots. Hopefully, he said the right thing.
Off the Rails
Episode 86
SheshouldhavetoldCerian sooner. Not now when she can barely keep her eyes open.
He watches Arisanna without speaking, waiting for her to say something.
How hard was it for him to ask her to talk to him? It was impossible to miss the emotions screaming behind his eyes before he spoke.
But he stayed. And he didn’t shut her out, though part of him seemed ready to hide behind those walls of his. What must he be thinking, knowing she’s hiding something from him? Something she discussed with Tharios?
She should have told Cerian as soon as they had a moment alone.
As she looks at him, she bites her lip. What is she supposed to say? Are these conversations as awkward for him as they are for her?
Every conversation is awkward for Cerian.
Well, not lately. He’s been opening up with her a lot the past few days. Trusting her with his words. With his heart.
She owes him the same.
Not that she was planning to hide anything from him.
She should tell him.
And not just stand here all night thinking about telling him.
“I think I’m stuck inside my head again,” she whispers.
His throat bobs as he looks down at his hands. “I thought we agreed we could talk about anything.”
The defeated note in his voice makes her heart ache.
“We did. I’m just being ridiculous.” She does her best to pull up words. “Tharios...was concerned—and rightfully so because I had no idea. Humans don’t have things like...that. So I didn’t even realize there were ways to...to...”
Confusion latches on to Cerian’s face, but he says nothing.
“My humanness may be showing again,” she says. “We like to awkwardly dance around topics like it’s a sport.”
A sport?
Stars above. She’s clearly too tired to talk like a rational person right now.
“So,” he slowly says, “you wish to tell me whatever we’re not discussing, but you don’t know how to bring it up because humans don’t discuss such things except awkwardly the way you’re doing now?”
