“We don’t need to see. I will not allow anything to make you think we can’t make this work.”
“We still need to see if we’re compatible.”
“We are.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“And you’re holding back. You still don’t trust me.”
She opened her mouth to answer, then closed it and quietly looked at him.
“I’m right,” Boon said.
“Not exactly. I do trust you. But I’m afraid. When I thought you left I was devastated. I don’t want to feel that ever again.”
“If you’d trusted me, you’d have had no doubt that I’d have been right back.”
“That’s probably true. But this is all new for me. I don’t know how to do this. I’m lost in all this.”
“I understand that. And I know that regardless of what we feel, we really don’t know each other. So being unsure is natural. But we can figure everything out. I have faith.”
“You’re not going to let me hide away and pretend we didn't meet are you?”
“I will let you do whatever you want. But I’ll always be right there on the side, watching, waiting, letting you see that even if you don’t want me, I’m still there — I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m pretty sure I remember you saying that if I decide I’m not up for this, you’d make sure that I was protected, then leave me alone.”
“I lied,” he said with a shrug.
“You lied?” she asked, her voice rising.
“Yes. I thought I could walk away, but I can’t, so it’s become a lie. I’ll just be an old, grouchy, snarly Gargoyle who watches your every move. And if I can’t have you, I’ll have to be okay with that. Maybe I can scare kids and all instead. It’ll be a highlight. But I won’t go away.”
Angelle couldn’t help herself, she laughed — she laughed a lot.
When she finally managed to catch her breath, still giggling, she looked over at him. “I needed that.”
He smiled almost sadly. “I’m not going anywhere. I understand your fear, and it’s justified. I’m scared, too. But I’m more afraid of being without you, than I am of being with you. So, that brings us to now. I’ll give you time. I have faith in us,” Boon said.
“Then I guess we’re going to try to give us a chance,” Angelle said.
“We’re definitely giving us a chance. Will you stay here with me while we find our way?” he asked.
“I have to, don’t I? Where else would I stay?”
“You could stay with Lily. Or you could probably stay with my parents. But I’d rather you stay here in our home.”
Angelle thought about it. Then she looked up into his eyes. “We have three bedrooms here and there’s only two of us. There’s no reason I couldn’t stay here.”
“We’re going to make this work,” he insisted.
“We’re going to try to make this work,” she corrected.
“I’ll take it for now. But make no mistake, this is going to work. In fact,” he said, “here’s your key to the house.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Angelle asked, as she took the key from him.
“Not really. But I’m so very sure of us.”
