“If it soothes my soul to do so, why would you deny me the privilege? Does it offend you?” Boon asked.
“No. But I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’m not accustomed to people wanting to spend time with me. It’s not… comfortable.”
“You’ll never know I’m there.”
“If you’re there, I want to know where you are!”
“Then I’ll make sure that you see me.”
She sat quietly, eating her breakfast, boldly shooting weighing looks his way from time to time, and despite him practically demanding to be allowed into her life, he seemed content to simply sit across from her as he ate. “I thought you said to take my time and weeks or months from now, whenever it felt comfortable to let you know. That I could take my time and decide for myself what I do and don’t want.”
“I did. And I stand by that. But how will you ever know if you should choose me or not, if you don’t know me? And you can’t get to know me if I’m not where you can get to know me? So, this is me, giving you the opportunity to get to know me, while still being patient and giving you the time you need. It will take as long as it takes. But we can’t move forward until we know each other, even if forward is goodbye. At least this way, we’re on your land, in your safe space.”
“True,” she said thoughtfully as she looked at him again, suspicion hiding behind her eyes.
They sat quietly for several minutes as they ate, until finally he set his fork down and waited for her to look up at him.
Angelle felt him waiting for her attention, and finally raised her eyes to his.
“Do you want me to go away? Would that be better?”
“No,” she said without hesitation.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted to be near you.”
“I’m uncomfortable around anyone other than my family. And sometimes, I’m uncomfortable around them.”
“I wish that I gave you a sense of peace. Your safe place.”
Angelle looked down at her food and nudged it around with her fork for several moments before she looked up at him again. “You do. And that’s part of the reason that this is so uncomfortable for me.”
“I don’t understand,” he said.
She sighed, seeming to draw her courage together before she confessed what had been running through her mind since she’d first laid eyes on him. “Little pieces of time are one thing. Sharing a meal and light conversation. But extended periods of time, allowing you to take up space in my life… that scares me.”
“If I make you feel safe, why does that scare you?” Boon asked.
“Because the more time you spend with me, the more likely you’ll see that I’m not what you thought I was. You’ll see what everyone else does, and you’ll walk away. I’ll be left struggling to find a way to fill all the space you leave behind. I don’t want to have to do that.” She’d looked away as she softly ended her explanation.
“Angelle, I already see you. I saw you the moment your eyes met mine. All it makes me feel is a desperate need to be a part of your life. I want to be part of you.”
“I don’t think you’re seeing me accurately. You think I’m worth pursuing, but I’m just me. I’m quiet, I’m solitary, I’m shy, I’m… simple.”
“You’re kind, you’re nurturing, you’re lovely, you’re smart, you’re empathetic, you are sincere, you’re gentle, you’reeverything. There is nothing simple about you. Make no mistake about it… I see you.”
She watched him, felt the sincerity of his words, but was still afraid to put herself out there.
“You don’t have to choose me. This, us, is entirely in your hands. But allow me the space to let you know me. To let me see the little parts of you that you keep held close to yourself, the same way I want you to see the little parts of me that I keep held close. If you decide at any point that you can’t take the chance for any reason, tell me. I’ll go if you tell me to go away. But please, make sure it’s really what you want. If I do walk away, I don’t think I’ll be able… I’ve waited so long to find my mate, that if you don’t feel the same…” he hesitated for a few seconds as he searched for the right words, finally giving up and changing the course of his statement. “Please, just don’t say that you want me to go, unless you’re absolutely sure.”
“I don’t want you to go. But I’m afraid,” she said.
“Here’s a secret — me, too,” he said, reaching across the table and laying his hand on hers.
Chapter 3
“He’s touching her,” Daniel said from his place staring through the window of Remi’s old bedroom.
Avaleigh, sitting in the living room watching the morning news, heard his voice but didn’t hear what he’d said. “What?” she called out as she sipped her coffee.
