“I’m sorry, Scott.”
I couldn’t be sure how long we stood in the hallways, me clinging to Gray like the lifeline he was. Eventually, I peeled myself away from him and ran my hands down my face.
“Will you come with me when I break the news to Gareth?” I asked him. “I’ll stop in on Cass as well and let him know.”
“Of course,” Gray said, lips twitching into a smirk. “How else are you going to get down there?”
He ran down the hallway before I could swat him.
“You are the worst!” I called after him with a laugh, but it didn’t hold the same joy it usually did.
This was now my forever.
It broke something inside of her to be ripped away from her family. A sadness clouded over her and homesickness took on a physical trait that I could only help with by rubbing Quentin’s back as she emptied the contents of her stomach.
“You seem a million miles away,” Larkin said as she stirred her coffee.
Despite the secret history that had unfolded in Larkin’s life, she held no animosity towards me and Erik. Instead, we had fallen into a pattern of grabbing coffee together two days in the week. I had no idea how Erik felt, but for me, it was too little, too late. The guilt and the shame remained so white-hot that it was difficult to start with, but I’d grown used to the feeling in her company.
“Sorry,” I grumbled.
“Something on your mind?” Erik asked.
Larkin all but rolled her eyes. “Clearly.”
I could sit in silence and let them bicker, but it wouldn’t be productive. Instead, I chose to be honest because maybe they, mainly Erik, could offer some advice.
“Quentin.” Her name spilled from my mouth before I could organise my thoughts. “She’s doing well with the council and her responsibilities.”
They both nodded but stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.
“But there’s something more going on. She’s sad. She’s sick. She misses home and she won’t discuss it much, no matter how much I hound her about it.”
“Not the most effective way of getting her to open up to you,” Larkin commented.
“Well, it’s always worked before.”
Erik pushed his mug away from him. “Gray, may I ask when you are planning to cement your commitment to her?”
“Marriage? I’m not sure yet. We haven’t discussed it. She’s been busy and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to have others question her position.”
“Very noble,” Larkin muttered, getting in a quick jab.
“I understand your reasoning, Gray, but have you thought about it from her perspective?”
“Obviously.” I shot my brother a withering look.
“No, idiot.” There was Larkin with her diplomacy. “Not thought about her, but from her perspective.” When I didn’t respond, she continued, “Quentin is missing her family. You won’t commit to her.”
“I am committed!”
“You hounded her into accepting your proposal. Twice.”
“I did not.”
“You blackmailed her on your deathbed.”
“It was nothing like—” My argument died when I saw the shit-eating grin across Larkin’s face. “You’re a pain in the ass and you’re paying for this coffee.”
