It hurts to keep my tears at bay. “I…want to confess something. But it’s embarrassing, and I’m terrified to admit it, so I’m going to turn around, okay?”
He arches a brow, but I’ve spun on my heel before I can see whether or not he nods.
Shaking, I whisper, “You were my favorite character in the game. Getting to meet you in real life is…wonderful. The best part ofallof this is the chance to know you.Reallyknow you. From my very first playthrough, you made me feel less alone, and you are so much kinder and closer and familiar than I could have known to expect.”
His fingers skate through my hair, setting the strands back over my ear. “So…what you’re saying is the chocolates were premeditated bribery?”
I shudder. “Yes…”
“You were intentionally seeking me out in an effort to befriend me?”
I hug myself, gripping the handle of my training sword. “It’s horrible, I know. My selfishness blinded me to your feelings.Having some weirdo show up and impose herself on your personal space—”
“—with treats—” he interrupts.
“—withbribesmust be mega awkward for you. I knowI’dhate it! Stranger danger, right?”
He chuckles, and stray strands of my hair tickle my neck as he combs again. “Citrus. I think I’ll get over it.”
I twist, practically weepy when I face him. “You shouldn’thaveto get over it. Please validate that this is a very odd, very uncomfortable thing I have done, and if you can find it in your heart, please forgive me.”
He sighs, almost…charmed. Or at least that’s the vibe I’m getting off the slant of his smile. “The only thing about this situation that concerns me, Lemonade, is the fact you spent so much money on chocolate while living in a shack with one set of clothes.”
I crumple. “I am not the best with priorities.”
“Yeah, or I’m just at the top of them.”
My heart thumps.
“You won’t catch me complaining about that.” Blowing out a breath, he gives the darkness around us a cursory glance and murmurs, “If you know my history, you know how little I’ve mattered to anyone. The idea that someone could know me better than I’ve allowed anyone to and still want to be around me is anything but offensive. I’m…” He leans forward, tilting my chin up on a finger and touching a kiss to the crest of my hair. “…honored.”
Heat explodes beneath my flesh.
“Sincerely so.” He pulls away. “Thank you for choosing me as your favorite character. Being anyone’s favorite anything means a lot to me.”
He’s…not upset?
He’s honored?
Surely he just doesn’t understand that I’m an obsessed fangirl, helpless in her adoration?
Before I knew anything of substance about this man, I saidshouldersand was smitten.
I am, really, so simple.
Just a simple, overheating girl, about to pass out in the mines from a forehead kiss. I’m almost positive my entire world now revolves around this moment.Favorite characterdoesn’t begin to describe how completely and utterlygonefor him I am…
“S-Samson?” I whisper.
His head tilts.
I swallow hard, step up on my tiptoes, and press my lips to the stubble on his cheek. “You’re not just my favorite character anymore… You’re my favorite person, okay?”
As I settle back down on my feet, Samson’s wide eyes meet mine. Achingly slow, he lifts his hand, grazes his cheek with his fingertips, and swallows.
In the dim, yellow-tinted hue of his glow ring, warmth seizes his face. His gaze drops. He scrubs his knuckles over his mouth.
“Thank you,” he whispers. “I…don’t know how to express what that means to me.” Steeling himself, he throws his shoulders back and takes a breath. “It’s getting late. We’ll have to try to find a topaz again tomorrow. At least we made good progress with iron and stone.”
