“Thank you,” he whispered a while later, once there was nothing left to torment him.
“Don’t mention it, Chief… You seem exhausted. Please get some rest.”
Receiving his nod, I helped him stand. He avoided my gaze the entire time, unable to look at me, but I guided him to the bed anyway, laying him down before finally leaving the room.
The instant I stepped outside, I found Willow sitting across the hall, arms wrapped around herself while tears of her own slid down her skin. She had been there for the man she loved even when he didn’t know it.
My chest constricted at the sight, and I walked to her, helping her stand.
“Is he alright?” she asked, wiping her tears with the shawl always draped along her shoulders. “I heard him crying.” Her last words were nothing but a whisper, wanting to keep his secret.
I was pretty certain the others had heard him shouting too, but they respectfully stayed inside their rooms. That kind of pain was hard to hide once it was set free.
“No,” I admitted. “But now he can finally start to be.”
A small, appreciative smile curved her lips, and she nodded, dragging her shawl over my cheeks too. “Thank you for being there for him.”
She didn’t even know I had done this for her too.
After squeezing her in a hug, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and accompanied her upstairs to the seventh floor, walking her to her quarters.
“He loves you,” I assured. “Just give him time to find his way to you.”
A sliver of hope entered her eyes, but she repressed it, probably too used to waiting for him and getting nothing in return. “Should I… help him in some way?”
“Yes, I think you should.”
Hope fully sparked in her eyes then, unable to contained. “How?”
“Maybe keep being sweetandsnarky to him. I know he enjoys that about you. And spend more time with him, show him he hasn’t lost his chance.”
She nodded, seemingly filled with purpose again, and I truly hoped it wasn’t too late for them. They truly balanced each other perfectly.
Briefly looking back to the entrance of my room, I regarded Willow for a moment. “Do you think we could talk, privately?”
“Of course.” She motioned for me to follow her into her room.
“I’m going to ask Evie to spend the rest of her life with me, after my presentation on the jubilee tomorrow,” I explained, knowing they didn’t really use the word marry here.
“You are?” A bright grin captured her lips, happiness returning to her eyes when I nodded. She literally jumped from the excitement, clapping her hands. “Oh, I need to make sure she is extra beautiful!”
That made me chuckle. “She is always beautiful.”
Waving my comment away like it was nonsense, she whirled around and hurried to a large armoire in the corner of her room. Swiftly, her hands shuffled through covered garments that contained the new wardrobe she was making for Evanna as queen.
“One of these will do. Although, I noticed the way your eyes twinkled when you accidently saw her in this one the other night. Or perhaps this one. Of course, I’ll have to figure out what to do with her hair since it has to be extra special,” she mumbled, mainly to herself, then suddenly gasped, focusing on me again. “What will your grand gesture be?”
My shoulders drooped at the mention. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I have one yet. Especially nothing as special as what the asshole did for her.”
She made a face, fully understanding my predicament. “I’m sorry, Braxton. I see she told you what Lachlan did.”
Rubbing my face with both hands, I sighed. “I swear the next time I see him my fist is going to push his face in.”
“You should,” she huffed, crossing both arms over her chest in contempt. “That was incredibly disrespectful, and frankly, delusional. Evanna loves you, no one else.”
“I know.” It was a relief to hear I wasn’t the only one who thought it was an insult for him to do that to her. To both of us.
“I’ll help you.” She winked, making me smile again, though I had no doubt she could kick any of our asses. “Do not worry one bit. Whatever you do, I am sure Evanna will love it. When a woman has given her heart, the simplest, heartfelt gesture means the world to her.”
