Aerén walked out, his expression unreadable. “We’re leaving.”
No, he would never reveal his anger or hurt, but deep within her, she felt it. Like acid, it ate into her, causing the crater in her chest to widen. Unable to look at him, she gave the glass to Eve.
“I’ll call you. Hana gave me your number.” Eve gave her a one-armed hug.
Leya nodded as Aerén opened the portal. Then they stepped through, back into the thicket of a much quieter Central Park, as evening hovered.
Aerén slipped his arm around her, drawing her close, and Hana grasped her other hand.
Leya shut her eyes, absorbing the feel of him, breathing in his scent, and fought not to let pain bring her down.
A brush of lips on her crown and hot tears stung her eyes as Aerén dematerialized them.
* * *
“Are you both coming to Appa’s for dinner?” Hana asked as they entered Leya’s darkened apartment.
The waning sun cast a lingering orange light into the apartment, holding back nightfall, while her emotions, a mass of dark, raging pain, demanded to be set free. But how could she yell out her torment and wound the one person she knew was hurting as much as her? None of this was his fault.
“Rain check for us, please.” She switched on the lamp on the small side table near the couch.
“Okay.” Hana cast her a frown. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m gonna say anything about today to Appa just yet.”
“Probably better not to.” Leya unbuttoned her denim jacket.
Still silent, Aerén crossed to the kitchen.
“Is he okay?”Hana mouthed.
Not knowing what to say when her sister had no idea of the disaster that had erupted, she lifted a shoulder in a little shrug and hung up her jacket.
“Talk to him,”Hana mouthed again and disappeared into the bedroom. She emerged a moment later, her backpack hooked on her shoulder. “Right, I’m off to our father.” She cast a quick look at Leya.“Make up!”
Aerén remained in the kitchen, staring out the window into the street below, a glass of water in his hand.
“I’ll see you later,” Hana murmured, then called out, “Bye, Aerén!”
He finally faced them as Hana waved and hustled off, the front door shutting behind her.
His gaze shifted to her.
Not knowing what to say or where to start, Leya crossed to the kitchen and put the coffee pot on, aware of his gaze following her. She doubted he wanted coffee. She didn’t either, but she had to do something to keep herself busy. Or, she would break down.
Then she was done with the diversion, and with no way to avoid the minefield, she faced him.
Swallowing, she wiped her cold, prickly palms down her jeans. “I…I heard what your brother said.”
He set the glass back in the sink. “Then you heard my response as well.”
“No matter how we feel, he’s right about one thing,” she whispered, tears burning her eyes.
His cheeks hollowed as if he were clenching his teeth. “And that is?”
“I will be gone from this world in a few decades, ablinkin your lifespan. I don’t want that for you.”
“What are you saying, Leya?”
She had to scrape up the words from a throat raw with unshed tears. “It was a fool’s hope, what we wanted, Aerén. Besides, with Hana gone to Cidéra, someone has to remain with my father.”
