His long silence filled me with apprehension. For the first time since I bought the pin, I felt doubtful. What if it was a bad gift? What if Cygnet thought it was stupid?
In a low and neutral voice, he asked, “You got this for me?”
“Yes. I saw it in a shop while I was with Chase,” I said. The nerves made me avert my gaze, and doubt kept bubbling up until it overflowed. “It’s okay if you don’t like it, I can take it back or—”
Cygnet rushed forward and hugged me.
I forgot how to breathe for a few seconds. He hadn’t hugged me for a very long time. Not since before our father’s funeral. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Emotion crested over me like a tidal wave. I hugged him back. His shoulders were tight, and they trembled as if he was trying not to cry.
“I’ve always accepted you,” I murmured. “I guess... I thought you knew that. But I don’t think I showed it enough. I hope this is a good start.”
His trembling intensified. He dragged in a few long, hard gulps of air. Soon his breathing calmed.
“Sorry I was such a dick,” Cygnet mumbled. “About everything. All the time.”
I laughed softly. “It’s okay. Before I met Chase, I was kind of a dick, too.”
Cygnet pulled away. His eyes were red, but he’d tried his damnedest to hold tears back, so his cheeks remained dry.
“You really like that dumb jock, don’t you?” he asked, shooting Chase a glance from a distance.
I grinned. “I promise he’s not as dumb as he looks. And he’s very kind. Actually, he was the one who bought one of those pins for his friend first, so I stole his idea.”
Cygnet’s watery eyes rounded in surprise. “Oh. That is nice,” he admitted, looking slightly embarrassed. “I said some mean shit to him when you were asleep.”
Knowing Chase, he wouldn’t take it personally. But I was curious about their conversation.
“What did you talk about?” I asked.
Cygnet grimaced. “I told him to stay away from you, and that you were too good for him.”
That both flattered me and made me laugh. “No offense, but I’m glad he didn’t listen to you.”
Cygnet actually smiled. “Me, too.”
“So you approve?”
“Why are you putting me on the spot?” he grumbled. “He obviously makes you happy, so I guess he’s fine.”
“Wow, high praise from you.”
Cygnet groaned and shoved me away while I snickered. “Shut up.”
“There’s something else, too,” I began. “I’m going to stop being an exorcist.”
Cygnet spun around. He looked too stunned to speak.
“Why?” he finally demanded.
“I’m starting a new business with Chase, just a couple blocks away.”
“Okay, now that’s stupid,” Cygnet growled. “Don’t throw your career away just because you couldn’t exorcise one demon!”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. I never realized until now how stressful this job is. It’s all I know, but I don’t have the passion for it. And I’ve been doing it for so long that I didn’t consider other options. Never once did I stop and ask myself if there was something I’d wantmore.Not to get too sappy, but I was in it for you.”
His breath hitched as he stared at me.
