“You’re not afraid?”
“Terrified,” he admitted, a small, crooked smile breaking through. “But I’d rather be taking risks with you than safe on my own. Because nothing is scarier than a future without you.”
Her eyes were shimmering then. He knew she wanted it just as much as he did.
“I can’t promise I won’t screw up,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Because I probably will. I’m still figuring this out—how to be the man you deserve. But I promise I won’t ever stop trying.”
“I don’t need perfect. Ihateperfect. But …”
“But?” he prompted.
“But I love you. I love you enough to be willing to give up everything I thought I couldn’t live without.”
His heart, so crushed just hours before, swelled in his chest, threatening to break free.
“You don’t know what it does to me to hear you say that. I’ve been chasing approval, applause, votes—and none of it has ever meant as much as this, as you. I love you too. More than I even knew I was capable of. But I don’t want you to give up anything to be with me.”
“Your life is on land.”
“And part of your heart will always be in the ocean. I would never ask you to give that up for me. I want you to have the ocean, with its glimmersharks and eel quartets and endless depths. I will do everything in my power to find a way to bridge our two worlds so you never feel like you are giving up anything to be with me. I want to broaden your world, not restrict it. I want you. All of you. On land, on water, in between. Forever.”
He reached for her, and she let herself be pulled across his lap. Their lips met, full of the fear, the hope, the promises, the potential.
And when they broke away, Iris rested her head against his chest, listening to the heart she knew for certain belonged to her.
“Do I smell hot pretzels?”
He grinned. “You think I would risk this conversation without carbs?” He reached for the bag. “I come bearing snacks and sincerity.”
“You’re lucky I accept bribes.”
Oh, he was fully aware just how lucky he was.
“Let’s go home,” she said, reaching for his hand.
30
Iris
“Ialmost gave up my dreams of fame and fortune,” Monty said, throwing himself dramatically across her bed, his wing covering his eyes, “to go back to the ocean for you.”
“Yes, Monty,” Iris agreed, lips twitching. “I am very aware of the sacrifices you might have made for my heartbreak.”
“He almost wouldn’t let me bring the cat; did he tell you that?”
“To be fair, you keep trying to eat him.”
“I have finer taste than that,” he sniffed, even if she’d caught him that very morning standing over Checkers while he napped in a sunbeam.
“Why are we discussing ancient history?” Arden asked, looking up from his notebook full of potential centerpieces.
“Ancient history?” Selene asked, rolling her eyes. “It was literally two days ago.”
“Exactly. Ancient history.”
“This coming from an immortal,” Selene shot back.
“When you live forever, you learn quickly how pointless time is. The heartbreak is over. Let’s focus on the future now. And the future doesnothave votives sitting in sand inside amason jar,” he said, ripping a page out of his binder.
