I don’t know what else to do, except pull him close and try to comfort him. He holds on to me and finally calms back down. When we break our embrace, he looks at me for mere seconds before kissing my lips.
I kiss him back even though I know this is a dangerous game to play. If my heart doesn’t belong to him, this will only hurt him more later.
I pull back and gently press my hand against his chest. “I’m not sure we should be doing this.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I got caught up in my feelings.”
I cup his face in my hand and press one more gentle kiss to his lips. “It’s okay. So did I. We’re all going to get through this.”
He smiles and then kisses my forehead. “I’m supposed to be telling you that, beautiful.”
We’re still close on the couch when Dash walks in looking freshly showered but no less frustrated than when we parted ways at the hospital.
“Am I interrupting?” he asks tightly.
“No, not at all. I was just asking if there was anything in our medical or dental records that could help us. But the hospital already charted everything about us and there’s nothing. Neither of us had any surgeries or dental work. No fingerprints in the system.”
“That was smart to ask. I didn’t even think about it because I’ve been so focused on the video,” Dash admits.
“Um, I need to go home and get some sleep before my shift later tonight. The hospital chair didn’t do me any favors. If you need me for anything, just call. Same goes for both of you,” Hendrix says before kissing my cheek and then standing to leave.
Dash stares at me after Hendrix leaves. “Did something happen?”
“He was upset. He’s just accepting the possibility I might not be London.”
“And?”
“We kissed. He kissed me, but I kissed him back,” I admit, not wanting all the blame on Hendrix’s shoulders.
Dash shifts from one foot to the other.
“Did you feel anything with him like you did with me?” he asks nervously, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“I’m not sure how to explain, but I’ll try. Before I do, just know I’m only trying to be honest to help all of us. Yes, I feel physical chemistry with him, but it doesn’t reach my heart like you do. You’re under my skin and my heart races every time I so much as look at you.”
He nods but remains silent.
“It scares me. Because what if I’m falling in love with you and you’re not supposed to be mine to love? What if I’m supposed to be with him?” I ask as my lower lip trembles. This is a new fear, one I can’t imagine ever having before losing the one person who I know grounded me.
He moves close to me and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear.
“What if your heart already belongs to me? What if like you, your heart fights like a Valkyrie all on its own and it’s trying to get your mind to remember what it already knows?”
I close my eyes and whisper, “Mirror, mirror. My heart to remember.”
He pulls me up and into his arms and then kisses my temple. We stand there locked in each other’s arms until my hip starts to ache.
I pull back and it’s my turn to shove my hands in the pockets of my leggings.
“Can you help me with something?” I ask.
“Anything.”
“I’d like to take a shower. I know it’s a big ask, and if you can’t or you’d rather not, it’s okay. But I was wondering if you’d get in with me to make sure I don’t fall. I’m still a little unsteady, even more so without my cane.”
He swallows. “I can help. I’ll just strip down to my underwear.”
“Thank you,” I say as we start toward the bathroom.
