I trailed my fingers along her arm in a soothing motion. “I feel the same way, love. I’ll try to stay as long as I can, but it hasn’t been easy running the inn and helping with the pub.”
“I know. I’m not asking you to extend your trip. I’ll just miss you.”
I scooted down so we were face-to-face. “We could try to stay together.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened in hope.
We just jumped ten steps ahead in our relationship, but when I said it out loud, it didn’t feel heavy. It was the truth.
I didn’t want to stop being with Nairie, even if we were physically apart. “I hear some people do long distance.”
Nairie bit her lip and looked at me anxiously. “Is that what you really want, William? I’m not asking anything of you. We can just end this as soon as you’re done with the pub, and I’ll be alright. I’ll be sad, but I’ll be okay. I just don’t want you to do this because you feel guilty.”
I’d thought it over, but every time we kissed, had sex, or I looked in her eyes, it was making more sense forus to give it a shot. I was falling for her, if not already in love.
“The more time I spend with you, the more it makes sense.”
“Okay,” she said, blushing.
“Okay? So you’ll be my girlfriend?”
Nairie’s eyebrows rose to her hairline. “Really?”
I laughed. “Well, I’m putting a label on it if we’re really doing long distance. What will I call you back home? The girl I’m seeing? I wouldn’t be seeing you much at all.”
Nairie wrapped her hands around my neck and laid kisses all over my face. “Of course!”
I wrapped my big arms around her and cradled her against my chest. She felt so right in my arms, and solidifying our relationship made everything more real.
Nairie tensed, and I let her go to look at her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m so beyond happy.”
“But?”
“Can we wait to tell my parents? I’ve been making so many changes, and I’m scared this might give them a heart attack.”
“So I’m going to be your dirty little secret? That makes me feel a little cheap.”
Nairie laughed. “I’m sorry. Of course, you’re right. They just had this expectation for me to end up with someone...”
I waited.
“Someone of . . . our culture.”
I nodded in understanding. “We can wait to tell them whenever you’re ready, Nairie. Just not forever.”
I couldn’t help but feel a little worried. Would sheever openly admit to our relationship with her parents? She was making positive strides toward independence, but this was a big deal.
I didn’t regret making things official with her, no matter how fast we were moving. But I was completely out of my depth. I had no clue how long-distance relationships worked or if we were cut out for it.
Looking at Nairie sleeping in my arms quelled my doubts for now. I shut off my brain and focused on the present. I wouldn’t let my fears taint our happiness. Nairie was mine and always would be.
Chapter 17
Nairie
The weeks that followed were a blur of sex, art, and arguments with my parents. At some point, Mom and Baba actually did come to Elspeth’s house to try and drag me back home, but I pushed them out the door as politely as I could.
