“You asked me about these.”
“Yeah.”
Her voice was very quiet. “All those random questions.”
“Not random.”
She looked at the tile.
Then the shelves.
Then the sink.
Then me.
“Dylan.”
That was all.
Just my name.
But it came out full of everything.
I shoved my hands into my pockets because I did not trust them.
“I bought it before I knew if you’d ever want it,” I said. “Before I knew if we’d get here. I told myself it was an investment. Then I told myself it was a rental. Then Nate told me I was full of shit, and unfortunately, he was right.”
Her eyes shone.
“I didn’t build it to trap you,” I said quickly. “It’s not a proposal. It’s not pressure. It’s yours if you want it someday. It’s mine if you don’t. It can be sold. Rented. Turned into a cat sanctuary if Lily and Cupcake stage a hostile takeover.”
A wet laugh slipped out of her.
Good.
I could breathe again.
“I just…” I looked around because looking at her was harder. “I wanted to build something that didn’t come from blood. Orguilt. Or running. I wanted to build a place where nothing bad had happened yet.”
Destiny pressed her hand to her mouth.
I wanted to go to her.
I didn’t.
“Say something,” I said.
She dropped her hand.
“You built me a kitchen.”
“I built the whole house.”
Her eyes narrowed through tears. “Do not get literal with me right now.”
I nodded once. “Sorry.”
She looked around again.
