“Yes.” His absolute certainty rang out. “I think he would fight the doctors personally to make sure of it.”
That startled a real laugh out of me. “Yeah,” I admitted. “That sounds like him.”
Luka smiled before leaning in to press a sweet kiss to my forehead. “And I will give you something pleasant to think about. A… distraction.”
I laughed. “Tonight is definitelynotthe night to distract me.”
“It might improve your performance.”
One look at his flushed cheeks had me intrigued.
Luka cleared his throat. “You promised to continue my… education. So if we both win medals tonight, I know what I want.”
I had a feeling I knew too.
He glanced toward the desk. “It is time to deal with your condoms.”
I blinked. “Do they need dealing with?”
“Oh, yes.” His tone was so serious, so deadpan. “They shout at me every time I come to your room.”
I bit my lip. “Do they do it in English or Velkaran?”
“English, but with an American accent that is so bad I struggle to understand them.” He pointed to the bright yellow packets. “They mock me every time I tell them I will not require them.”
I tried not to laugh. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”
Luka nodded. “I agree. That is why I am going to take one of them and tear the wrapper savagely, as a warning to the others.”
I grinned. “Have you always been this weird?”
“I do not know. Maybe I am… evolving.” His eyes twinkled.
Dammit, he was fuckingadorable.
I cocked my head. “Although I should say there’s something you haven’t considered. As soon as you tear that wrapper? The condom starts yelling ‘Free! Free at last!’”
Luka blinked. “And you thinkIam weird?” He stood.
I watched him walk to the door, aware of a new truth I was only now beginning to realize.
Every time he left, part of me was already waiting for him to come back.
No sooner had the door closed behind him than my phone rang. I hurried over to grab it.
Mom.
“Hey.”
“Hi, sweetheart.” Her voice sounded lighter,steadier.
“How’s Dad?”
“He’s doing really well.” I heard movement in the background, a zipper, wheels across carpet. “The doctors think they caught things early.”
Air finally moved properly through my lungs. “Okay.”
“He’s already driving everyone insane,” she continued, her tone dry. “Apparently he’s developed very strong opinions about hospital oatmeal.”
