Page 82 of Abdominal Snowman

His thoughts flickered to Sage. Her bright smile and quick wit. How stubborn and curious she was. Even if she did leave, Soren knew there wouldn’t be a normal to return to. Her absence would burn too bright.

Soren shook his head.

He couldn’t let what happened to his mom happen to Sage, even if her spine was made of steel.

He was being an overprotective oaf. He knew that.

Sage wanted to help him and the people in this town. She’d mentioned the magic of Berrysburg, how beautiful it was. She’d barely been able to pull herself away from her camera that day on Overlook Peak. She cherished this town.

And Soren should want to fight for Berrysburg as hard as she did.

He pictured the cabin in his mind. The living room and kitchen, the loft bedroom. How recently everything had seemed… brighter. It wasn’t just the shell of his parents’ house, a shrine to mourn their lives here.

Sage made it feel like a home.

And that was worth protecting.

Sage was right. Tobin needed to go. If not for what he’d done to Soren’s parents, then for what he was planning to do to the town. Soren sighed, letting his head knock back against the table leg.

Because if Brian and Sage were to be believed, his parents weren’t the only ones in Berrysburg being harassed by Tobin.

Soren stood, clutching the letter in his hand as the others scattered on the floor away from him. He needed to tell Sage. No, apologize. That would be his first step.

He strode to the garage door, determination in the forefront of his mind, a grand speech forming on his lips as he opened the door and rushed...

Right into Sage.

She squeaked as she fell back before his arm shot out to steady her. They locked gazes, a beat passing between them.

“Sage, I’m—”

“Soren, listen—”

Soren stopped himself as Sage chuckled. She’d dressed in one of his shirts, but her hair was tossed into a messy bun, displaying the long length of her neck, and she had his scent all over her, and skies above, she looked delectable.

Focus, Soren.

He released his grip on her, sliding his hand down her arm before threading his fingers through hers.

The squeeze she sent his way gave him hope that he hadn’t royally fucked this all up.

Sage nodded at him to go on, rolling her lips as if to let him have his moment.

Soren sighed. “I read my parents’ letters.”

Shock then awe filtered across Sage’s face. And just as expected, curiosity. She wanted to know every detail of what he’d learned, she just wasn’t asking.

“They are doing okay. Wish the best for me. The clan fighting stopped with the new leader, and they’ve made leaps and bounds in technological advances. They are okay.” He whispered the last part to himself, still not really believing everything he’d read.

You deserve all the happiness in the world.

His mom’s words struck him then. They echoed in his head while Sage gazed at him, their hands intertwined.

Happiness was standing right in front of him.

He stood a bit taller then, fierce protectiveness roaring in his chest. She was his.

And he couldn’t let her take Tobin down alone. So no matter what hairbrained scheme she came up with, he’d be there by her side.