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“I know you are.”

“So why the hell am I still waiting?”

“You think the hard part is making Lakelyn see you. It isn’t. The hard part is what happens after she does.”

“I can answer her questions.”

“Some of them.”

I gave her a look.

She gave me one right back.

“Fine… most of them.”

“Some,” she repeated.

“Damn, woman.”

I watched Lakelyn disappear into the bathroom.

“I ain’t leaving her alone.”

“I never told you to leave her alone. Just give her a little peace.”

I considered that.

“Fair.”

“And stop whispering in her ear while she sleeps.”

I glanced at her. “No promises.”

“Caspian.”

“I said I’ll try.”

“That is not reassuring.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be.”

She shook her head, but I caught the little twitch at the corner of her mouth.

A moment later, Lakelyn came out of the bathroom with her phone still in her hand. She crossed toward the dresser, set it down, then stood there for a few seconds with her palms resting against the edge.

Normally, I would’ve gone right to her. I would’ve followed close enough to catch another trace of her perfume, stood behind her while she fixed her hair, or found some small way to remind her that she wasn’t alone. That time, I stayed where I was.

That shit was harder than it should’ve been.

Lakelyn eventually climbed onto the bed and pulled the covers over her legs, still deep in thought.

I stayed across the room.

For the first time since she had come home, I understood that loving her from this side couldn’t only be about what I needed. I had spent six years unable to touch her, talk to her, protect her the way I wanted, or even let her know I was still somewhere close.

Of course I was impatient. Of course every part of me wanted to reach for her now that she was finally within reach again.

But Lakelyn had spent those same six years living with questions I already had answers to. Adding more confusion because I couldn’t control myself wasn’t fair to her.