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“I am too.”
“I believe you, and that scares me more.”
“I know,” I say.
“I’m not ready to promise forever.”
“I’m not asking for forever tonight.”
Her eyes search mine. “What are you asking for?”
“Courtship.” The word feels old and sacred in my mouth. It’s worthy of her.
Her scent warms.
Hope brightens Ezra’s face so openly that it hurts to look at.
“What does that mean to you?” Pepper asks.
“Choices,” I say. “Dates when the world isn’t on fire. Food that isn’t because you might faint. Time to learn what you like when heat isn’t making your body shout over your mind.” I breathe in slowly enough to keep my voice steady. “Not deciding for you because I’m scared.”
Her fingers flex in mine. “That last one feels important.”
“It is.”
Ezra lifts his hand. “I would like to add snacks, snuggles, and kissing to the courtship terms.”
Pepper wipes her cheek with her free hand. “Your amendment is sound.”
I lift Pepper’s hand and kiss her knuckles. The first brush of my lips is careful, but the second lingers because she leans toward me.
“I don’t want to leave tonight,” she says.
The words hit so deeply my eyes burn.
“I may be scared tomorrow,” she adds.
“Then we handle tomorrow when it comes.”
Her smile trembles. “That sounded wise.”
“I have rare moments.”
Ezra leans his shoulder into hers. “We cherish them.”
Pepper reaches for him too, pulling his hand into the space between us. Her fingers hold mine and Ezra’s with equal care, and the bond in my chest aches toward them both.
This is what I wanted at seventeen. A way to stay connected without chains. Maybe with Pepper, I can get it right.
Pepper’s phone rings on the coffee table. Pepper startles, then frowns at the screen.
“Scarlet.” She answers on speaker. “Please be calling about something cheerful,” Pepper says.
Scarlet’s voice comes through with wind behind it. “I wish I were.”
Pepper’s humor fades, but her hand stays in mine. “What happened?”
“We’re at Larkspur Run. The bond-distress case is similar enough to Ezra’s that I think you’ll want comparative samples.”
