Verum (The Nocte Trilogy 2)
Page 92
This time, Eleanor looks up. “Don’t bother sitting down,” she snaps. “I’ve warned you before. If you’re late, don’t bother coming.”
Without a word, he turns and walks out.
“Excuse me,” I murmur, and I follow.
I hear Eleanor calling me, but I don’t turn around.
Dare’s strides are long, but I run to catch him.
“Wait,” I say breathlessly, and I pull at his arm.
He’s patient as he stares down at me.
“Let’s go eat in town,” I suggest. “Together.”
He smiles at this and glances at the dining room.
“You know she’ll be upset if we do.”
“I don’t care,” I answer honestly.
We ride to town in Dare’s car.
“Will you be all right tomorrow night?” he asks. “You won’t know anyone.”
“I’ll know you,” I tell him. “You’ll be there, won’t you?”
“If you want me to be.”
“I do.”
“Consider it done, then,” he says quietly, and he motions for a waiter. “She’ll have dessert,” he tells the skinny man.
I’ve done a terrible thing, he said.
“What did you do?” I ask bluntly, as I take a bite of cake. “What is your secret?’
Dare startles, then almost laughs.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” he answers. “Because you’re here and the past is gone.”
I almost believe that it’s that easy.
We finish our dinner, and drive back to Whitley and when we’re in the car, Dare hums.
I close my eyes and listen, and soak in the sound. I think it’s the song he played on the piano, and when we get home, I ask him to play.
So he does.
The salon is quiet and dark, and his notes drift on the air like snow.
I sit next to him, content to soak in the sound, his scent, his air.
If he’s the air, I’ll happily breathe it.
I almost float away on his song, and when he’s done, the silence is loud.
He walks me to my room.