no u dont. :) I'll get ready to go now
Reno clicked his phone off and put it away before he lost control and started sniffling on the plane right next to Cane. He could blame it on the third drink, but then Cane would be even more stingy in the future.
He set his cup down after a long drink and closed his eyes, then felt it start to run through him—the tug in his chest he always got whenever something deeply moved him—and the patterns of internal music started to follow. He tapped out the rhythm, humming under his breath until they announced overhead that they were beginning their final descent into London.
Reno pulled his phone out and jotted down some notes so he wouldn’t forget anything he’d been mentally composing, then drained the rest of his drink and handed it to the flight attendant making her last rounds.
Once he had his face mask in place and was off the plane, through customs, and had his bags with him, he hugged a sleepy-looking Arnaud goodbye and let Cane know Sage was there for him. He waved to everyone else, promising to text later, then left the airport as quickly as he could without running. He set his guitar case down on the sidewalk to look around until he spotted Sage’s little blue car down the way. He lugged the case back up,shifted his duffel bag higher onto his shoulder, and took off towards it, the suitcase bouncing behind him as it rolled over the cracks in the sidewalk.
“Hey!" Sage was leaning against the car, her brilliant curly, red hair piled high on her head, and she looked so soft and inviting that Reno couldn’t help but fold himself into her arms. She hissed, and Reno peeled back and saw she was grimacing. She pointed to her inner bicep where one of the bright, tropical flowers tattooed on her arm was peeling. “Fresh, don’t rub against it.”
“Sorry." Reno beamed at her from under his mask, taking a moment to remind himself of the location of every freckle on her face, even though there were hundreds. He took her arm by the elbow so he could lift it away from her full-figured body and admired the new tattoo. “Um, Hibiscus?”
“You got it!” She grabbed her own arm, squishing it in her hand so the flower warped. “Near five days colored in now, I think? Smarts something fierce. Come on, get your bags in the back.”
She popped the trunk and helped haul Reno’s bags in, then he put his guitar in the backseat, carefully laying it down to makesure it wouldn’t go flying. Sage had the habit of giving in to road rage and could be a bit touchy on the brakes sometimes.
He settled into the passenger seat, and as she pulled away, he tore his mask off and threw it on the ground. Then he leaned over and kissed her bare shoulder.
“Aww," Sage cooed at him. “Did you miss me?”
“I missed your rabbits more. Can I see them soon?”
“Brat, of course. I'm sure Fac and Mellow didn’t miss you at all. Bloody things don’t have any sense. Bring over some strawberries and they might remember you.”
Reno hummed, feeling some small part of himself settle. His hands still trembled, but not enough to be seen. He could feel it, though. He stared out the window at the gray sky and pulled his jacket around him tighter.
“Quiet today." Sage stole a glance at him. “Usually you chat my ear off.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Reno admitted. “I usually never question anything; this is new for me. I’m sorry, I should ask how you are.”
“Nah, I’m good. What are you questioning, love?”
“Well," Reno sighed, “how to get him in my life. And, how to do it without being demanding or unreasonable about it.”
“You are demanding and unreasonable by nature. It’s sweet you are considering how not to be, but it probably will set you up for failure if you don’t just act like you.” Sage ignored Reno’s affronted noise. “I think it means something that you’re questioning how to get him into your life instead of if heshouldbe in your life.”
“Sure,” Reno said, feeling too many things at once. “He wants to see me again.”
Sage swore then honked at another car that cut her off. “Asshole! Not you. Or Luka. Of course he wants to see you again.There’s no way you got worse in bed since you dated you know who.”
“I hate how much she told you.”
Sage cackled, the skin around her hazel eyes creasing with mischief. “Did you do thatthingto him?’
“I will not ask you to specify, and I will not answer you.” Reno crossed his arms in front of his chest. “How am I supposed to handle this? I’m not a very delicate person. It’s been working so far to justbombardhim as I tend to do, but what if it gets too much for him? What if my life scares him off? What if he thinks all of this is too complicated, and then he’ll be gone?”
“Girl, he’s not evenhereyet. You need to relax a little.” Sage tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, the light blue polish on her nails sparkling in the overcast light. “And, if you get to be too much for him, that’s his loss. You know the right people will stick around even when you’re being the world’s most annoying man.”
“I don’t want to annoy him though.”
“Too bad. You will. All couples annoy each other. It’s life.” Sage shrugged then took a turn towards Bishopsgate. “If he likes you and thinks you’re worth it, he’ll figure out how to handle that. Look, you like him, so you must think he's a pretty smart guy, right?”
“Yes.” Reno nodded.
“Exactly. You surround yourself with brilliant, talented, soulful,goodpeople even if they’re little shits sometimes. I can’t see you getting this worked up over someone at this point of your life that isn’t someone you trust to be good and smart. Have some faith in him, also in your own choices. You make good ones.”
“That’s really nice of you.” Reno felt his eyes welling up and tried not to let tears spill out. “I forget sometimes.”
