“And fruits.”
“Can we add chocolate?”
Beastly, he growls, “Ilovechocolate.”
I can’t stop the laugh that bursts free, and I can’t temper the way the resulting craze that grips him affects me. I’m abuzz, aflutter,alive.
Sweeping me into his arms, he kisses the top of my head. “I love your laugh. Your voice is so pretty, Clara. It’s perfect.”
It’s been called annoying more times than I care to remember. Flushed, I say, “Thank you, King.”
He kisses the top of my head again. “You’re spoiling me. Keep it up.”
This is nice.
It is striking how little Lukas has made me uncomfortable since those first few nights, when I had no idea what was goingon. There’s no question that he’s insane, but I’m beginning to think he’s still safe regardless.
When he asked me to identify anything he’d done that had made me uncomfortable so he could stop, the only things I remembered were him looking at my recipe book and the rest of that second night together.
I was not going to mention the rest of that night, since nothing happened, and I felt stupid for even thinking it was a problem since nothing happened, but the way he responded to the recipe book? When it was also stupid? And didn’t matter either?
That was wonderful. Peaceful. Warm.
I said,This thing bothers me, and he accepted that.
He didn’t say,Well, you look through the books in the libraryas though there’s anything comparable in such a statement.
He just said,Yes, valid, I’ll fix that.
I do not want to hurt you.
You’re important to me.
He doesn’t want to hurt me; he wants to make me special charcuterie plates and kiss my head and take me to bookstores. And all I have to do in return is give him a little attention. Which is so simple it’s stupid.
This is effortless. So…so…effortless.
He makes being kind to me seem effortless. As natural as breathing.
I know when the sun sets and I’m alone with my thoughts, today will feel darker. I’ll mull over everything that’s happened. I’ll have regrets and fears. And I’ll probably even cry myself to sleep.
But for now? In this moment? I have a friend. And everything isfine.
