Assuming she doesn’t tell me to fuck off, that is. I can’t even stomach the thought that she might not feel the same way as I do. I’ve been reading the signs. It’s there, this thing between us. I’m not imagining it.
“Well, good luck, whatever winds up happening,” Evan says. “If I have to be stuck with a brother-in-law, I guess you wouldn’t suck.”
I flick my beer cap at him and he catches it, laughing.
Confessing my feelings to Mellie? Won’t be the first time, but hey—third time’s the charm, right?
Chapter Twenty-Four
RONIN
Tip #4: You’re best friends for a reason. Never forget your common interests, and always keep the conversations interesting.
FIFTEEN YEARS OLD
“If you had to choose between only playing video games that you own for the rest of your life, or playing new releases but you’re only allowed to play them one time, what would you pick?”
Mellie’s light hair is strewn around her head where she lays on the blanket next to me, glowing like a halo in the late afternoon sun. She sets down the book she’s reading and peers up at me. I’m laying on my side, propped up by my elbow as I idly twist a strand of grass between my fingers. Her gaze catches on my hand before snapping back to my face.
“First of all, you’re a dork for even asking me that. Secondly, what kind of question is this? Obviously, I’d rather play games I alreadyown.” She picks up her book to resume reading.
“Really? I’d rather play new releases once, I think.” I trade out the blade of grass to pick a blue flower, then flatten onto my back and spin the flower above me. “If we went by your choice, you wouldn’t be able to playDragon Age 2, and thatjustcame out. No more coming to my house to borrowmygames.”
I turn my head to gawk at her. “Imagine that travesty! No Hawke? No Isabela? NoFenris?”I tease, naming off characters from her favorite game franchise.
Mellie laughs, rolling her eyes. “I think I’d be okay. I’d have Alistair to keep me company for life,” she replies, referring to one of the characters from the firstDragon Agegame.
I scoff. “You and your obsession with that guy.” Is it possible to be jealous of a video game character? Annoyance colors my voice anytime she brings him up these days.
Something to reflect on, you weirdo.
We lay together in the quiet field of flowers. It’s a surprisingly nice day for spring, the rain kept at bay for once and the sprawling blue fields finally blooming after a long, cold winter. Mellie and I jumped at the chance to get outside after being cooped up indoors for so long, and this is one of our favorite spots to lay around and read or talk.
I steal another glance at Mellie, who’s seemingly immersed herself back into her book. She looks so pretty today, her bronze sweater bringing out the bright amber of her eyes. Eyes I have been drawn into, falling into their golden depths often. “So, what’s this book about?”
Mellie answers without looking away from the pages, “Fallen angels and fated mates. You know, the usual.”
“Ah,” I reply, rolling back onto my side to face her. “With buckets full of angst, I’m sure.”
“Of course,” she says, a tiny smirk making her dimple pop. “Anything to escape this small town hell-scape for a while, right?”
A few moments go by before I break the silence again. “Do you believe in fate, Mel?” I pick up the discarded blue flower just to keep my hands busy.
Mellie sighs, putting down her book and rolling onto her sideto face me as well. “Do I believe in fate? How philosophical of you, Ronin. Not your usual vibe.”
I pull a very mature face at her, causing her to giggle. The sound has become my favorite thing to hear, and I find myself doing more and more these days to elicit any laughs from her that I can. “I can be serious sometimes. So, do you?”
“I can’t say that I’ve ever thought about it, really. It’s one of those things that seems magical when it’s written about, but in reality? A bit far-fetched for me.”
“Hmm.”
“Do you? Believe in all that stuff, I mean?”
“I think so.” I spin the flower between my fingers before reaching out, tucking it through Mellie’s hair behind her ear. “I like to believe it was more than just luck that brought you to me.”
Mellie’s cheeks pink and she lets loose a small laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just thatsomethingmade your dad take this job here. What if he’d said no? You never would have moved here, met me, learned how awesomeD&Dis…” Mellie giggles again and I continue, “I can’t imagine what my life would look like right now if you weren’t in it. That’s all, I guess.”
