“Worse thanThe Bachelor?”
“Way worse. He’s obsessed with anime.”
“Aw, you poor thing. Does that mean he’s occupied?” I wiggled closer and trailed my fingers over the contour of Diem’s shoulder.
“For now, but you can not possibly be in any condition to get frisky.”
“You underestimate me.”
I’d stripped to my underwear for my nap, but thoughts of sexy time vanished when I clocked Diem’s distraction.
His gaze traveled over my chest. He traced the chain I wore around my neck until he came to the ring he’d given me.
Boone’s ring.
Diem’s promise of forever.
His mind seemed to drift, and he didn’t say anything for a long time, transfixed on the antique, rubbing it between his fingers.
I squinted, doing all I could to see his thoughts, but they were locked up tight.
“You’re doing it again.”
He blinked from his daze. “Doing what?”
“Thinking too hard, and not letting me in.”
His smile didn’t wash away the worry lines across his brow.
“Have you heard anything from the cops?” I asked, hoping to distract him from whatever troubles had taken him hostage.
“No. Don’t expect to. If Aaron keeps his promise, they won’t come looking for Darcy.”
“Are we keeping the pup?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about Darcy, but I knew how Diem felt, so I had decided to be okay with whatever he decided.
“I don’t know what to do. I can’t send him back to that house, and he’s technically nineteen and doesn’t need a guardian, but—”
“But you don’t want to put him out onto the streets of Toronto either.”
“No.”
“He could sleep on the couch for a bit. You could help him find a better job and get him assistance if he qualifies. Find him a cheap apartment. Hell, make him go back to school. He doesn’t have a high school diploma.”
The wariness in Diem’s eyes conveyed how concerned he was for the kid and how fearful he’d been that I might put my foot down and kick him out. “Are you sure? He’s kind of a handful.”
“I don’t mind, Diem. He’s a brat, and he disrupts our lives, but so long as you take him for regular walks, ensure he doesn’t make puddles on the floor, keep him away from my clothes, be sure he doesn’t drink all the cereal milk, or eat my peanut butter, we can make it work. I got used to Baby. Sort of. I can get used to Darcy, too.”
“It will only be temporary.”
“It will be whatever it needs to be.” I pressed a hand to his stubbled cheek. “It’s fine, D. Stop fretting.”
He turned his face and kissed my palm. “Are you still tired?”
“Nah, but I don’t want to get up yet. Cuddle me?”
Diem dragged me against his chest and wrapped me in his arms. We lay like that for a long time, the steady thrum of his heart an extra layer of comfort.
“Would you care if…” he started to say. “I think…”
