His eyes close. His breathing visibly slows, evens out. He leans into her touch, pressing gently into her.
And I swear to God, it’s like he transforms.
The color comes back into his face. The gray, pallid sheen on his skin fades away. It’s like he’s back to life. Like he’shimagain, now, with her.
And…well. It’s embarrassing to say. But it turns me on a little, seeing him light up like that.
I shift in my seat, trying to hide it as Gwenna lets him go, but she notices. Of course she does.
“You all right, Cal?” Her voice has gone dark and deadpan. Like she's teasing me.
Oh, no.
“Hm?” I say. “What?”
“You’re staring.”
“Huh?” I clutch the arm of the couch. “No, I’m not.”
“You absolutely are,” Lanz says—and hesoundsdifferent, too. More like himself again, clearer and stronger. “We both know you can’t lie to save your life, right?” He darts a glance at Gwenna, who smiles and shrugs.
“Hey,” I protest. But I know it’s no use. Gwenna rocks back on her heels, looks up at the ceiling, and lets out a little laugh.
“What?” I say, maybe too defensively.
“Oh, I was just thinking,” she goes on. “About that one time, when you were both, um,sitting there, and I walked in and saw you…”
My face has gone very hot. At the memory. And at where my imagination is now going with it.
“Oh. Yeah.” Lanz gives a laugh that sounds more like a cough. "Well, history repeats itself, I guess."
"History doesn't repeat itself," Gwenna corrects. She tips her head slightly. "But it does rhyme."
She looks at me. Right at me.
"Well, I'll leave you to it," she starts, but I catch her by the wrist.
"Don't," I say. "I mean. Don't go. Stay."
She stares down at my hand, holding her in place. So do I.
What am I doing?
I let her go.
"Sorry," I mutter. "I don't--"
Gwenna ignores me. She steps around the couch, kneeling by the coffee table.
"You're reading my favorite book," she says, lifting the paperback.
"It's your favorite?"
"Well," she hedges. "It's certainly a...book I have read, let's put it that way." She sets it back down and looks me in the eye. "Do you like it?"
Now Lanz is staring at me, too. My neck feels hot. "Do...you like it?" I ask. "I mean, did you?"
"Is how I answer going to change your opinion?"
