Page 266 of Every Almost

Charlie pressed her temple against Reyna's, and Reyna's response was immediate. She cradled Charlie against her, one hand sliding into Charlie's hair, holding her there, not letting go. If she had anything to say about it, she would make sure there would be no space between them.

Reyna felt her markings vibrate against Charlie's skin. Charlie's skin against her gold had created a response she had never experienced before. It went through her like wildfire, and she made no move at all to stop it.

For two minutes, they let themselves have this.

Charlie's breath was warm against her cheek. Reyna's fingers had curled into the back of Charlie's shirt, holding on as if she were afraid to let go, because some part of her was.

Then the song ended.

Silence and the nebula light surrounded them. But they still held on to each other, breathing heavily.

Reyna pulled back, just far enough to see Charlie's face.

Reyna felt the first tear slide down her cheek as her eyes filled. She didn't try to hide it. And in the starlight, with Charlie's arms still around her, the remnants of her skin still warm against Reyna's temple, and Charlie's face the most honest thing she had ever seen, Reyna remembered something she wanted to correct right this instant.

"Do you remember what you said, right here in this room, after we found out about your age slowing? Do you remember what you told me you were worried was gone now because Katie was gone?"

She watched Charlie's throat bob as she swallowed.

"I remember."

"Tell me."

"That I mattered to her."

"And?"

"And I didn't think anyone would ever feel that way about me again."

Reyna closed her eyes, feeling tears fall down her cheeks.

"You matter, Charlie?—"

Reyna let out a staggered, shaky breath, and then opened her eyes again.

"Jesus, you matter tome."

Charlie's eyes went wide as her hands tightened on Reyna's waist.

Reyna leaned closer. Into the silence, and the warmth, and the space where the next words would change everything, where every instance of holding back would end in the one sentence she'd been refusing to say since an Earthling fell out of the sky, landing in Borran's kitchen, and she'd placed her hand on a human's heart without words. Because that's when she knew. She understood that now.

"Charlie, I?—"

And then the ship's emergency alarm wailed.

No.

"BRIDGE TO CAPTAIN SOLAS."

The ship's master comm, cutting through everything.

"CAPTAIN, WE ARE RECEIVING A DISTRESS SIGNAL. YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUIRED ON THE BRIDGE."

Torvax's voice.

The confession died in the space between Reyna's mouth and the siren. One word away.

The universe stole it.