Her cheeks flamed red. "I did. And I can't believe I said it. But what the heck—it's true."
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "It is?"
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. It is. But I shouldn't have blurted it out like that." She picked up the remote. "Why don't we watch a movie?"
He wanted to wrap his arms around her, draw her closer, and show her exactly what he'd rather be doing than watching a movie. But it was still early. She was embarrassed, and a little nervous. And there was something important he needed to say to her—something he felt he should say before anything physical happened between them.
She rested her hand on his thigh and leaned back so she could look at his face. "Oh no. You're not mad at me, are you? I didn't mess up, did I?"
"No. Alara, don't ever think that. You didn't mess up." He pressed a kiss to her lips. "You made me happy. I'm glad you're thinking about it that way. Don't think I haven't wanted to go there. But I felt like it had to come from you."
"I know, Reaves. You're so good to me."
"I try. But I think there's one thing I haven't been good to you about. And I want to apologize."
"I don't know what you mean," she said with a smile. "I can't think of anything."
"That's because you let it go, when I think you should have called me out on it."
"On what?"
"I implied that Zia's dad was an asshole."
She dropped her gaze.
"I made an assumption, and I was wrong. It was wrong of me, and I'm sorry. I didn't know anything about him. And—again—I didn't want to ask, because I didn't want to push you for anything you weren't ready to share."
"I'm sorry I told your dad before I told you."
He smiled. "That's okay. I didn't know that. He hasn't told me."
"He hasn't?"
"No. It was Zia, just now. She didn't want me to read her a story tonight. She wanted to show me the man in the stars."
"Of course." Alara relaxed. "I should have expected that."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well—because her dad. Jesse. His name was Jesse. Her man in the stars is something we share. Something we don't tell other people about—there's never been any need. But things that have been our little… not secrets, but the things that are just between the two of us? She includes you in them now." She smiled. "I do too."
"Do you mean like the Rolos?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeah. Like the Rolos. Her bedtime story—tonight’s the first time anyone else has ever put her to bed. Oh—and secret glitter projects. Am I right in thinking the two of you have one of those going?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. Zia gave me my first experience with walking back a hard-won negotiation."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if she'd had her way, we'd have glittered the entire crop. I talked her down to one special grape. But now, she's made her case, and I've conceded it should be one specialbunch."
"That sounds like my daughter."
He watched her face for a moment, wondering if he should tell her how much he wanted Zia to be his daughter too. But it didn't feel like the right moment.
"Do you want to watch a movie?" she asked again, making him realize that he’d fallen quiet for a little too long. He shook his head. "We can, if you want to. But I think I'd rather go out on the terrace. Maybe have a glass of wine and look at the stars."
Once they were out there, he pointed up into the darkness. "See that little curve of stars there—like a crown?" He smiled. "That's Corona Borealis. Dad told me that's where my mom is. It made sense to me—he built her a castle, so I figured she must wear a crown."
