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“Oh no,” he said, bringing his hand to his face.
“What's wrong?”
“I was supposed to go outside this morning and pick some things for you before you woke up.”
“What for? Did you forget something while you were out there the other day? If so, don't worry if you're a little short. I appreciate whatever you can get me.”
“It's not that. I wanted to pay you back for the food and desserts. The room too.”
“Oh, Nova, you don't have to do that.” I stepped close enough to brush a strand of hair from his face. It was like I was acting on instinct, just like when I kept randomly touching him yesterday. There was this force constantly pulling me toward him.
“I wanted to. Still do.”
“We can always pick things together outside the base.”
A muscle in his cheek twitched. “No way. It's not safe for you to be outside base.”
“It isn't safe for you either.”
“Maybe not, but I've been around it for so long that I'm better adapted,” he said pointedly.
“Edgar said people have hung out around the train plenty of times. What would be the difference?”
“Can we just not talk about it anymore, Franky? What happened to you being scared of new places?” he stammered.
“I told you. Things are different with you. It's like my fears and anxiety disappear when you're around. You make everything feel possible.”
“Just because you feel that way, doesn't make it safe.”
“I don't like that we're arguing. We haven't even been awake for long. It's our first full day together and I don't want to waste any of it this way.” I grabbed his hands and squeezed them between mine, lifting them between us. “So, let's just forget what I suggested and go downstairs to stuff our faces with pancakes.”
“Waffles,” he said with a half-smile.
“Yes, waffles.” I rubbed one of my thumbs along the back of his hands, the rough stitches rubbing over my skin. “We good?”
“Yeah.” He brushed his nose over mine, taking me by surprise. “We always have been.”
“What was that for?”
“I saw people do it in a movie and wanted to try it. I'm pretty sure they were friends.”
I laughed. “Are you? You don't sound too sure.”
“They never said otherwise. Just like us.”
I pressed between my brows. “Yeah, definitely sounds like us.”
The hall and elevator were empty when we finally left the room, but I couldn't say the same for the lobby. There were people everywhere. After circling the dining area with our full plates, we finally found a table to sit at. Nova practically drowned his waffles in syrup and smeared his yogurt on top. I didn't give him a hard time about it since he was enjoying it so much. Who was I to say what he shouldn't like?
Both full, we went for a walk outside the hotel and through the park trail together. Only a few people stopped and stared but it was enough to make Nova uncomfortable. I wanted to do anything I could to help him relax, and holding his hand did the trick.
“Did you want me to get you another thirty minutes worth of mushrooms next time?”
“No.” I squeezed his hand. “Not everything has to be a trade, and what if I'm already getting something in return?”
“What?” His eyes rounded.
“You, joining me on my walk.”
