Page 43 of The Price of Forever

He looked doubtful. “Just don’t overexert yourself. If you push yourself too hard, there are other consequences.”

My gaze drifted back to him, taking in all the small details of his face. The barely-there laugh lines around his eyes—because the man did laugh, just never for me. The slightly crooked nose, the black stubble casting a shadow across his jawline and above his lip. The scar on his cheek, only visible when the light hit it right.

He must have sensed me staring at him because he looked up sharply, catching me off guard. “I had some shitty stepfathers growing up.”

I softened, leaning toward him so I wouldn’t miss a word. Seven hadn’t volunteered a single piece of information the entire time I’d known him. The most I’d gotten out of him was his accidental admission of his age. This felt like a real treat. “Yeah?”

“My mom bounced around between husbands like it was a sport.” He got a distracted look on his face as he assessed the mushrooms and rinsed the dirt off them. “She always went for the bullies. The ones who beat up on her.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “That must have been hard to see.”

“After a certain age, I started inserting myself into their fights. Trying to protect her. Stop the abuse. Sometimes it worked. But a lot of times it didn’t.” He hefted with a humorless laugh. “I just couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t leave them behind and let us go start a life by ourselves. Without any of these idiots to ruin everything. When I left for the Marines, she had just moved in with a new guy. And I wasn’t around to protect her anymore.”

“Was she okay?” I was scared to even ask the question.

“He wasn’t as bad as some of the ones who came before him. I think she was just scared to be alone. Terrified, really. Your attitude is what I always wanted her to find somewhere deep inside her. That strength to leave it behind instead of seeking it out.”

I blinked rapidly, another wave of emotion overcoming me. I hadn’t expected that subtle compliment. I almost didn’t know what to do with it.

“Is she…still around?” The words barely made it past my lips.

He nodded. “In a nursing home in Nebraska.”

“Oh, are you from…Nebraska?”

He smirked, opening the carton of eggs. “Maybe.” One by one, he cracked six of them into a bowl.

“Wow. Didn’t peg you as a Nebraska boy.”

“Didn’t peg you as a Pokémon slut.”

Laughter rocketed out of me. I caught a small smile on his lips as he started beating the eggs.

“You win that round,” I told him. “Speaking of which, can we leave for the club a little early today? I want to do some hunting in the park.”

“Whatever you say goes.”

I felt a wicked smile begin to spread. He must have noticed because he quickly added, “With regards to your schedule.”

Seven greased up a pan and cooked the vegetables with a shiny wooden spoon. I watched him for a moment. Why was I so attracted to his wooden cooking spoon? It didn’t make sense, other than I was attracted to everything about him, including inanimate objects he touched. I decided to return to my apartment hunt. A few moments later, eggs began sizzling. It wasn’t long before Seven was plating two perfect veggie omelets. He grabbed for my chipotle cashew sauce and added a healthy drizzle to the top of both omelets.

He pushed a plate my way. “Ready.”

I bit my lip, looking up at him. “Is this really for me?”

“Of course. You live with me. You think I’m going to stand here and cook in front of you for a half hour and not share the end result?” He shook his head, forking off a bite of omelet. “Let me know what you think.”

I picked up the fork and dug into the omelet, making sure to mix in the cashew sauce. The flavors exploded in my mouth—mushroom, bell pepper, onion, a delicious cheese blend I couldn’t identify beyond the Havarti I’d watched him shred. Perfectly salted and seasoned.

I moaned without meaning to, my eyes drifting shut. Once I swallowed, I nodded. “What I think is yes. Absolutely yes.”

When I looked up, he watched me with a cocky smile, eyes sparkling. This moment, more than anything, told me I was seeing a different side of Seven. Finally.

“Gotta get you nourished before your big day.” The way the air tightened between us, I could tell he was about to deliver some snark. “A staircase race you’re gonna lose, some poké-hunting in the park, and then a full night of dancing.”

I jabbed my fork in his direction. “There were two truths and one lie in what you just said.”

“Zero lies, three truths.” He forked another bite into his mouth.

---