Page 37 of Demon Shock

“No. He was trying to help her understand.”

“Understand what?” Bram added another piece of firewood to the pile he was already holding.

“Why I lit the fire for her. That it was kind, but if she found it overbearing, she should tell me.”

“Do you think she didn’t like it?”

“She didn’t seem angry when I left.”

“Then he was probably just explaining things, trying to help smooth the way for you.”

“Does it need to be smoothed?”

Bram stopped what he was doing to focus on me.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Ava’s different. She hasn’t been living in fear for the past five months. She’s been living in isolation. So, rather than jumping at every sound and trying to hide, she’s…normal. Cautious but open. That works in your favor. Did she like talking to you?”

I thought back to the time we spent driving together.

“She seemed to enjoy talking to me.”

She’d shared so many things about herself. Her favorite songs, which she sang for me, her favorite foods, clothes, weather, season, hairstyle—I knew so much about her. Yet, even after so much time together, I felt like I still barely knew anything.

“Well, women who choose to live alone and have cats are a different breed of women. They’re more independent and have higher standards for who they allow into their lives. I’m not saying this to scare you, but…don’t mess up. She might be a one-and-done chance.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means this might be your only chance. If you screw up, she probably won’t give you another chance.”

The fear that she wouldn’t want me as much as I wanted her grew until it became hard to breathe. What if I’d already said something wrong? What if she didn’t like me lighting the fire for her? What if she didn’t want to stay in Tolerance when we reached it? Or worse, what if she decided to like someone else?

The firewood in my arms fell to the ground.

“What is it? Infected?” Bram asked.

“No. I…” My gaze shifted to the house. “How will I know if I’ve messed up my chance already?”

Bram swore under his breath and called out. “Ava! I need you out here.”

My panic increased.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Bram said quietly. “I’m helping.”

Ava appeared at the door. Her gaze scanned the yard, landing on us.

“Gyrik just got really pale. Can you help him inside?”

She ran toward me, a look of concern on her face.

“I knew something was wrong,” she said. “Come on. Let’s get inside before you pass out. I don’t think anyone here will be able to carry you.”

She lifted one of my arms and fit herself against my side. The feel of her arm around my waist stopped my panic—and any other rational thought.

“See?” Bram said from where he still stood by the woodpile. “She’s worried. Worry means she cares. If you’d messed up, she wouldn’t care.”

We were far enough away from Bram that I knew Ava hadn’t heard him. Yet her arm tightened around my waist.

I glanced down at the top of Ava’s head as she walked pressed up against my side. She looked up at me.

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