Page 70 of King of My Heart

Dinner was civil. Julian decided to go to the small, Chinese restaurant that he loved. The conversation remained on safe topics, even if there was no tension between them. We talked about how the food tasted, a funny memory from Julian’s teenage years, and small talk that filled the silence in just the right moments.

Caspian and Julian were still careful around each other as if stepping on thin ice, but it was progressing. It was something. And I didn’t expect them to fully open up after all these years. Although, Caspian would’ve definitely wanted to.

Now and then, he looked at Julian with unspoken emotions in his eyes. But he didn’t push him. Didn’t want to make him talk when he was perfectly fine sitting there, keeping his past without him in it to herself.

Caspian respected his boundaries. He, in turn, didn’t shut him out completely because he did answer all of his questions. I counted that as a small victory.

By the time we left, the air between us felt much lighter. The drive back home was mostly quiet, with me sitting in the backseat, feeling rather awkward.

When we arrived back at the house, Julian went to prepare Toby’s old bedroom for me. Caspian had decided to sleep on the couch and give me the bedroom. I didn’t like the idea of him sleeping right outside the bedroom I would be in without me being able to get onto the couch next to him. It would be the first night in a while being apart from each other, but what was one night when we had the rest of our lives together?

I smiled at Caspian, daring to step closer while Julian was still in Toby’s room. “I thought today went well,” I said, taking his hand carefully.

He turned to me and nodded, interlocking our fingers as he squeezed my hand. “Yeah, I thought so too. I’m certain he’ll open up to me eventually.”

“I’m sure of it. He needs time.”

He studied me closely and gave a small nod, silently accepting everything that happened today. “I figured so. But I’m pleased, though. Grateful that you made this happen.”

I lifted our hands to my lips and pressed a kiss to the back of his hand, smiling up at him. Our moment was interrupted when Julian back into the living room. I stepped away, putting space between us.

“The guest room is ready,” he said, his voice natural.

Caspian offered a small smile. “Thank you, Julian.”

He nodded, then said, “Well, I’m off to bed. I’ll get us something to eat at the bakery for breakfast tomorrow morning. Good night.”

“Night, Julian.” We watched as he followed the narrow hall to his bedroom. The one I had slept in for months.

Caspian led me to the guest room, and I entered it, looking around before dropping my overnight bag on the bed.

“It’s not much, but it’s enough for one night,” I said, my eyes wandering from the double bed to the nightstand and over to the desk.

“It’ll do.”

Caspian lingered in the doorway, watching as me as I started to unpack. I didn’t want him to leave. Sleeping alone just didn’t sound right.

“Well,” I murmured, turning around to face him, “we should get some rest. You must be tired from the long drive.”

Caspian met my gaze, his lips twitching like he had something to say, but he just nodded. “Yeah.”

I pursed my lips. “You know, just because we’re here doesn’t mean we can’t—”

“Darwynn, Julian is right down the hall.”

I felt a sense of regret in his voice, and I hated that I hadn’t noticed it before. My face fell, and I dropped my gaze to my hands. “You’re not rethinking all of this, are you? This between us?”

He stepped closer the second I uttered those words, and I stared at his feet, unable to look up at him. My heart was racing in my chest, and the most upsetting thoughts flashed in through my mind.

“Darwynn.” His voice was low, raspy. “Look at me.”

I clenched my jaw but didn’t look up. I couldn’t. Not when he was ready to end this.

“Darwynn.” His voice was hard, determined. “I’m not going to ask you again.”

I sighed, furrowing my brows as I tilted my head back.

When his eyes met mine, he reached up with one hand to grip my jaw. His fingertips dug into my skin, and he held me there, not giving me a chance to look away. “I love you. I’m—”

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