Page 9 of Mercy

Before Meghan can protest, Starla's tugging her toward the bar.

Meghan glances back at me, a mix of apology and amusement in her eyes.

I give her a reassuring nod and smile as she's whisked away.

"Son."

I turn to find my father, Runes, standing beside me, a beer in each hand.

He offers one to me with a nod of his head. "Let's talk."

We make our way to a quieter spot along the wall, away from the rowdy crowd.

I lean against the exposed brick, the coolness seeping through my cut as I take a long pull from my beer.

Runes studies me for a moment, his eyes sharp beneath his graying brows. "I've never seen you like this with a woman before, Tor."

I furrow my brow, feigning ignorance. "Like what?"

He gestures vaguely with his beer. "So... attentive. Protective. Almost loving."

The word makes my chest tighten.

I take another swig of beer to buy myself time. "We bonded a lot in the hospital," I finally say, keeping my voice neutral. "She kept me sane when I was stuck in that bed and couldn't move around much."

Runes nods slowly, his eyes never leaving my face. "Is there something going on between you two?"

I shake my head, perhaps a bit too quickly. "No. We're just friends."

The words feel hollow even as I say them.

I think about Meghan's smile, the way her eyes light up when she laughs.

The softness of her skin when I wiped away her tears earlier.

Runes raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "You sure about that?"

I open my mouth to respond, but find myself at a loss for words.

Am I sure?

The way my heart races when she's near, the constant urge to protect her, to make her smile... it's more than just friendship, isn't it?

"I don't know, Dad," I finally admit, my voice low. "I don't know what this is."

Runes leans in closer, his voice dropping to match mine. "Let me ask you this, son. Do you want there to be something more between you and Meghan?"

I take a long pull from my beer, the cool liquid a stark contrast to the heat rising in my chest.

The question hangs in the air.

I think about Meghan's laugh, the way her eyes sparkle when she's excited, how safe I felt with her by my side in the hospital.

"I wouldn't be mad if something happened," I finally admit, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

It's the most honest I've been with myself, let alone anyone else, about my feelings for Meghan.

My father nods, a knowing look in his eyes. "Look, you're young," he says, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "But I'd be lyin' if I said you don't have some sort of connection with that girl. It's clear as day to anyone who sees you two together."

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