Page 85 of Far From Sherwood Forest
He doesn’t respond, and when I look at him again, he’s staring at the floor.
After getting the potatoes in the oven, I go to him, placing myself between his legs with my hands on the counter on either side of him.
“Look at me.”
He does, and I find myself wanting to kiss away all the deep lines etched in his face.
“I’m so sorry, Henry.”
“I know.” As much as I hated him for it, I believe him. I place my hand on the side of his neck and lean my forehead against his. “But it’s done.”
His hands go to my waist, and he starts moving them toward my back but stops himself. A shiver travels through my spine as I let myself enjoy his touch.
“I’ll never let you be alone again,” he says. “I swear.”
“That’s something we need to talk about.” When the crease between his brows deepens, I give him a quick, soft kiss. “After we eat.”
As we eat dinner, I realize that I actually enjoy this. Cooking was always a means of survival for me, but cooking for Robin, feeding him, taking care of him, is something I could get used to.
There’s very little that I’ve found enjoyment in over the course of my life, but I’m finding more and more of those things while being with him.
After we eat, I take Robin to bed, just wanting to lie down and be close to him. I tell him about Ivy, leaving out a few of the details from when she found me at the cabin. I tell him everything she told me the other day, everything we talked about minus me doubting Robin’s feelings for me. It’s been an emotional enough few days as it is, and he doesn’t need to know how much the idea of his feelings not being real terrified me.
I’ve been more vulnerable with Robin than I ever have been with another person, but there are still some things I need to take slow.
When I tell him that Ivy mentioned I’m supposed to go back with him, he props himself up on his elbow to peer down at me with those wide, hopeful eyes of his.
“Does that mean you’re coming with us?”
“I told you I was all in.” I reach up to move a loose strand of blond hair off his forehead. “I meant it, which means I go where you go.”
The smile he gives me is potent enough to stop my heart.
“She also told me that we can come back if that’s what we want.”
Ivy did end up staying with me that night—I’m actually a little surprised I didn’t kill her in her sleep—and we talked a bit more about everything that’s happened. She hadn’t planned for us to stay in this world as long as we have, but with the way timeworks differently, it was too early to send us back before now. It’s probably a good thing, though. I needed a lot of time to heal after those first two years, even if I’m not sure I fully have.
Since we’ve all been here long enough to make new lives for ourselves, she understands if we want to come back when our business with the prince is finished.
“Is that whatyouwant?” he asks.
“I can’t imagine having a life back in Nottingham anymore,” I tell him honestly. “I think I like it better here. But I’ve been thinking about it, and Sherwood Forest might be safer for you. If you really get sick as often as John said—”
“I don’t care,” he interrupts. “I like it better here too. If this is where you want to be, then I want to be here too.”
I’ll take care of you when you’re sick.
I don’t say the words out loud, at least not while he’s awake. But after I turn off the lights, and he’s sleeping while curled into my side, I whisper the words into the dark.
Before following him under, I add, “I’ll always take care of you.”
Since today is Saturday, Robin decides to take the day off from the ranch and spend it with me. I grumble about having to make breakfast for both of us, but it’s only for show. I know he sees right through me, perched on the kitchen counter like he was last night, staring at my ass as I cook.
I won’t admit it out loud, but I don’t hate the attention.
While we eat breakfast, Robin asks if I’d come to the ranch with him tonight. He points out that since I’m going to be coming with them and will be ontheirside this time, then weshould all practice being civil.
He has a point, but I don’t have to like it.
