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She nodded again. “This wasn’t how I ever imagined I would be starting my family, but if this is what must be done, then we’ll do it. And once we have you away from your mother and we can fix all the damage she’s done, we can really live our lives.”
“That sounds really nice,” he said, resting his head on hers. “We can travel together. Go to all my games.”
“We’ll get a new house. One far from here. Not done up all in girly beige.”
He chuckled. “That would be novel.”
“I want a sewing room.”
“Sewing?”
“Yeah. I like sewing and quilting and crocheting. All those fun kinds of things. I feel like I can have adventure in my life but not lose those things.”
“I would agree.” He smiled. “I want to give you everything you want.”
“Is that why you tattooed your head?”
“No, I did that for me. I like it,” he said, crest rising. “Looks punk rock, doesn’t it?”
She laughed. “You only know that phrase because of me!”
“And I maintain that it’s still a very strange thing to call someone, but you like it.”
“I do like it,” she whispered, a hand stroking along his bare scalp. “I like you.”
He smiled, nuzzling her head.
“I think I might love you,” she continued, making him freeze.
“You… You love me?”
She chuckled at his disbelief. “You’re shocked?”
“A bit?”
“Is that a question?”
“I guess it is.”
She continued laughing, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him close. “I’m willing to do all this for you. I want to. I hate to see the way your mom treats you, and all I want anymore, more than anything, is to set you free. What is that if not love?”
“But… me?” He frowned. “I can’t do anything for you. I’ve never been able to take care of you.”
“Am I a house plant?”
“I’m serious. I can’t protect or provide for you. The best thing I can do is to get you pregnant then abandon you. How can you love a useless male like me?”
“Is that how you see yourself?” She leaned back, smiling at him. “That’s not what I see. I see someone who has withstood humiliation and violation in front of the world and still stood strong. You may be restrained and controlled, but you somehow survived your mother to end up as someone who is kind and self-sacrificing. You tried to make me hate you and leave when I first got here, because you wanted to save me. You’re a good person, Rane. She’s tried her best to destroy you, but despite that you’re still surviving. You’re amazing, and it makes me sad that you don’t realize that.”
He wasn’t ready for her to suddenly declare him to be so great. But it was the warmth and tenderness in her gaze when she declared it that really struck him.
“You believe all that?” He whispered, stunned.
“Of course,” she pulled him down, kissing him sweetly. A short peck that shot straight through him with all the power of a punch to the face. “I’m not saying I wouldn’t enjoy you doting on me. But I like being here for you too. Working together, helping each other, being a team. That’s what it’s all about, you know?”
Right. Because she was used to taking care of people. She’d done that with her grandmother for a long time. She was nurturing and sweet and giving.
“I’m going to take care of you,” he promised, the oath hardening in his chest. “The first moment I can, I will make sure you never need worry about anything ever again.”
