Page 53 of Legacy Ascended

"I know why you came. You've told me, and Luke's told me, and I've read the log with your name on it." I turn so I can see his face. "What I don't know is what you want now. Not then. Now, sitting on a wall with nothing on fire."

"You," he says. "I want time with you when nobody's bleeding or trying to overthrow anything. I want to find out whether we can be boring together."

I bump my shoulder against his — the good one — and he leans into it.

"I kept you at a distance for a long time," he says. "Some of it was principle. Some of it was fear."

"You were also an ass."

"Yes. Luke has been very clear about that."

"He told me."

Ander closes his eyes briefly. "Of course he did. I've apologized before. I'd rather show you I'm changing."

"You have changed."

"I'm working on it."

"You sat at our table and argued about pie."

"That was harder than the archive," Ander says.

"Linnea," I say.

"What about her?"

"Is she going to care about this?"

Ander looks genuinely confused. "She's been telling me to ask you out."

"Of course she has."

"She offered to do it for me."

That makes me laugh. "Why didn't you let her?"

"Because I possess some remaining dignity."

"Not much."

"More than I would have if Linnea had formally requested a date on my behalf. She knew I wanted you before I admitted it. She's going to be unbearably pleased when I tell her you asked me to walk with you."

"I asked you to walk. That isn't a proposal."

"I know. I'm trying to manage my excitement."

It's nearly dark when we get back to the quad, and I'm turning toward my staircase when he catches my hand.

"Jessica."

"Mm."

"Can I come up?" His voice comes out quieter than usual.

"Yes," I say.

The suite's empty — Sophia's at her thing, Declan's at his, and Renzo has left a note on the table that says GONE OUT. BE GOOD. NOT TOO GOOD. I turn it facedown before Ander can read it. Judging by his expression, I'm too late.