Nodding, she focused on the path ahead to keep from tripping over a root or a rock as they made their way back to the nearby parking lot where they had stashed the car. “I guess.”
He wove his fingers through hers and, lifting her hand to his lips, kissed her fingers. There was such desperate emotion in the gesture, as if he was worried it would be the last time he could do it, that she found tears unexpectedly stinging her eyes. Blinking them away before they had a chance to fall, she squeezed his hand reassuringly. “It’ll be all right.”
“One way or another, yes. It will be.” He lowered her hand to their sides as they walked. “Because one way or another, this will be over.”
The rest of the walk to the car was in silence. Harry climbed into the passenger seat, and she took the back bench. Gideon drove—not trusting the constantly sleepy revenant to drive so late at night. Or early in the morning, depending on how they looked at it.
Harry fussed and grumbled, but the moment his head tilted back, he was clearly asleep. Maggie smiled at him and, reaching forward, gently stroked Harry’s hair. “Poor guy.”
“I do sympathize. I hope you don’t feel like I have nothing but contempt for him.” Gideon smirked. “Just mostly.”
“I don’t deserve his friendship.” She sighed. “He’s always been there for me, hasn’t he?”
“And you were once there for him when no one else was.” Gideon’s jaw ticked. Whatever he was hinting at was a dark memory for him. “You will understand soon.” The leather of the steering wheel creaked under his grip.
“Hey.” She put her hand on Gideon’s shoulder, scooting forward to get closer to him. “What is it?”
With a shake of his head, he sighed. “I’m simply being selfish again. I want this place where we’ve found ourselves to last forever. I don’t want to—” He paused. “I don’t want to lose you for the last time. But I suppose if I am to do so, I can take comfort in the affection you’ve chosen to show me thus far.”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet.” It was meant to be comforting, but she doubted it was.
“You haven’t. But you will.”
Nope. Wasn’t comforting at all.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know if I cannot know, after coming this far.” She leaned forward as far as she could and kissed his cheek. “Even if I am really enjoying this whole ‘weird lovers’ thing we have going on right now, it isn’t real until I have all my memories back.”
He smirked. “As am I. But we are long overdue for our reckoning, you’re right. We shouldn’t delay, simply because I’m a bleeding-hearted romantic.”
“Yeah. Guess I should touch the fragment and go spelunking again.” She sat back on the bench and scooted to lie down as best she could in the cramped space. Reaching into her pocket, she braced herself. “By the way, I like it when you’re being sappy.”
“Oh?”
“It’s cute. It makes me smile.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m glad it isn’t annoying. Enjoy your vision, Marguerite. I hope it is a kinder one than the last.”
“No kidding.”
She touched the fragment, and the world simply went away.