“Then you’re coming home with me. You won’t worry about me, and… and I won’t worry about you.”
“You never should feel worried about me.”
“Well, I won’t. If you’rewithme.”
All at once, bright floodlights come on above us.
The main bright lights of the ballroom are back on, so much brighter than the party lights were.
And I wait for the magic to fade.
Wait for the spell that should break, shattering through the snowglobe we’ve been in, with our own little private slow dance.
But it doesn’t.
Because Niko looks at me and nods, acceptance landing on his expression.
“This is a bad idea,” he says softly.
Something urgent sparks in my chest. “Niko, I don’t care if it is.”
“And unnecessary, because whether we’re together or apart for the break, you’re stillmine.”
Adrenaline courses through me as he says it.
And whatever spell he had on me is obviously still fully there, without question.
Yours.
Yours until the end of our deal.
Yours until the New Year’s party, and afterward, the spell really will break.
“I know I am,” I tell him, my words coming out a little raspy.
He sighs heavily, closing his eyelids as he tilts his head back for a moment, like he’s trying to summon the will to say what he’s about to say.
“It’s a terrible fucking idea.”
“Please.”
“…and I’m going to come home with you anyway.”
17
Niko
Niko, posting a message on his Camboy account, this morning
Username: Dragonfly
A note for my followers: Sorry that I’ve been missing in action for a while. Real life has been crazy, and I’ve been taking care of very necessary things.
I haven’t forgotten you.
Happy Holidays, Dragonflies. Xx
I should have knownwhat I was getting into when I accepted the offer to come to Oliver’s family home.