Dane #2
Seth slipped his hand into mine as we walked toward the front door. I squeezed back. At the top of the steps I pulled him gently closer. The porch light illuminated his smile.
Seth leaned in and rested his forehead against mine.
"Ready?" I asked.
Seth smiled. "Yeah."
Then I opened the door and led him inside. He stopped just beyond the threshold.
The scent of fresh wood lingered faintly beneath the familiar smells of home. New flooring stretched through the living room.
The stone fireplace had finally been completed. The walls had fresh paint. Furniture actually matched instead of looking like I'd collected it from a series of unfortunate yard sales.
Seth slowly turned in a circle. "Huh."
“What?” I asked.
"Huh," he said again.
"That's all I get?"
He laughed. "I was expecting something less..."
His gaze swept around the room.
"Functional?" I put a hand over my chest. "That was rude."
"It was accurate."
"It was rude and accurate." Seth grinned.
The sight of it still had a ridiculous effect on me.
I shut the door behind us. The cabin suddenly felt quieter than it had in a long time, warmer too. Maybe because I wasn't standing here alone anymore.
"So," Seth said.
"So,” I ventured.
"You gonna show me around?" Seth demanded.
I raised an eyebrow, then I motioned dramatically toward the living room. "Welcome to the grand tour,” I began.
"Oh good."
"You sound excited,” I said.
"I am."
"Liar."
Seth laughed. The sound echoed pleasantly through the cabin. I started with the kitchen, which admittedly wasn't very exciting. Seth inspected everything with suspicious seriousness.
"Hmm."
"What now?" I asked.
"You actually own dishes."
"I've always owned dishes,” I answered.
“Answer me honestly, did your mom get you those?” Seth asked.
I couldn't stop smiling. Seth shook his head. We moved through the rest of the cabin. The guest room, then the renovated bathroom. The back deck overlooking the trees.
At one point Seth leaned against the railing and looked out at the woods stretching beyond the property.
"It's beautiful out here,” Seth commented.
Something softened inside my chest.
"Yeah."
The view had always been one of my favorite things about the cabin. Somehow hearing Seth say it made it feel new again. We eventually headed back inside.
Seth followed me down the hallway. A thoughtful expression had settled on his face. I recognized that look. It usually meant he was about to ask a question.
"Dane."
"Hm?"
“You really seem serious about giving me this tour,” Seth pointed out.
I shrugged. "You seemed interested."
Seth gave me a look. One of those patient looks that said he wasn't buying my nonsense.
"Dane."
I laughed quietly. "Okay, maybe I wanted to show it off a little."
"Uh-huh."
"And maybe I'm proud of it,” I said.
Seth's smile widened. “You should be.”
I sighed dramatically. “There's another room I want to show you.”
He nudged my shoulder lightly. The touch lingered, comfortable and easy. Then his gaze drifted toward the last unopened door. The master bedroom. The smile on his face faded into curiosity.
I felt my pulse pick up. Suddenly the room seemed warmer. It was funny. I was a grown wolf, and somehow this was making me nervous.
Seth noticed immediately. "Dane?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Come on."
His curiosity visibly sharpened. That wasn't encouraging. I opened the bedroom door. Seth stepped inside first, then stopped.
The room was simple. It had a large bed, nightstands, dresser, and windows overlooking the trees. There was nothing particularly unusual, at least not at first.
Then his gaze landed on the king-sized bed. His eyebrows lifted.
"Well."
"What?" I demanded.
"Nothing. That’s just a really big bed.”
Then his attention shifted again. This time toward the open closet, and that was when he finally saw that one side contained my clothes, but the other side sat completely empty. Waiting.
The smile slowly disappeared from Seth's face. I watched realization arrive, piece by piece. His eyes moved from the closet, to the dresser, and then back to me.
The room suddenly felt very quiet. My heart was beating entirely too fast.
"Dane..."
I crossed the room before I could lose my nerve. The key sat exactly where I'd left it earlier, waiting like everything else. I picked it up, then turned back toward Seth.
For a second I simply held it, then I placed it into his hand. Seth stared down at it.
The cabin key. My cabin key. His fingers closed around it slowly. When he looked back up at me, his eyes were already shining.
“This is…?” Seth whispered.
My throat felt suspiciously tight.
"I figured,” I started, then stopped, and decided to try again. "I figured maybe it was time to step up my game.”
Seth didn't say anything, so I kept going because apparently I was committed now.
"I would love to have you here. Permanently, I mean.”
His expression softened immediately, and dangerously so.
“I can’t imagine living on my own anymore, the place would feel too quiet." I laughed awkwardly. "Which sounds ridiculous."
"It doesn’t,” Seth said softly.
I took a breath. "I want you here, Seth."
There, I said the words, and there was no taking it back now. I glanced toward the empty half of the closet, then back at him.
"You don't have to answer right away.”
The lie was obvious. We both knew I desperately wanted an answer immediately. Seth laughed through what sounded suspiciously like emotion.
"You are unbelievably bad at acting casual,” Seth pointed out.
"I know."
"You've always been bad at it."
"I know,” I admitted.
His smile trembled, then steadied. Slowly, he looked down at the key again, and ran his thumb across it. Then looked back up at me.
"Yes,” Seth said.
I blinked, wondering for a moment if I had imagined him saying that word.
"Yes? Like you want to move in with me?” I had to confirm.
"Yes.”
Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly gave out. Seth laughed.
"I'd love to move in with you,” Seth confirmed.
I think my heart forgot how to function, because suddenly all I could do was stare at him.
Seth stepped closer, close enough that our hands brushed, and I could see the happiness shining in his eyes.
"I was honestly wondering how long it was going to take you,” Seth confessed.
I barked out a laugh. "What?"
"You've been dropping hints each time we go out,” Seth said.
"I have not."
"You absolutely have."
I considered arguing, then realized he was right. Seth reached up and touched my cheek, his touch gentle and affectionate.
"I'd like that," he said softly. “Waking up next to you every morning.”
The simple sincerity in his voice nearly undid me. I covered his hand with mine, then pulled him into a hug before I embarrassed myself further.
Seth laughed against my shoulder, and I wrapped my arms around him.
Outside, the last light of sunset faded beyond the trees. Inside, the cabin felt full for the first time, because Seth was here. More than that, he was staying permanently.
THE END