Chapter 92. I Never Got to Tell You (2)

Maybe he didn’t have to leave Sartis Est. Or maybe she didn’t have to stay in Sartis Est. He could take her home, show her his world like she’d shown him hers. He didn’t want to hurt her, to break her heart, but neither of them was coming out of this unscathed. Maybe he wanted a chance after all. But he could hear it in her voice. She was absolutely terrified. He needed to be sure before he asked for her, absolutely sure.

“What if I stayed for a few more days? What if I go tomorrow night, as your date?”

She turned around slowly.

“What happened to you can’t sit next to her, across from her?”

Bart sighed, took her chin in hand and tilted it up towards his face.

“If I don’t do well tomorrow night, I’ll take my bags and run like the coward I’ve been and I’ll leave you both behind. But for you I’m willing to try Ria. To be stupid and sit in a room with both of you.”

She put her hands on his arms and smiled bravely for him.

“It’s okay to leave now