We sat together in companionable silence for a few long moments before the door swung open. Cameron startled slightly at the sight of me, blinking rapidly as he shrugged out of his jacket. “I didn’t expect to find you here, Marin. You’re usually out doing something with the wards or helping Tala about now, aren’t you?”
“Usually,” I said. “If I’m not babysitting Thordin and Sif or helping with the food stores. Decided today was made for something different.”
“Apparently,” Cameron said, his tone dry. His gaze flicked toward Neve. She shrugged.
“We were just talking,” she said. “Girl stuff.”
“Right.” His tone said he clearly didn’t believe us. “Girl stuff, or things that I don’t need to know because I’d get upset?”
I glanced toward Neve. “He sounds like Thom.”
“They’re a lot alike I think,” Neve said, one corner of her mouth quirking toward a smile. “Though maybe not about everything.” She pushed herself to her feet and hobbled over to Cameron, sliding her arms around his neck and kissing him gently. Cameron smiled and brushed her hair back from her face.
“I hope not,” he murmured, apparently forgetting I was there for a moment as he slid his hands up the back of Neve’s shirt. I cleared my throat softly and got up from the bed, earning a startled look from Cameron and a blush.
“Sorry,” he said. “You two were in the middle of something and I’m interrupting.”
“It’s no problem,” I told him, feeling almost wistful as I watched his arms tighten around Neve’s waist. I knew that Thom loved me, but sometimes the way Cameron looked at Neve…
Don’t worry about that. Thom loves you more and deeper in some ways. He’d die for you.
He’d run if it would save your life. He’s already tried. What does that tell you about him?
I suppressed the urge to snort. It told me that as brave as Thom was on the outside, there was a coward lurking beneath the surface, behind the façade of strength. I didn’t blame him for it. If I was in his shoes, maybe I’d be the same way.
“I’ll leave you two be,” I said as I slipped past them to the door. “Don’t forget to turn out the lamp.”
Neve laughed. “We won’t.”
I nodded and left them in peace, thinking about Thom.
Maybe I did need to talk to him about this after all.
