"She said some things about you, and your past-"
"Ever," he says. "Ever, look at me." He tilts my chin until I finally do. "I've been around a long time-"
"I'll say, six hundred years!"
He cringes. "Give or take. The point is, I've seen a few things, done a few things, and my life hasn't always been so good or so pure. In fact, most of it's been quite the opposite." I start to pull away, not sure if I'm ready to hear this, but he pulls me back to him and says, "Trust me, you're ready to hear this, because the truth is I'm not a murderer, I'm also not evil. Ijust-" He pauses.
"I just enjoyed a taste for the good life. And yet, every time I met you, I was willing to throw it all away, just to be near you."
I yank free, this time successfully. Thinking: Oh jeez! Oh no!
Classic case of boy losing girl, only this time it's over and over again, spanning the centuries, each time ending before they can do the deed. No wonder he's interested, I'm the one who keeps getting away! I'm like a living, breathing, forbidden fruit! Does this mean I have to remain a virgin for eternity? Disappear every few years just to keep his interest? I mean, now that we're stuck with each other for all of eternity, the moment the deed is done it's just a matter of time before this particular train arrives in Boring Town U.S.A. and he'll be looking to enjoy the "good life" again.
"Stuck with me? That's how you see it? As though you'll be stuck with me, for all of' eternity?" And the way he looks at me I can't tell if he's amused or offended.
My cheeks burn, having temporarily forgotten that my thoughts are not at all private where he's concerned. "No, I-I was afraid you'd feel that way about me. I mean, it's classic love story fodder-the one who got away-again and again and again! No wonder you've remained so entranced! It had nothing to do with me! You've spent six hundred years trying to get in my pants!"
"Petticoats, pantaloons, trust me, pants didn't come into fashion until much, much later.;' But when I don't laugh, he pulls me to him and says, "Ever, it has everything to do with you. And if you don't mind my saying, it's been my experience that the best way to deal with eternity is by living it one day at a time."
He kisses me, but only briefly, before he shifts his body and starts to pull away, but I grab hold of his hand, and pull him back to me. "Don't go," I say, gazing at him. "Please don't ever leave me again."
"Not even to get you some water?" He smiles.
"Not even for water," I tell him, my hands exploring his face, his incredibly beautiful face. "I-" The words halt in my throat.
"Yes?" He smiles.
"I missed you," I finally manage.
"And so you did." He leans in, pressing his lips to my forehead, then quickly pulling away.
"What?" I say, seeing the way he's looking at me, his grin spread wide and warming his face. Then I slide my fingers under my bangs, and gasp when I realize my scar's disappeared.
"Forgiveness is healing." He smiles. "Especially forgiving yourself."
I gaze at him, looking right into his eyes, knowing there's something more to say, but not sure I can go through with it. So I close my eyes instead, thinking that if he can read my mind then I shouldn't have to say the words out loud.
But he just laughs. "It's always better when it's spoken."
"But I've already said it, that's why you came back, right? I thought you would've come sooner. I mean it would've been nice to have had some help."
"I heard you. And I would've come even sooner, but I needed to know you were truly ready, and not just lonely after saying good-bye to Riley."
"You know about that?"
He nods. "You did the right thing."
"So, you almost let me die in there, because you wanted to be sure?"
He shakes his head. "I never would've let you die. Not this time."
"And Drina?"
"I underestimated her, I had no idea."
"You can't read each other's thoughts?"
He gazes at me, smoothing his thumb against my cheek.