Page 76 of Legion
“All of that impacts a person’s growth,” Tia went on.“Even when you were a kid, it made you try to fade into the background.You didn’t want to be seen.Which hasn’t changed.You won’t even claim credit for your work because you don’t want the publicity.”
“Yeah, well.”
“Hey, I’m not giving you grief here, honey.I get it.”Tia placed the pouch of cards in her storage chest.“We reach a point where we loathe attention so much that we feel uncomfortable whenever we have it.Especially since it’s mostly sexual.So when a guy comes along who, unlike those who came before him, has a genuine interest in us as aperson...we don’t know what to do with it.
“I had not one clue how to deal with Alfie seeing past me being a siren.I’d come to expect betrayal, resentment, and abandonment.I expected it from him as well, and I almost pushed him away because of it.”
Naomi frowned.“I didn’t know that.”
“Thankfully he’s a patient and perseverant man who doesn’t give up on those he cares for.The point is that I was like you once upon a time—I walked into every relationship expecting it to go south.Expectmore, Naomi.You deserve more.Reach for it.”
“You act like Luka’s offered me more and I threw the offer back in his face.He hasn’t.”
“But he might.I’ve been assured by multiple people that you have his focus in a way no other woman has.”
Naomi’s pulse spiked.“What people?”
“I don’t name my sources.”Tia’s gaze briefly lowered to Naomi’s throat.“You’ve worn that brand for weeks now.It hasn’t faded the tiniest bit.And my guess is that it’s not the only one on your body.Ah, I’m right.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to—your expression answered for you.If there comes a point where he suggests taking things up a notch, don’t reflexively back away.”
Her mother talked as if it would be a natural thing for him to make such an offer.Talked like Luka would easily grow to want something permanent, but could he really give so much of himself to another person?Naomi wasn’t sure.She didn’t know if someone like him could ever really belong to anyone.
Her demon had the same doubts.Luka was just so solitary, so self-contained.And his mental walls were pure steel.There’d be no sneaking past them, chipping at them, or poking holes in them.He’d have to willingly lower them for her, and she wasn’t certain he ever deliberately would.
“Your secrets are by no means small, but that doesn’t mean he won’t accept them,” Tia added.
Naomi swallowed hard.“What if he can’t, though?What if he found out and then couldn’t look at me the same way?”
“Then we set him on fire.What else?”
A snicker popped out of her.“Yeah, what else.Now, if you’re finished, I have shopping to do with Tobe.Get your shit so we can go.”
“Only if you promise to think on all I’ve said.”
“I’ll think on all you’ve said.”It would be hard not to.
Once her mom had grabbed her purse, Naomi switched off the lamp and then moved the curtain aside so they could both exit the room.
“Will it help if I say it in a different language?”she heard Tobe ask, his tone clipped.
Looking at the cashier desk, she noted he was having some sort of confrontation with a thin guy with a ponytail who wore rather flamboyant clothing.
“Will that make the wordsfinallypenetrate?”Tobe went on.
“You’re being unreasonable,” the stranger replied.“I’m only asking for a fucking name!”
“And I’ve told you too many times to count that you’re never going to get it,” Tobe pretty much growled.“If you’d just respected their wishes, they wouldn’t have gotten annoyed by your persistence and then dropped you.This situation is of your own making.”
Her scalp prickling in suspicion, Naomi telepathed her psi-mate.Oh my God, is that Stefan?
Tobe’s mind bumped hers.Yes.
Naomi stilled.“Unreal,” she hissed low.
Tia frowned.“What is it?”Her voice was equally quiet.
