Page 59 of Keystrokes and Kittens

I nodded.

“I’m going to ask you something. A favor of sorts.”

“Anything. I’ll do anything.” I cocked my head. “But I can’t imagine what you’d ask of me.”

He chuckled ruefully. “Something you might find hard to do.”

“Oh?” Dread lay in the pit of my stomach. Whatever he was about to ask was going to be super important.

“I’m going to ask you to give me some credit. To take me at my word. To believe me when I say that I know my own mind. When I say I know what’s in my heart. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that I want you in my life. Romantically. As a partner. As someone who will help me raise the kittens and take care of Tibby. As an absolute equal.”

As predicted, my stomach dropped. He was earnest about it. He honestly believed what he was saying.

I dropped into the seat beside him. “How am I supposed to argue with that?”

“Maybe you’re not?” He asked the question with hope—almost like he understood how close I was to giving in.

“I’m not going to change.”

“No one’s asking you to—least of all me. What I am asking is that you give us a real shot. That you go into this relationship believing it might just be forever. Giving me a shot to prove how much I care about you.”

I bit my lower lip. And considered. “I really care about you, Soren.”

“And I care about you.”

“Which is why I honestly think you can do better than me.”

He reached for both my hands and gripped them tightly. “Nope. Not in a million years. I see a man who is so strong and has held things together for so damn long. I see a man who brought home kittens who wouldn’t have survived otherwise. I see someone who is determined to be the best—uncle, employee, friend—” He gazed upward. As if trying to add to his words.

As if he could.

“Soren.” Said quietly.

He met my gaze.

“I might be all those things. I also can’t give you what you need.”

“Sam.” Said sharply. “Have I ever given you any hint that I’m unhappy with things the way they are?”

“Well…”

He arched an eyebrow.

“Okay. No. But that might change. You might meet someone who can—” Since my hands were still clasped in his, I made a weird jerking motion with my head.

Soren rolled his eyes. “Nope. Look, can I be honest?”

I nodded.

“Okay. Well—” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I love our cuddles. And I think you do too.”

Again, I nodded.

“Do I wish for a bit more? Yes. But I’m talking about…I don’t know. What might you be comfortable with? Sharing a bed sounds too big for you right now. I don’t know how you’d cope.”

“Here’s where I’m supposed to be honest too, right?”

This time, he nodded.