Page 212 of Commander’s Mate
He had a point.
Annoying.
“Sit.”
His eyebrows rose.
I smiled despite myself.
“You may sit, Commander.”
He sat at the far end of the bench.
For a while we watched the stream.
“I can stay here,” I said.
His body went still.
“Yes.”
“You hate that.”
“Yes.”
“Good honesty.”
He said nothing.
I turned toward him.
“Ask me to come back.”
His eyes met mine.
“No.”
That hurt.
More than I expected.
“Why not?”
“Because if you return because I asked while you are deciding whether Halor should become your home, then I will always wonder whether I stole part of the choice.”
My throat tightened.
“You really know how to make being decent irritating.”
“I am learning.”
I looked at the flowers.
“If I stay here, what happens?”
“I leave.”
“Just like that?”
