Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

64. Heart to heart

"Thank you," Sanem smiles, handing the waiter her plate. Can hands his own over as well and turns to her. "It was so good. I can't believe I finished the whole thing so fast," she gushes next to him in disbelief.

Can chuckles, nodding as he wipes his fingers and then leans over to lower his voice. "It's good because it's made with love."

She lifts her brows in question.

"I've known the owner for years. He's an avid fisherman, just like me." Can decided to surprise her with a little trip to one of his favourite seaside cafes that operated out of an old fishing boat.

"You're very corny, do you know that?" Sanem chuckles, shaking her head. "And you know just about everyone don't you?"

"Perks of being me, I guess," he shrugs and takes her hands, linking their fingers. He missed the feeling of her hands in his. It was such a short time, and yet, it had felt like forever.

Sanem smiles at his thumb tracing patterns into her hand and then frowns a little, her mind whirling with thoughts about the past 24 hours. They haven't spoken about his time in jail yet and she wondered if he ever would, since he kept avoiding the topic. "Can - "

"Hm?" Can hums, tilting his head to show he was listening, his eyes still on their hands in thought.

"I was so scared." Sanem frees one hand to touch to his cheek. "Seeing you behind those bars...A free albatross trapped in a place with no escape..." She shakes her head. "It was like I was trapped too..."

Can turns his face into her palm, his lips touching it lightly. "Don't," he says as he kisses her hand. "Don't think about it anymore, okay?" He looks at her reassuringly and gives her a firm nod. "It's over with."

Sanem frowns a bit at him shooting the experience down again like it didn't matter.

"Yes it wasn't fun being in there," he goes on, "but do you know what actually bothered me the most?"

"What?"

"You," he says without looking away.

She lowers her hand in confusion and he looks down at their hands. "Me?"

"I was worried and I was afraid that you..." He trails off and looks up again so he can explain. "I was afraid that you'd blame yourself."

I do blame myself... Sanem swallows dryly. "Of course I blame myself, Can," she frowns at him, "and I should. I'm the reason Fabbri - "

"Can you not mention that man's name in my presence, Sanem, please?" he growls and closes his eyes, cutting her off with a clipped tone.

"I'm also the reason the moonstones broke," Sanem continues. "I brought you bad luck when I broke them."

What? Can sits back to look at her in question. Where did she get that logic from?

"It's true," Sanem frowns. "They were very important to you and because of me, they lost their powers and in turn, that had a negative ripple effect and it's - "

"Sanem, where are you getting this from?" Can asks, interrupting her rambling. "The moonstones were important to me, yes, but then I met you and you became what they used to represent. You became my good luck charm."

Sanem smiles, unable not to even if she felt like he was full of hot air. Can knew just how to make her feel better and worse at the same time.

"Listen to me," Can says seriously after a silent minute, seeing her still looking upset and unsure, "you have nothing to worry about, okay?" She nods a little, but the pout stays put. "Sanem, nothing bad is going to happen because the stones broke." He gives her a playful glare. "Unless I don't get what I want right now."