One for Three

Chapter 61

Of course, Diamond hadn't changed the security codes yet, and my fingers practically flew over the keypad before the door finally opened. I immediately searched all the rooms, but he wasn't there. I kept telling myself that he was okay, but that did little to calm me.

Restlessly, I paced up and down the apartment, my thoughts racing. Every moment he wasn't here felt like an eternity. Finally, I heard noises at the door, and I hurried to the hallway. There he stood at last - Diamond.

His appearance shook me to my core. His hair was tousled and hung slightly in his face, the sleeve of his shirt was torn off on the right side, and a thick bandage adorned his arm. The remnants of his shirt and his pants were stained with large red patches of his blood. He looked absolutely terrible, but that didn't matter; the main thing was that he was here now. Alive.

I stared at him in disbelief, looking him up and down, before I threw myself into his arms, sobbing. "Never, never do that again, do you hear me?" I scolded angrily, pressing my head against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around me, and we just held each other. The moment was so intense and relieving that no words were needed.

After a while, he gently pushed me away, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Prince Ironheart? Really?" he asked.

A small smile crept onto my lips. "That wasn't from me. Kaori started that."

"I should have guessed. So, you wanted to talk to me. Here I am."

He really had to be joking. We had just shared a truly wonderful, emotional moment. He had even allowed himself to be part of it; for any normal person, that would have been the point where no more words were needed, and now he wanted to talk.

He broke the embrace and headed straight for the kitchen. Completely bewildered, I followed him. He grabbed a drink and leaned casually against the kitchen counter.

"I'm waiting."

"I... um... I wanted to apologize for showing up here the other day," I began uncertainly.

"And? You said there was a lot to discuss."

Phew, he was really a tough nut to crack. His hint made it clear that he had heard the love confession, but he was trying to coax me out. He wanted me to say it to his face now, but I wasn't going to make it that easy for him. Two could play this game; maybe I could get him to say it first.

"Kaori said you had a gift for me from the Philippines, and I should ask you about it," I provoked him a little. His dark eyes rested on me and flashed suspiciously as I brought up the topic.

"So... she says... I don't recall giving you anything there," he replied calmly, once again giving nothing away. But I could tell he had picked up on the game, and it was now a matter of who could hold out longer.

I took a step closer to him. "What was it that you threw into the sea?" I asked persistently.

"Nothing. But you're avoiding me. What is it you wanted to tell me?" he countered, and I sensed his growing impatience.

There it was again, that flicker in his eyes that often made me lose my mind.

"I think I forgot. But if you tell me what you threw into the sea, it might come back to me," I replied with a grin, taking another step closer.

By now, I was standing right in front of him, and that special tension between us was unmistakably back. It was almost like old times; we were letting each other hang. His knowing grin was unmistakable.

"Alright, if it will help you remember. It was a key," he said, and that answer threw me off balance a bit.

A key? I was surprised but had no idea what the key could be for.
"What kind of key?" I asked curiously.