EVERGLOW

VI. How to get what you want

"What was that about?"

Yue finally held his gaze as they stood in the empty room beside the one with Madame Zhu still in it, presumably waiting for them.

"She got me two days off. I can go home."

"In exchange for what? The rest of your life?"

"We're not giving her an answer yet! I just want to go home!"

He placed both hands on his hips. "We both know if you take up that offer, it's as good as a done deal, Shen Yue."

"Do we even have a choice, Dylan? I wouldn't presume about you but I know I can't afford to breach right now."

He stared hard at her, wishing hard he could read everything she was thinking at this moment. She was staring back at him with her chin jutting out. Was this what she really wanted? God knows he would do anything for her but was this even right?

"Do you remember what you said to me when they locked us up in that closet?"

He shook his head. Unbelievable!

He should have known she would bring this up now. Now, after almost a year of burying that conversation in oblivion, he was almost sure she didn't even remember it.

"Or was it just the beer talking?"

His jaw clenched. "You know we were both sober that night Yue. I meant every word I said."

"Then why is this so difficult for you?" she asked softly, as if trying to understand without riling him up. He was trying really hard to keep from losing his mind at the moment. But he remembered every single word that night.

"You know what they're trying to do, right?" her voice whispered in the dark.

He couldn't see her face but he could imagine the amused glint in her eyes. He leaned back against the back of the closet, shifting his legs to keep them from cramping in the small space while being careful not to jostle her head on his lap.

She had been very tolerant of their friends' teasing. Which was more than he could say for himself. She knew he was losing his patience with their antics. He hated not being able to sleep comfortably. They could have at least locked them up in a room, for Christ's sake.

"I'd have to be an idiot not to," he whispered back when he felt her hand touch his cheek.

"You could just set them straight you know."

"Set what straight?"

"Just tell them you don't see me that way."

His brows furrowed. Did she really think that? Maybe she really was the idiot here.

"They will know it for the bald-faced lie it will be."

He let that sink into her obstinate brains. With the way she tensed up he wondered if she really had no idea. All this time, he was putty in her hands. Everyone could see it. Except her.

He chuckled. Way to go Dylan, confessing in a musty closet. Well, if this really was the first time she had an inkling of it, it was way overdue. He wanted her to know. Even though he was certain she would shoot down his advances anyways.

"You go ahead and set them straight."

He regretted it the moment he said it. Their friends were annoying but in truth he secretly basked in their endless teasing. At least in somebody else's wishful thinking, she was his.