The words had reeled him in, just like they had done to me long ago.

After a few moments of being still, something inside me pricked uneasily, and then I realized that I hadn’t apologized yet.

“Hey…Raine?”

“Mm…what is it?”

He was distracted, and that was a good thing. Maybe I wouldn’t have to go through all these books alone after all.

“I’m sorry…you know, that I ignored you.”

There. I had said it. I had spit it out.

A rustle of paper reached my ears as he turned the page and then stopped to meet my gaze.

He didn’t say anything, though. He just shrugged.

I was just glad he hadn’t brushed it off. With that out of the way and done, I leaned over to look at which verse he was on.

“Which one are you reading?”

”’And back he spurred like a madman’,” he whispered quietly, indicating with his finger.

“That verse always gives me the chills,” I said, turning away and rubbing my upper arms vigorously.

I turned my gaze to the fire.

“The things people do for love…”