"Is that what's different," he said, squinting at the rug while Christine was reaching around to see if it was safe. He couldn't blame her for doing that. He could blame himself because now was not the best time to remember that the old rug was scratchy to roll around on. "I like this one better."
He looked over at her and nodded once and only once.
"Yep. Here." He put one arm around her waist, telling himself it was only to reassure her. "I'm going to move us through it. I won't let anything happen to you. Ready? Set? Walk."
He guided her through and in only the matter of three steps. They were standing in her living room, and the portal was closing in on itself, disappearing into the air in a series of harmless golden sparks.
Stephen smirked at Christine in such a way, that it was a pale shadow of the overabundant ego he once had.