“Yeah, I don’t know.” It wasn’t that Silas wasn’t worried, but Kori had enough people worried over her, and what her new outlook was actually concealing, or how it was affecting her. “Wondered if a lot of it is her putting on a brave face.” He shrugged, letting the subject go. It wasn’t that he wasn’t concerned about Kori, but she had a lot of people around her that would put the pieces back together if she did fall apart. “You know, so that people don’t pity her.”
He shrugged a shoulder and gave her a sly grin. “And what if I am?” he asked, amused. “Gotta admit, there are worse things that could happen.” Though, to be honest, he would like to be sober if that were the case. Not remembering things wasn’t high on his list of things he enjoyed. “Or the plan could be to get just drunk enough that I can blame all my actions on the booze.” Not that he’d ever force Rae into anything, but some thoughts had been on his mind more often now that things had changed.
“I know.” Rae worried too much to not consider their resources. He thought that was a good thing actually, someone had to make sure they were being careful with what they did have. He didn’t know Laura, but from what he’d heard, she was the same. Responsible.
“That would be very, very bad,” he said seriously, though he only managed a straight face for a couple of seconds. He liked this Rae, not that he didn’t like her before. He had liked her a lot, but this was better. Easier. He was practically being given permission to look. And meant her question with a long, somewhat heated gaze. “Yes, ma’am,” he answered, expression shifting to a sly smile. “You can just stay a couple steps ahead actually, I don’t mind in the least.” But he was going to be good and keep his hands to himself. But probably only because they were in public.
Again, he made an effort to keep his hands to himself; even if all he wanted to do right that minute was pull her in and kiss that playful expression from her face. “ And what if it is?”
He nodded at the question. It was easy enough getting the things on, it was just the laces that gave him a problem. It took a lot of effort to keep his mind from veering where it shouldn’t when Rae shifted. Hell, he used to be so much at keeping his thoughts under control.
Bending forward just a little, he nodded. “That’s exactly what I meant,” he told her, probably betraying himself a little with the way his voice had gone just a little rough around the edges. “Best view a guy could ask for.” Even if it did make him want things that he didn’t think she was ready for. Or he was too afraid to push for.
Once both their skates were tied, he helped Rae up from the ice, and if he was closer than necessary, well, there was no one around to catch it. “Should do that back up,” he murmured and reached for the zipper on her coat. He really, really didn’t like it, but she wasn’t wrong about staying warm.