Marian had promised him almost the same thing, standing side by side on the parsonage roof the night before she left town. The night before she escaped the Sheriff only because a portal to a fairy tale land opened up at the right time.
I'm always careful.
Leila had told him that sentiment, too, before going of on her Robforsaken mission with Guy. I can look after myself. I'm tough. I'll be fine.
It was only luck or magic that Marian was fine. And Leila's instinct to run had saved her from Guy but what if she'd had just a mouthful more of that drugged drink? And Marcie? What shitshow was she wading into?
Careful? Careful didn't mean shit.
Much took a lot longer than usual to hear Tuck's words, blinking back to the present. "Oh, worm," he said, fishing the poor thing out of his jacket pocket, where gratefully it had been unsquished. "I'll do worm, you do the coffee?" he asked, feeling strange that something so mundane as dishes could need their attention after that conversation.