Morningside Cuesta ii. nine lives

“I do,” he replied, the words coming out almost before he knew they were true. How could I not? He wanted to say, but when he thought about it, he realized it was pretty clear why not - at least to her. He wondered why she never woke up when he had nightmare about her, about losing her, about her leaving him the same as Addie did.

“I dream about you, too, you know,” he said in a low voice. “I dream about... about you bein’ gone one day, and I chase you, too. I don’t mean to be cold to you, ‘Kuti. I don’t mean to push you away. I’m tryin’. Can you tell me you believe that?”

He settled down outside the den, knowing he wouldn’t be getting any more sleep that night. He’d sworn when he left Easthollow that he wouldn’t live in anger any more, and the rest of the night would be spent trying to live up to that promise.