Stavanger Bay if "i love you" was a promise

the small bow that curved her lips both warmed and relieved velen. she could smile; she would be all right. of course, it was a very binary way to view what had happened; as much as he might feel for her, the boy could never truly understand, and therefore would always be outside the events.
what mattered now, however, was that dalia had smiled.
"whenever. i'd love to see it. and i uh, i'm glad i was able to find a pearl." he dug his toes into the sand now, feeling a bit awkward, then proffered a wide grin and a seeking expression. "are you hungry, dalia?"
he liked the way she said his name. he liked saying hers.