Page 39 of Kane

Magical in fact.

With the ice-pop stand still a fair distance away, they simply walked in each other’s company. In silence. Just enjoying the weather and the bustling, happy atmosphere in the park.

This was the kind of scene that Kane had often imagined.

He couldn’t help but think back to his friendship with Roddy. They’d had fun times too.

Or that was how it felt at the time.

Looking back now, with the benefit of hindsight, it all seemed so hollow. It just couldn’t compare to the simple pleasure of walking with Cassie.

Everything with Roddy was based on drinking and gambling. Living the high life. Being as wild as was legally possible.

It just couldn’t be compared to the purity of the fun that Cassie brought Kane.

It wasn’t even close.

As they arrived and took their place in line at the ice-pop stand, Cassie took a step back and whipped her small notepad and pencil out of her back pocket.

‘Okay, just stand there. Exactly like that,’ Cassie said, seeming to outline a sketch.

‘I feel like I’m being objectified!’ Kane joked, trying not to look too self-conscious as he patiently waited for Cassie to finish her drawing. ‘Come on, get a move on.’

‘Patience, the artist is nearly done,’ Cassie giggled, applying the finishing touches. ‘It’s your fault anyway for giving me the pencils and paper.’

‘Hmph, maybe I should have thought it through better. Got you a laptop instead.’

‘Ha-ha! No, I love it,’ Cassie said. ‘I’ve been getting lots of new ideas. Way more than I would have done. Before, when I was working exclusively online, I found myself chained to the computer. It meant I didn’t really experiment or step away from the main project.’

Kane loved to hear this.

Primarily, it was simply delightful to hear that his influence had prompted Cassie’s creativity to bloom again. There was something very rewarding about knowing that his actions had helped someone so deserving as Cassie to find a new way of expressing themselves.

Also, it was great to see Cassie so happy.

Especially after what she had been through.

Kane knew from his experience as a firefighter that victims of fires could find themselves struggling in the aftermath. Even the ones who, like Cassie, weren’t at home at the time.

‘Hey, you think you’d want to maybe have a permanent set-up somewhere in the apartment? We could get you an easel, maybe some paints too?’ Kane suggested, not wanting to directly ask Cassie to move in with him full-time.

This seemed like a good way of testing the water though. A great way to see how Cassie would react.

Kane knew that it might be too soon for Cassie. It would be disappointing if it was, but Kane wouldn’t mind too much. His sole priority was making sure that the relationship moved along at a pace that Cassie was comfortable with.

That was more important than anything else at all.

But Cassie wasn’t answering.

Shit. It was definitely too much. Urgh.

‘Sorry, that was a bit over the top,’ Kane said, feeling deflated.

‘No, it sounds great. I’m not upset about that,’ Cassie said. ‘It’s just… I was hoping you might be asking me to move in with you forever!’

Wait, what?

Did I just hear that correctly?