He’d made a misstep. He could feel it. The atmosphere of the room had shifted uncomfortably. His throat constricted as he sorted through his words, trying to identify the offending word or phrase.

“Thank you,” he smiled, trying to buy himself time, clinking his glass against hers, “I hope so. I think he was the kind of Dad who’d try and be proud of you even if your crowning achievement was just not getting arrested, but I hope I’ve done marginally better than that...or will. There’s hope for me yet.”

Denhai, trying to help, picked up his favourite toy from the rug and deposited it in Cal’s lap, his ears perked and his tail wagging expectantly. Flynn sighed, reaching for it to save Cal the trouble, and threw it across the room into the kitchen. He cast an amused expression in her direction as the husky careered off the carpet onto the tiles, claws scrabbling for traction.

“I know it’s a big change of pace,” he said, scanning her face, “and maybe it makes me one of the most boring men in Shaman, but, you know, I might have to extract library fines with menaces, so I’ll keep my sword under the desk for emergencies.”

He took another sip of wine, and then set his glass down on the coffee table. Slowly, he turned in his seat to face her as Denahi reappeared with his prize. Mercifully, he decided to keep it to himself and settled himself on the rug to chew it.

Flynn moved his hand, hesitated, and took a deep breath. Tentatively, he rested his hand over Cal’s, a worried smile flickering across his face. He glanced up at her, unsure, half expecting her to push him away.

“What is it?” he asked, concerned, “whatever it is, you can tell me.”

What did I do he wanted to ask her, what did I say.

“I know we might not see as much of each other during the day, but the library isn’t going to move, and you’ll always be welcome here.”

He tried another coaxing smile.

“I’d miss you,” he confessed, “if you stopped visiting, and if we stopped hanging out.”

His heart pounded in his chest and he took a deep breath to try and steady it. Denahi looked up at him, his wagging tail thumping against the leg of the table with increasing enthusiasm. Flynn took another breath.

“I’d actually hoped...” he said, his voice catching, “I’d hoped we might actually start seeing more of each other. Especially now you don’t work for me anymore...”

Flynn trailed off, and forced himself to look her in the eye again, half-wishing the sofa would swallow him.

“You know...if you don’t find the lack of uniform a total turn off.”

The corner of his mouth twitched.

“A small mercy, honestly, I don’t think green’s really my colour.”