Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) - Shannon Messenger Page 0,81

any of the drama you’ve been worrying about, okay? I know I haven’t always been great about that—but I’m working on it. So I need you to work on trusting me—because having you avoid me like you’ve been doing really hurts. And finding out you’ve been hiding something this important totally sucks. And knowing you confided in other people before telling me makes it even worse.”

She hung her head. “I know. I’m really, really sorry.”

He tilted her chin back up, leaving his warm fingers resting there—which made it very hard to concentrate as he told her, “You don’t have to apologize, Sophie. Just try not to do it again. Especially the avoiding me part. I’ve really missed you.”

Her heart and stomach seemed to be competing over which could flutter the hardest. “I’ve missed you too.”

“Yeah?” He flashed one of his breathtaking smiles, and she needed a moment to remind herself that this was actually happening.

This beautiful, perfect guy she’d had a crush on from the moment she’d first stared into his impossibly teal eyes was really saying these things, and looking at her like she meant something—even knowing what the matchmakers had said.

And his fingers were really tracing up her jaw, triggering a new explosion of tingly fireworks as his gaze shifted to her mouth and he leaned closer.

Closer.

“Uh, not to ruin the smoochy-smoochy time,” Ro interrupted at the absolute last second—making Fitz snarl, “Are you kidding me?” as Sophie tried to decide if she wanted to die of embarrassment or launch the heaviest thing she could find at Ro’s head.

Ro shrugged, unrepentant. “Thought we’d left, didn’t you? Nope! Someone had to keep an eye on you two. And what kind of chaperone would I be if I didn’t remind you that Pretty Boy hasn’t actually said what he thinks about the whole unmatchable thing? In case that matters to you.”

“Stay out of it,” Keefe warned, adding a whole new level to Sophie’s humiliation.

She hid behind her hair, suddenly glad that Ro had interrupted.

The thought of kissing Fitz in front of Keefe was more than just awkward. It felt… wrong, somehow.

“I am staying out of it,” Ro insisted. “It’s not like I’m dragging them to separate corners—though we all know I could. I just figured I should make sure that our sweet, innocent little Blondie noticed that her teal-eyed wonder boy left out that crucial detail, since I know it’s kinda hard to think when a cute boy is leaning in with his eyes all heavy-lidded and his lips all puckery. And I thought she might want a little further clarification before she got lost in all the ‘YIPPEE! HE’S KISSING ME’—but what do I know?”

Fitz’s glare could’ve withered forests. “And I thought the fact that I was about to kiss her made it pretty clear how I feel.”

“Does it, though?” Ro asked, tapping her chin with a painted claw. “I mean, I guess it could. Or it could mean you’re in the mood for some lip-on-lip action—and hey, no one’s judging you. Smooching rocks! But, if you really care about your Lovely Lady Foster, I’m guessing you’d want to make it clear that all the panicking and obsessing she’s done about her match status these last few days doesn’t bother you—assuming it doesn’t, of course.”

“Of course it doesn’t!” He turned back to Sophie, and repeated, “It doesn’t.”

“Really?” she whispered, feeling like she could finally breathe freely.

He reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears. “Really.”

Sophie closed her eyes, letting the simple word chase away the doubts and worries she’d been carrying since she’d left the matchmakers’ office.

Her heart felt lighter—faster. Her head, clearer than it had in days and days.

Right up until the moment when Fitz added, “I promise we’ll find your genetic parents and make this whole mess disappear.”

Ro sucked in air through her teeth. “Ooooooooooooo, you were sooooooooo close.”

“Seriously, stay out of it!” Keefe ordered.

But Fitz had already turned back toward Ro. “What’s wrong with offering to help? Keefe clearly is. And I would’ve been helping already, if she’d told me what was happening.” His gaze shifted to Sophie, and his forehead crinkled with concern. “I’m sure finding your genetic parents is going to be super complicated and exhausting—and you already have a ton of other stuff going on with the dwarves, from what Biana told me. So I just wanted you to know that I’m here for anything you need, okay? Anytime. No matter what. We’re in this together.”

He held out his hand, and Sophie