"He's being careful," a small voice in the back of my mind murmurs in approval.
Kissing him back, I let myself luxuriate in this moment. It's not like any of it is real. This is all pretend for him. He's just a fabulous actor. If I wasn't in on the secret, I'd swear we were in love.
Rudy meets us at the curb. I have him buckle the rosebush in the passenger seat. "Make sure she gets sunlight," I request. "She doesn't need any more water."
Sly hides his smile behind his hand, amused at the care I'm giving this small, living thing. As he notices me watching him, there's a sudden shift in his expression and his eyes go from teal to bright blue.
"I'm so glad you decided to stay," Rufus speaks through Sly. "We both are, even if he won't admit it."
I break eye contact first, but leaning for
