I could have.

[ he really can't be stopped, but the setup for that cheesy comment was too much for him to resist. Plus, it's true. It's his heart, isn't it? He wishes it would have listened to him and let him steal Cairngorm away for a few more hours. But that's not the case, and they're right, unfortunate as that may be, and in the end, getting lost in his dreams would only distract him from all the very real things he still needs to do. A few moments they should never have had will have to do.

For now.

He doesn't quite step back, either, only pulling away so that he can look around a little bit; when his gaze falls back on their face, he smiles a little, seeing the flecks of rain that have freckled their complexion with black. It's cute. ]

You're right, though. I did. A few things I didn't want to, as well, on top of that. [ a chagrined smile. ] Thanks for being a good sport about it. You know... I think you know more about me now than anyone else ever has.

[ he hasn't even told Impey about all that stuff with his guardian. ]