Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

CHAPTER
12
That night, Wallace followed the cable to find Hugo out back, leaning against
the deck railing. It was cloudy, the stars hidden away. He paused in the
doorway, unsure of his welcome. An odd sense of guilt washed through him,
though he didn’t allow it to grow any larger. It was worth it, seeing the smile
on Mei’s face.
Before he could turn back around and go inside, Hugo said, “Hello.”
Wallace scratched the back of his neck. “Hello, Hugo.”
“All right?”
“I think so. Do you … want to be left alone? I don’t want to intrude or
anything.”
Hugo shook his head without turning around. “No, it’s okay. I don’t mind.”
Wallace went to the railing, keeping a bit of distance between Hugo and
himself. He worried Hugo was angry with him, though he didn’t think Hugo
should be upset over something so trivial as using a Ouija board to scare
away a grifter. Still, it wasn’t his place to tell Hugo what he could or could
not feel, especially since this was his shop. His home.
Hugo said, “You’re thinking about apologizing, aren’t you?”
Wallace sighed. “That obvious, huh?”
“A little. Don’t.”
“Don’t apologize?”
Hugo nodded, glancing at him before looking out at the tea garden. “You
did the right thing.”
“I told a woman I was Satan and was going to cannibalize her diver.” He
grimaced. “That’s not something I ever thought I’d say out loud.”
“First time for everything,” Hugo said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Okay.”