Chapter 6: A Night to Remember
"Feeling better?" I asked her.
"A little," she whispered, sniffling and wiping her eyes dry.
"Glad to hear it. Come on, let me walk you home. It's getting late."
I let her go and slowly started to walk towards the door. To my surprise, she didn't follow me. I glanced over my shoulder to see her leaning on the counter counter, as still as a statue, with her front legs crossed and her gaze pointed downwards.
"Well, what's the matter?" I inquired. "Don't you want to go home?"
Cup Cake slowly got up and sidled over next to me. "Carrot Cake," she asked shyly as she reluctantly brought her eyes up to meet mine, "may I stay the night with you? Just this once?"
"Of course," I replied, giving her the warmest and most comforting smile that I could.
"It's just- it's awfully cold outside and I-"
"Shhhh." I pressed my hoof up against her lips, pacifying her. "You don't need to justify it to me. I already said yes."
"...OK," she whispered. "Thank you."
I took her by the hoof and slowly led her up the stairs. She was shaking. There was something strangely poignant about the fact that this was the domineering mare who, mere months ago, could make me tremble in her presence. Now she was trembling in mine.
"So where's the guest room?" she asked timidly.
"I...I don't think I have one," I admitted.
"That's all right," she responded. "I'll just sleep on the floor somewhere."
I gave her a pointed look. "Cup Cake, that can't be healthy," I told her. "I'm not about to let you sleep on the cold, hard floor on a night like this."
"But then where am I supposed to-"
She got her answer as soon as I got to my bedroom door, opened it up and promptly led her inside. "You first," I said, gesturing towards my bed.
She looked back at me, and I noticed that a crimson hue was beginning to spread across her cheeks. She was blushing! I had never seen her blush before. After spending month after month struggling to impress her and match her confidence, it was almost surreal to see her so... vulnerable.
"You mean it?" she asked.
"Of course," I said.
She daintily slipped under the covers and started bundling herself up like a cocoon. I deftly slipped in next to her.
"Cozy?" I asked.
No answer.
"Are you cozy, Cup Cake?"
Still no answer. The only thing I could hear from her was the soft, rhythmic sound of her breathing. She hadn't been in my bed for more than two minutes and she was already sleeping like a foal. It seemed as though there was nothing left for me to do for her, so I tucked myself in, fluffed up my pillow, and prepared to let myself drift into slumber. I slowly, gently leaned over to her and whispered, "Good night".
And then I added, "I love you".
It almost wasn't my choosing. I didn't feel like I had made a conscious decision to let those three little words slip out: they just sort of did, against my will. Well, not necessarily against my will, but... I dunno. It's hard to explain. In any event, I thought nothing of it, since I assumed that she wouldn't be able to hear it.
And then, just as I had gotten myself comfortable, just as my eyelids were about to seal themselves shut, I heard her whisper back:
"I love you, too."