by Kristie Cook
His eyebrow rises as he asks, “What was I saying?”
“I don’t know, let’s not worry about it now,” I reply, looking at his broad chest and toying with one of the buttons of his collared shirt.
“Evie,” he says roughly.
“Reed,” I breathe.
“You are not helping me,” he scolds lightly.
“I know,” I rest my head against his chest.
“Rules,” he says firmly.
“Fine,” I say, stepping back from him. “You can tell me what you’re thinking, but I’m not agreeing to anything.”
“Evie, this is for your protection,” he tells me in a gentle tone.
“We’ll see. What did you have in mind?” I ask.
“I want to know if you choose to leave Crestwood for any reason, even if it is to go to one of the neighboring towns. Stay out of bars and taverns,” he says, stern. “No Seven-Eleven without me and nothing remotely dangerous,” he finishes in a bland tone.
“That last one is vague,” I reply.
“Genevieve,” Reed sighs in response to my objection.
A small smile touches my lips. “What? It’s vague, and when a rule is vague, it begs to be broken,” I say, defending my position. “Let me recap: if I want to leave town I need to check with you, no bars, and no Seven-Eleven alone,” I say while ticking his list off on my fingers.
“Nothing dangerous,” he reminds me.
“Okay, no running with scissors,” I say, smiling up at him while adding another finger.
Reed’s eyes narrow, “Genevieve, you have to take this seriously,” he says with authority.
“I’m trying, Reed. It’s just that I’ve been raised to be independent. My Uncle Jim trusted me implicitly. I rarely needed permission to do anything, and for the most part, he was right to trust me,” I explain.
“I expect you to try very hard to be good,” he says.
My eyebrow arches. “Or else what?” I challenge, wondering just what he has in mind if I fracture a rule or two.
“I believe in positive reinforcement, rather than negative,” he says with a sexy smile as he traces my lips with the tip of his finger, leaving a scalded path where he touches me.
“That’s very sensible of you,” I reply as a shiver that has nothing to do with fear runs the length of my body.
Reed lifts his finger from my lips with a reluctant smile. “We should get going now. We both have practice,” he sighs, but his eyes remain sultry as if he is plotting some forms of positive reinforcement. “I just have to change, then I will take you to your room to meet your friends.” I am disappointed that our dinner is over; I want more time with him. “I will just be a moment,” Reed says, and true to his word he is gone.
I hardly see him move because it has been a heartbeat—a blink—my eyes only catch a vague impression of him. I am alone in the kitchen in an instant. Startled, I sit down in the chair behind me. I don’t have long to wait for him; it is maybe ten seconds before he just materializes in front of me again.
The smile on his face shows the depth of his amusement over my astonishment. He had changed into his practice uniform and has his equipment in tow. It would’ve taken me thirty seconds just to reach the front door of his house, let alone to get upstairs where I assume his bedroom is.
“That was quick,” I say, understating the obvious.
Reed’s smile is ethereal. “It’s nice not having to hide what I am, or what I can do, from you. It pleases me that you are not afraid of me,” he says, extending his hand to me to help me rise from my seat.
My heart hammers in my chest, seeing his smile. “Will I be able to move that quickly?” I ask as we leave the kitchen on the way to the front door.
“Probably,” he says with a shrug.
“Uh oh,” I reply, thinking that having that kind of ability could pose some problems for me.
“What?” he asks in concern.
My forehead wrinkles as I admit, “Well, I had a hard time pretending to limp when my knee was supposed to be bruised. I can just see me forgetting not to just pop off when I’m late for class or something.”
Reed takes my hand to reassure me. “You need to cultivate an awareness of your surroundings and everything that exists within them. After awhile, it will become second nature to you,” he says.
“I might have a hard time with that because the only thing I seem to be aware of is you,” I say, blushing at the admission of such an embarrassing fact.
“That is going to be a struggle for both of us,” he states plainly. “I, too, lose sight of my surroundings when you are near. It is a danger we will have to overcome because it makes us vulnerable to the enemies.”
He opens the front door for me, and we walk out to his car. When I am seated, I hear a beep coming from my bag I’d left in the car. Finding my cell phone inside, I check the missed calls; there is one call from Russell and one call from Freddie. Dialing my voicemail, the first message should be from Russell, but when I listen to it, it is just a clicking sound, indicating that the caller had hung up without leaving a message. I cringe, wondering what our next conversation would be like. It will be brutal for both of us; there is no doubt.
The next message is from Freddie. He had missed me at lunch and dinner and is worried about me. I debate whether or not to call Russell back. Holding my phone to my lips absently, I stare out the window, watching the town of Crestwood float by me. Our next conversation has to be in person.
“Russell call?” Reed asks as if he is all knowing despite his protestations.
“Yes,” I reply, not knowing what to say.
“What did he say?” he asks me with concern.
“Nothing, he hung up.” I don’t lie. What would be the point?
“I see,” he says sympathetically.
“Do you?” I ask in surprise at his tone. I expected a different reaction from him.
“Yes. I’m sorry,” he says simply.
“So am I,” I reply sadly.
“What will you tell him?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer him honestly.
“Evie, you do not have to make any decisions now. You have time to figure out what you want,” Reed says softly again, and his concern for my feelings makes me want to cry.
“Reed, I’ve put some thought into it already. If what you said comes to pass, then what kind of a life could I possibly have with Russell?” I ask sadly. “If I become as strong as you are, I would run the same risks that you have with me now, only I probably won’t have the restraint that the millenniums here on Earth have taught you. I would probably end up crushing Russell without meaning to.”
“Yes,” he agrees evenly, but he sounds as if he doesn’t think that would be such a bad thing to do to Russell.
“Then, there is the fact that Russell will age while I will not. What will happen to him when people start thinking he’s a dirty old man for being with such a young girl?” I ask. “He probably wouldn’t be too thrilled about that after a while.”
“True,” Reed says sagely, but he looks as if the thought of Russell growing old is rather a funny one.
“And then, there is you. Even if I chose Russell, I don’t think I would be able to be …” I trail off, not wanting to explain.
“To be what?” he asks curiously.
“To be faithful to him,” I reply, blushing. “It’s like no one else exists when you’re around.” Reed reaches over at my words and grasps my hand. Bringing it to his lips, he kisses it. “So, I don’t know what I’ll say to him,” I explain quietly, turning again to stare out the window, not seeing any of the scenery going by.
When Reed speaks again, it is in his angelic language that I don’t understand. It comforts me with its sweetly lilting melody, and I feel calmer when he finishes.
“What did you say?” I ask him serenely.
“The same thing I told you when you were in my car with me after your premonition,” Reed replies quietly as his eyes meet mine, making my
breath catch a little.
I think for a second, and then say in disappointment, “Oh, yeah, I get that I’m a frustrating creature.”
“I was not exactly truthful when I told you that was what I said,” Reed replies, smiling at me.
“Reed, you’re capable of subterfuge? I thought you were supposed to be an angel,” I tease him lightly.
Reed’s smile is rueful when he replies, “We are going to have to redefine your definition of angel.”
My eyebrow quirks, and I ask, “What did you say then—in the car after my premonition?”
“I said that you are poised to be the most perfect creature I have ever encountered, under God, and the affection that I feel for you cannot be measured on Earth, or in Paradise. That is a rough translation, but it sounds better in Angel,” he explains as his green eyes hold mine.
“That’s what you said?” I breathe, unable to completely believe what he’s telling me.
“Yes,” he says as his eyes soften. We pull into the parking lot of my dorm, and Reed parks, letting his car idle.
“When did you know that was how you felt about me?” I ask him quietly.
“At the lake, when you Tasered me,” he replies, smiling.
My eyes widen. “What?” I ask feeling stunned.
“You have so much courage … you were so magnificent,” he says in admiration.
“I was terrified,” I try to explain.
“Yes, but that is what courage is: it is acting in the face of fear,” Reed says as a justification of my emotions. “I had to reason with myself that hugging you in that moment would not produce the effect I wanted. It probably would have scared you more.”
“Good call,” I say, thinking I might’ve had a heart attack if he’d tried hugging me after I’d Tasered him. “You still wanted me to leave after our run in at the lake,” I point out.
“I have a duty, and I was worried that helping you would be in direct violation of that duty. I hoped the feelings that I have for you would pass in a millennium or two if you were not around,” he says. “Foolish huh?”
“Very,” I agree, momentarily in awe of his beautiful face. Tearing my eyes away from his, I say, “We’re going to be late for practice. I better go up and change so I can meet the girls.”
“See you tonight?” Reed asks when my fingers move to the door handle.
Disappointment floods me as I say, “I can’t—I promised Brownie and Buns that we’d hang out.”
“Oh,” he says, dropping his chin and smiling. “Tomorrow then?”
“Tomorrow,” I agree breathlessly.
I am on the verge of leaving the car when Reed catches me up in an intoxicating kiss. It doesn’t feel like a kiss goodbye; that is its masquerade. This kiss is more like having a gentle wind caress my lips in introduction, as if it exists just for me now. Slowly pulling back from him, I see wisdom within the stormy-green fire of his eyes, and like the wind, they, too, hold secrets unimaginable to me. My fingertips touch my lips where his had just been. I want to imprint this moment in my mind so that I can recall every single detail of it later.
“Bye.” I manage to say breathlessly to Reed as I get out of his car.
“Bye, Evie,” he smiles before I close the door.
CHAPTER 13 - COLDWATER
I avoid Russell for the next few days during classes. It is tricky because we usually run into each other at meal times in the cafeteria, so I don’t go to breakfast or lunch. I know that avoiding Russell is only going to make all of this worse, but I don’t have a clue as to how I will explain something that is nearly inexplicable. Since most of the facts about what is happening to me are not only ludicrous, but also forbidden information, I’m at a loss as to what to do. Add to that my absolute inability to lie to Russell effectively, and I have a disaster in the making.
I spend every moment that I’m not in class with Reed. He asks me so many questions, everything from my first words as a baby to whom my date had been for prom. I eat dinner with him every night in his kitchen, and we go for walks on his estate. I ask him questions, too, but he is reluctant to talk about himself or his past. I think it’s because he has had to hide so much for so long that revelations don’t come easily for him.
We watch a few movies in Reed’s media room, but I can tell he’s not into watching chic flicks. It is funny though, seeing him try to understand a romantic comedy. His heavy sighs of exasperation whenever the male lead shows any sign of vulnerability makes me have to bite my lip so that I won’t burst out laughing. Today, however, it is amazingly simple to avoid Reed if I want to, since he is not in class, and I can’t feel him anywhere on campus. Where can he be? What’s he doing?
I am surprised to see Freddie approaching my private study alcove in the library. He shrugs off his backpack and takes a seat in the chair near mine. “You’re alive … I was wondering where you’ve been, and believe me, I’m not the only one,” he says with his warm, Freddie smile.
“Freddie! I’m sorry. You called me and I completely forgot to call you back. I’m so psyched to see you,” I say, beaming at him.
He looks good today. His hair is growing out; it reaches just past his brows now. Freddie is looking … cute—he’s facebookable. I think, watching him kick back in the chair. When did that happen?
“Hiding out, Evie? Is this your new lair?” he asks, assessing the situation like my own personal analyst.
“Hiding out? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have really hard classes, and I don’t want to get behind,” I flounder.
Freddie’s eyebrow arches. “Sure. I guess you don’t want these then?” Freddie says, opening his bag and withdrawing two granola bars before dangling them in front of me.
“Freddie! I did tell you already that I love you, right?” I ask, snatching one of the granola bars from his hand and tearing off the wrapper.
“Sure you told me, but it’s phat to hear it again,” he says, grinning as he tosses me the second bar.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say between mouthfuls of granola. “I need your help Freddie. I have a mission. Are you game, or are you lame?” I ask.
“I’m game, what do you have in mind?” he asks with an expression of intrigue.
“I have to get a firewall for Russell, but I’m kind of avoiding him at the moment. So, I was hoping that if I went and picked one up, you could hook me up with the installation?” I ask. “Maybe you can come with me to Coldwater to pick it out, too. I thought I’d go Saturday morning. You in?”
“You know, he asked me if I’d seen you twice today?” Freddie asks with a speculative expression.
“No, I didn’t know that,” I reply, feeling ashamed of my behavior.
“Aren’t you afraid that this firewall is going to send him mixed signals?” he asks me pointedly. “I mean, that’s why you’re in the loneliest place in the library, right, so you won’t run into Russell?”
“It’s that obvious, huh?” I ask, chewing on my lip.
“BFO, blinding flash of obvious,” he states brutally.
“What gift can I give him, Freddie, that says, ‘You’re probably the best thing that could ever happen to me, but I can’t be with you?’” I ask him dejectedly. “Because I’ll run right out and get it, regardless of the cost.”
“I don’t know, Evie, but I don’t think you’ll accomplish that with a firewall,” he says with pity.
“Well, maybe it will say, ‘I can’t give you what you want, but I can give you what you need,’” I say sadly.
“A firewall is for protection. What are you protecting him from?” Freddie asks me.
I stare at him in shock; he has an uncanny knack of reading me. I will have to be careful of what I say around him. He is way too intuitive for his own good. “I hadn’t realized the doctor was in, Freddie. Are you a Psych major or something?”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “How’d you know?” he asks.
“You’re going to be way too expensive for me when you open your practice,” I
say, smiling at him sincerely.
“The couch is always open to you,” he says kindly. “I’ll pick you up at nine on Saturday?” he asks me. “To get the firewall …” he adds, when he sees my confusion.
“Yeah, Freddie. Thanks,” I reply gratefully.
***
When I return to my room, there is a note attached to my window. Opening it, I read it quickly:
Dear Evie,
I have to leave town for the weekend. If you need me, please contact me on my cell phone. Stay out of trouble and remember the rules. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Reed
I read Reed’s note several times before I crumble it up, throwing it in the garbage can. It remains in the garbage can for at least five minutes before I pull it out, ironing the wrinkled paper with my hands. I read it again, and then it is back in the garbage can again. That note is the most disappointing letter I’ve ever received.
Not only will I not be able to see Reed all weekend, but he also doesn’t say where he is going or what he is doing. He doesn’t say definitively that he’ll be back when the weekend is over either. He tells me to stay out of trouble—like that’s an option given my current lifestyle—and there is the fact that he doesn’t even leave an endearment in there to savor. I’m not counting the “Dear Evie” part because that’s just how you’re supposed to open a letter. Some boyfriend.
Then my paranoid side kicks in, and I start wondering if he is avoiding me. Ugh! Well, good luck because you’re stuck with me, I think. He did leave a note, I admit after sitting on my bed dejectedly for a while. Still lame.
Buns and Brownie save me from spending the night in a deep depression when they come bounding into my room, insisting that I go with them to the party at the Delt House. “The theme is, ‘Peeping Toms and Soccer Moms,’” Brownie informs me while throwing open my closet and rummaging through it.
Despite everything, I laugh. “That’s so funny,” I smile. “Are you going to dress up?”
“We’re going to try to look like MILFs,” Brownie shrugs. “We were thinking of going so that we could check out the composite we want to take for the war. I think those things are screwed into the wall, so we can’t just lift them off—we’ll need a screwdriver.”