‘Caitlin.’ He ran his hand through her hair. ‘I missed you.’
The words caused a ripple effect that broke down every defence. She took a huge breath as the dam in her throat collapsed. Tears of joy, of heartache, of longing – everything, nothing, they were all rolled into one.
He cupped her face, ‘Don’t cry on my account.’
The fact he thought that made her cry harder. The sobs continued and she fought to get out the words. After a minute, she calmed down enough to stammer, ‘W-Why d-did you tell me the t-truth?’
‘I don’t know,’ he replied, his arms like a vice around her.
In his arms she felt like she’d been enveloped in a ray of sunshine. Even though upset, she could not help the feeling of ecstasy. His warmth was like the heat of a log fire. Something about that felt amiss, but she was too overwhelmed to think why his warmth was unexpected. Emotionally, every heartstring in her body yearned to be with him. Her rational mind was having something to say about that.
She lifted her head, faced him and eased out of his arms. ‘Truthfully, I know that I’ve missed you too. For the past few months, I’ve been so sad, so lonely. Then I was with,’ she paused.
‘I know about him, it’s okay.’
She felt her cheeks flush and her hands instinctively rose to cover them. He knew about Daniel. She did not want to think how. ‘Daniel came along and I thought he was what I needed. I longed for companionship. He said I’d been with someone else.’
‘I know.’
‘You heard?’ Now she was mortified.
‘I was around. I have excellent hearing now. Sorry.’ The way he shrugged made him look cute. She should be angry with him. She couldn’t be.
She carried on. ‘Everything Daniel said did not make sense, and then in the dream – the truth. It’s surreal,’ she paused, troubled. ‘I don’t like that I hurt Daniel. That was bad. He didn’t deserve that.’
‘He’s not the first to suffer in love.’
The words reflected his pain. Her curiosity overcame sympathy. ‘How did you make me see all that stuff in a dream?’
‘It’s a form of telepathy. I don’t really understand it. To be honest I didn’t know it would work.’
‘It worked.’ The vision was still fresh in her mind.
There was no way it was all a dream.
***
Steven reached over and twisted a strand of her red hair in his finger, then let it drop. He wanted to touch her so badly. ‘Are you angry with me?’
Caitlin watched his hand and laughed. ‘Angry? I can think of a lot of things to be. Anger wouldn’t be top of my list. Let’s try confused, emotional, bewildered, and hormonal – I can give you a whole list. Honestly, I just want the truth. I don’t like knowing that for months a huge chunk of my past was kept from me. Do you know, I thought I was going crazy?’
Steven looked away, and eased back gently, ‘I’m sorry.’
He could see Caitlin lean towards him in his peripheral vision. ‘It’s not your fault.’
He stood up and made his way over to the window. Daylight was nearly upon them. It was going to be a long day. ‘It is my fault.’ He pursed his lips and gripped the window sill.
Caitlin’s voice got closer. ‘It’s not. Look I want to know everything, but we have time right? You don’t have to shoot off? I have seen you during the day. I know you’re not a vampire.’
Caitlin stood next to him and eased her hand into his. The light blue and white colours of daybreak were starting to break over the tops of the terraced houses.
She leant against his shoulder. ‘I need to have a shower and get changed. If you’re still here when I get back I’ll know I wasn’t dreaming. I used to sleep walk when I was younger, and right now I’m feeling delusional.’
He gave an amused huff. She always knew how to break him. ‘Shall I go and get something ready for breakfast?’
She gave a cheeky smile as she collected some clothes from her drawers. ‘So, you still eat then?’
Steven rolled his eyes. ‘Yes, I still eat normal food.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. I’ll be back. By the way, breakfast would be great. I’ll warn you though; if Gemma sees you she’ll flip. She was quite taken with you – I mean Simon.’
Steven followed her form as she left. He was so aroused when he looked at her, really looked at her. Her petite, slim yet slightly pear shaped figure got him thinking – it was dangerous to think too much sometimes.
Gemma could pose a problem. Strictly speaking, he hadn’t done anything the previous evening. They just hung out together, nothing more.
The door creaked when Steven left her room. The smell of dust and damp overpowered. He crept down the stairs and made his way towards the galley style kitchen. A cheap and cheerful pink kettle sat on the worktop. He picked it up and took it to the sink to refill. A lot of lime scale had accumulated at the bottom so he swirled some water in it first and threw it out before adding fresh water. Then he pressed the button and waited as he heard the familiar hum.
A small, waist height, fridge sat in the corner of the room. He walked up to it, opened the door and peered in. The shelves were not marked so he assumed they shared the food. When he was in halls everyone labelled their food, it must be different when you share a house. He took out the loaf of sliced bread, and margarine. Toast sounded like a good plan. After he popped two slices in the toaster, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He was sure it was not Caitlin so he braced himself for the confrontation. He grabbed the local advertising paper for cover, raised it above his head and leant against the counter.
This was going to be fun.
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Chapter 30
Starting Over
Gemma’s head thumped. She had no idea what she had done with Simon on the previous night, but the fact he wasn’t around meant that for once she had not lured her victim into her bed. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she recalled that Caitlin had been crying and that Daniel had left. It was a shame, Daniel seemed nice enough. Thing was, she was sure she had just heard Caitlin talking to someone. Perhaps, Daniel had come back after all that. It was typical of Caitlin to have a lover’s tiff on the first night. Her thoughts collided in mid thought as she saw a pair of male legs, the trousers looked familiar.
When Simon lowered the paper Gemma stopped in her tracks and stood still, gawping. Had he stayed over after all?
‘Good morning,’ he said.
She remembered that sultry smile. She could not remember if she had kissed him, but she couldn’t have offended him if he was still here. She fought back the urge to holler ‘what the hell are you doing here?’
‘Can I make you some tea?’ he asked. He looked comfortable, as though he lived there.
‘Tea? Tea, yes, tea would be good,’ she mumbled.
‘Milk and sugar?’ he asked, in a tone that was way too casual for her liking.
She wished she could remember. Her cheeks flushed as she fumbled a reply, ‘Err, n-no sugar, just milk, thanks,’ she recovered. She scratched her head. ‘Sorry, what are you doing here?’
‘Tutorial,’ Caitlin said, as she breezed through the door.
‘Tutorial? On a Saturday morning?’ Gemma scrunched up her face. She was not an idiot. Something was going on.
Caitlin took a slice of toast off the plate. ‘Is this my tea?’
Simon nodded.
She took a sip and winced. ‘I told you he was going to help me.’
Gemma stared from one face to the other, narrowed her eyes, took a seat opposite Simon and folded her arms across her chest. ‘Never knew you were that keen to study this early. Sorry, erm…Simon. You know you’re welcome here and I did have a great time last night.’ It didn’t matter that she could not remember how it ended.
‘Last night?’ It was Caitlin’s turn to look confused.
‘Yes, we went out for a drink when you went out with Daniel.’ The look on Caitlin’s face called for drastic me
asures. ‘Right, excuse me Simon. I need to have a little chat with Caitlin. We’ll be back in just a sec.’ Gemma grabbed Caitlin’s arm firmly and practically dragged her out of the kitchen as she made her way to the living room at the front of the house. To prevent eavesdropping, she shut the door behind her. ‘What’s he doing here? I thought Daniel was back when I heard you talking to someone upstairs. But, it wasn’t Daniel was it? So, I repeat, why was Simon in your room? And why is he now in our kitchen making breakfast?’
Caitlin grinned. ‘Like I said, he came over to help me with my maths.’
‘You are full of shit. Last night you were bawling your eyes out over Daniel and today you are happy as ever with Simon. My Simon! For someone who has not had a boyfriend until a few weeks ago the tables have turned. But hey, if you don’t want to tell your best friend what’s going on then fine. I’ll butt out and go back to bed,’ she said, now fuming.
‘Gemma, don’t get annoyed. It’s over with Daniel. I’m in the middle of figuring something out with Simon. I’ll tell you more when I can. I promise,’ she pleaded.
Those puppy dog eyes were not going to work today.
‘Well, somehow I don’t think by figuring out you meant maths. Thanks a lot Caitlin. You’re a real friend. Fine, I’ll leave you both to it. Happy studying!’ She could not bear to look at Caitlin any more as she stormed out the door, stomped upstairs and slammed her room door shut.
She could not believe Caitlin. Since when was she the popular one?
***
Caitlin raised her eyebrows at Gemma’s performance and made her way back down the hallway. Steven came out of the kitchen carrying the toast and two mugs of tea.
‘Shall we sit in there?’ he asked, gesturing towards the living room.
‘Good idea.’
‘I left Gemma’s tea in the kitchen. You can take it to her as a peace treaty,’ he suggested.
‘Might as well,’ she groaned, as she let him pass. Even in the hallway, she had to resist the desire to brush up against him.
She found the mug on the table and took it upstairs. She knocked lightly on the door and called out. ‘Gemma, can I give you your tea?’
The door eased open slightly after a minute and a pitiful face peeked out. ‘Thanks. Sorry if I was a bitch right now. I have no right to preach to you. I guess I’m just very jealous. Anyway,’ she added with a slight pause. ‘If your studying does not work out tell him to give me a call.’
Caitlin smiled. Gemma was her best friend, but she was not going to let her get her claws into Steven. As she started going down the stairs a few pieces in the puzzle started to fit together. Steven seemed so normal. He was warm. If he was a vampire, or whatever that man had said, why was he still so human? Shouldn’t he be pale and cold blooded? What about food? It looked like he ate normally. She had a lot to find out.
She found Steven sat on one of the lumpy and smudged sofas. The tea and toast was laid out in front of him on the small, permanently stained, coffee table. Taking a seat opposite him on the non-matching sofa chair she picked up the mug and took a sip. It was made just as she liked it. ‘I guess you’ve made me a cup of tea before then.’
‘Just a few times,’ he said. Then he took hold of his cup and picked up a slice of toast. He took a huge bite and washed it down.
So as not to look ungrateful, she did the same. The sweetness of the sticky strawberry jam amongst the buttery bread reminded her she was starving. She finished it quickly. ‘Thank you, I was hungry.’
‘My pleasure,’ he replied.
‘So, do you eat the same stuff?’ she asked.
‘Yes...’
‘But, there is more?’ she queried, hesitant.
‘There is more,’ he added, as he sipped the drink. ‘But, we’ll talk about it later. Let’s go out and get some fresh air.’
‘So, you can still go out during daytime?’
‘Naturally,’ he confirmed. ‘You have seen me out and about during the daytime.’
She bit her lip, she felt so stupid for asking. ‘Nothing like the stories then?’
‘No, definitely not like the stories, shall we go?’ He deviated from the conversation by picking up the plates to clear up.
She leant in to take her plate, but he beat her to it.
‘I’ll take them,’ he said, the plates perfectly stacked as he marched out of the room.
In the corridor, she took her coat off the banister and put it on. Then she swapped her slippers for her black leather boots. Steven came back out and watched. He was already wearing his shoes and jacket.
She smiled wearily and said, ‘Ready?’
‘Let’s go.’
It was like he had always been there. They were acting so normal. As if going for a walk on a Saturday morning was the most natural thing in the world. Then again it was. Just not with a potential murderer, if that’s what he was.
***
The sound of the door banging alerted Gemma. They had gone out. She made her way to the bathroom at the front of the house and looked out of the window. They walked side by side just like a couple. They weren’t holding hands, but their proximity and way they brushed against each other made it obvious. There was definitely something going on. It was bizarre to see her best friend with two different men in less than twenty four hours. She was damned if she was kept out of the loop for much longer.
***
Considering the time of the year, the air was milder than expected. The previous year it snowed in January. Mid-January, the sun shone on a road sprinkled in frost, the scene peaceful and serene. Caitlin blinked against the bright glare of the sun. It was bizarre to be walking next to Steven, a man she had dreamt of for the last few months for a reason unknown to her until now. She remembered being totally smitten. It just seemed like something from a movie – not memory.
Months had gone by. She was sure she had changed.
Perhaps she was not as gullible as when she first arrived at university. When she met Steven he had made her lose focus, think more of love, not work. Until Steven, she had never felt the urge to be restrained by a relationship. Daniel was a sacrificial lamb. She had to be honest, the reason she thought it might work with Daniel was because he would be miles away most of the time. He gave her space, all the love with no suffocation. Now Steven was back she did not know what to think. She wanted him in her life and yet she didn’t. Being in a relationship scared her. Love, marriage – it did strange things. She saw the way her parents talked to each other. She did not want children or to be bound to a man. She wanted to live her life to the full.
Her lips twitched. She could not ignore the facts. She had been so lonely, depressed even. She was not as tough as she wanted to be. There was the wider issue of what exactly Steven had become. The thoughts tangled in her head as she remained silent. She did not know what she was supposed to say. She was not sure he would understand, or see where she was coming from. She did not want to lose him, yet she did not want to lose herself.
She noticed his casual glance in her direction, but she kept her eyes averted. He had succeeded in making her remember him, but if he wanted her back he was going to have to work for it. He had explained a lot by doing whatever it was he had done to bring her memory back, but he still had a way to go.
‘Shall we go and get a drink at our usual?’ he asked.
Something about that sounded wrong. It was not their usual anymore.
‘Great.’
She wanted to argue or possibly banter.
She bit her tongue instead.
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Chapter 31
Time To Talk
They walked into the café, ordered and sat down at a corner table. The café was reasonably full with a variety of people taking advantage of a morning drink before work. It was just a normal morning for most people. Sitting opposite Steven, Caitlin looked over her shoulder and noticed a couple deep in conversation, hands practically fused together. They looked in love. Stealing a quic
k look at Steven, she tensed as her stomach whirled in response. He did look as amazing as she remembered. It was the dark, penetrating amber eyes that had taken her breath away from the first moment they met during fresher’s week. Unable to maintain eye contact, she looked down at her drink and took a sip.
‘Are you planning to talk to me?’ he asked.
She looked up and met his glare. ‘I don’t really know what to say.’
‘Can I ask you the most important thing? Well, for me, anyway?’
She had no idea what was coming. ‘Sure.’
He leaned in closer. ‘Are you scared of me?’
She hadn’t even thought of that. ‘Honestly,’ she replied. ‘I don’t know what to answer. I’m not scared, but I’m not blasé either.’
‘So, what do I have to do to reassure you?’ he asked, as he took a sip from his steaming cup of coffee.
‘Tell me what you are,’ she asked, her voice soft, quiet.
He leant back on the chair and tapped his fingers on the table. ‘That’s difficult. I don’t know everything myself. All I know is that I can exert self-control and that I am pretty normal, in the scheme of things. I have other needs, but they don’t dictate what I do.’
‘Right,’ she mused. ‘So, you don’t need, you know, to be bad.’
‘No, I don’t need to be bad,’ he assured.
It was a good enough answer, but she was curious about his other needs. ‘Why did you come back? Do you want your old life back?’
‘I would love my life back, just as it was. It’s complicated, not as simple as I thought it would be.’ He gave a half smile again.
‘You thought it would be simple?’
He laughed. ‘No. You’re right. I never thought it would be simple, saying that I did actually call them simple.’
It was nice to hear him laugh.
‘Why?’
He swirled the drink with the spoon again. ‘Life in the community was different. It was modern, as in they had access to modern things, yet everything they did was communal. And there was no money.’
The Evolution Trilogy: Hybrid, Complications & Return Page 51