Under the Viaduct

by H. L. Anderson

  He set her down, keeping his arms around her. His face barely an inch from hers, his smile faded, his forehead creased. “Kaylee.” Her name left his lips like a sigh in the wind. Her stomach twisted in the most pleasant of ways and her face transformed to match the seriousness of his.

  When his hands left her waist and cupped her face, she lost the ability to speak. When he sighed her name again, “Kaylee,” deeper this time, like the sigh caught on something on its way out, she lost the ability to breathe. When he tilted her head back with the gentleness of a butterfly’s wings, she lost the ability to think.

  Blayne searched her eyes for a moment before slowly touching his lips to hers. She closed her eyes and rested her arms around his waist. His lips explored hers with a gentle touch, and she responded with a quiet moan. He drew in a sharp breath, one of his hands moved to the nape of her neck, pulling her in closer, increasing the pressure on their hungering lips. Kaylee’s legs lost all strength and her head spun. Blayne moved his hands from her face down to wrap around her back. She clung to him like a lifeline, encircling her arms around his neck. Another moan formed deep in her throat, and she was powerless to stop it.

  He ended the kiss as slowly as he started it. Pulling away with a shaky sigh, he kept one hand on the small of her back and stroked her face lightly with the other, resting his forehead on hers. The nerve endings where he touched her fired at warp speed, sending indescribable sensations coursing across her skin. Her breath came fast as she stared into his eyes. She wondered if her pupils were dilated like his. If her face was flushed like his. If his lips tingled like hers. If he wanted to do that all over again like she did.

  “Can I do that again?” he asked, his voice choked with emotion.

  She nodded, still unable to form words.

  The light teasing of his lips on hers made her shiver. She tangled her fingers into his thick hair, tightening her grip with a spasm when the light teasing switched to crushing intensity. It was his turn to moan. That short, deep, purring sound made her heart beat out of control. One of his hands slid under her sweater, brushing against the tender, bare skin at the small of her back. She inhaled sharply at his touch, leaning into him. His tongue parted her lips and toyed with the tip of her tongue, traced the inside of her lips before retreating, leaving her wanting more.

  This time when he pulled away, he crushed her to him, her cheek pressed against his heaving chest. Her rapid breaths matched his, and his heart beat erratically against her ear. He stroked her hair with a gentle touch, his lips pressed to the top of her head.

  They stood that way for several minutes, just breathing in each other’s scent, letting the tidal wave of sensations and emotions ebb.

  Blayne slowly leaned away from her and tilted her chin up to stare into her eyes. “Kaylee,” the roughness still in his voice spread warmth up her neck and face, “I think I’m in…” He blinked then cleared his throat. He dropped his hands from around her, then ran them through his hair. “I think we should go check on Mama C.”

  The change in his voice and demeanor hinted that that wasn’t what he’d intended to say. What had he been going to say? Kaylee had an idea, but was she ready to hear those words from him?

  Kaylee had two classes on Monday morning. Reading through the syllabuses usually caused her great stress—thinking about all the work she’d have to get done that semester. But nothing could penetrate the post-kiss haze that engulfed her, body and soul. Blayne’s lips had been everything she’d imagined all that time she’d spent staring at them. And more.

  She sat in the library and absently ran her fingers over her lips, closing her eyes and reliving last night in her mind. After leaving his apartment, they’d gone back to check on Mama C. Even though it was early, she’d been sound asleep. Blayne had kissed Kaylee goodbye after he walked her back to her car. It was a quick, simple kiss, lacking the intensity of earlier—yet it still lit a firestorm of tingling that traveled from her lips to every inch of her wilting body.

  The buzzing of her phone stirred her from her trance. She pulled it from her pocket and clicked the “home” button. It was a text from Blayne: Wanna meet for lunch? I have 45 minutes

  Forty-five minutes is a long enough time to get more kissing in. Kaylee shook her head, smiling at the thought so unlike her. What had he done to her?

  She texted back: Sure! Meet at the student union?

  Blayne: Yes see you in a few minutes

  Kaylee shoved her syllabuses in her bag then slung it over her shoulder, humming to herself and just barely able to resist the strong urge to skip all the way there. It was going to be great having Blayne work on campus.

  Kaylee grabbed a salad and sat across from Blayne at one of the tables nearby. “How was the first night in your new home?”

  Blayne finished chewing the bite of his sandwich he’d just taken and swallowed it down with a swig of water before answering. “It was great.” His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  Tipping her head to the side as she studied him, Kaylee said, “You don’t seem like it was so great.”

  He shrugged. “I mean, it was great to sleep on a bed, in a warm apartment. It was great to take a shower and use the toilet.”

  “But…”

  Another shrug. “It’s just going to take some getting used to. Being alone. As much as I’ve longed for privacy over the last few years, I forgot how quiet it can be.”

  He looked down at his sandwich.

  Softly, Kaylee dug a little deeper. “Are you feeling guilty about the others still being out in the cold?”

  His lips pressed into a white slash. He pushed his hair back from his forehead, answering without looking at her. “Yeah. Of course I am. Wouldn’t you be?”

  The touch of sharpness to his tone stung. Kaylee put her fork down and breathed in to steady her voice. “Yes. I would and do. You have no idea how many times I’ve wished you all could just come and stay in my apartment.”

  He finally looked her in the eye, the lines of his face softening along with his voice. “I’m sorry. Of course you would.” He grasped her hand across the table. “You’re one of the best people I’ve ever met, and you don’t deserve to be the object of my irritability.”

  She tightened her grip on his hand. “I’ve been thinking. Why can’t I—or we—help them do what you’ve done? Or, since they’re all so young, help them to go back home?”

  A sad smile crossed his lips. “Mama C’s been talking to me about that. She has some plans for us.”

  “She does, does she?” Kaylee smiled.

  “Yep. But I’ll let her tell you about them.” He took a huge bite of his sandwich, a cue that the subject was closed for now.

  When they’d both finished eating and thrown away their trash, Blayne took her hand and smiled down at her, a spark of mischief glowing in his eyes. “I have fifteen minutes before I have to be back. Wanna go find a quiet place and talk?”

  Kaylee’s mouth twisted as she tried not to smile. The way he said “talk”—she knew that wasn’t what he meant. Her face flushed with warmth, and the tumbling of her insides urged her to answer. “Yes. I know a good place to talk.”

  She led him to a quiet corner, hidden from view under a set of stairs. She leaned her back against the wall, her breath quickening when he stepped close, facing her, holding both her hands in his at her sides. He stared into her eyes and stepped closer, his feet on either side of hers.

  “So,” her voice quivered as she looked up at his blue eyes, swimming with desire. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “This.” He tipped his head and caught her lips with his. And caught her breath with his. And caught her heart.

  Her grip tightened around his fingers as realization tightened around her chest. She loved him. And that knowledge wrapped her up with both icy fear and gentle warmth. As their kiss intensified, the warmth took over, flooding her body with a surreal sensation of peace.

  He released her hands and rested his palms on either sid
e of her face, his fingers in her hair and thumbs on her cheeks, tilting her head up as the kiss deepened, stealing her breath away. She hugged him close, her mind a jumbled mess of sensations, unable to form a single coherent thought.

  He pulled away, resting his forehead on hers as he’d done yesterday. Her lips felt inflamed and slightly swollen. Blayne breathed in a long draught of air, his gaze never leaving hers. “Kaylee,” he breathed out, barely a hoarse whisper, “you are so amazing.” His breath on her face hypnotized her. “I…” He pinched his eyes shut and exhaled sharply. “I should get back to work.”

  The spell broken, he dropped his hands, taking hers lightly in his as she unwrapped them from around his waist. He pressed his lips to hers one last time in a quick goodbye kiss.

  They left their hidden corner and went together to the exit. Kaylee watched him walk away, headed back to the construction site, wondering again what he’d been about to say before he’d stopped himself.

  She was going to have a hard time concentrating in her afternoon class. Then she had to TA after that. She touched her fingers to her lips. Best. Lunch. Ever.

  After Kaylee’s TA duties were done, she headed over to the building that housed the surplus items the school was selling for cheap. Maybe they would have something she could get for Blayne as a housewarming gift. She spotted the perfect item right away—a small microwave. It looked clean. Hoping it hadn’t been used in some lab rat experiment over in the science building, she purchased it for ten bucks and lugged it to her car.

  Looking at the clock on her dashboard as she started the car, she realized that Blayne would probably be home from work. Her TA job went later than his construction job. She smiled, deciding to surprise him.

  She pulled up to his building, parking near the steps leading up to his studio. She put the car in park and turned off the engine. Kaylee grabbed her phone and got out, lifting her hand to wave as she spotted Blayne partially hidden on the other side of the stairs, talking to someone, his back turned to her. She decided to leave the microwave in her car, not wanting to stand there holding it while he finished talking.

  Taking a few steps in his direction, she stopped, narrowing her eyes. It didn’t look like a friendly conversation. She could hear their raised voices, but not what they were saying. Blayne gestured angrily, and the other guy pointed at him then poked him in the chest hard enough that Blayne took a step back.

  Kaylee hurried over. Blayne’s back to her, she pasted on a smile as she approached. The guy glanced at her and shoved something in his pocket. He grinned, instantly sending creepy chills down her spine. “Well, hello there.” He licked his lips, looking her up and down, then looked back at Blayne. “Who’s this, Blayne?”

  Blayne turned to her, face wrinkled in anger. His eyes widened slightly when he saw her and he swore under his breath. Turning away from her, he answered, “She’s no one. Come on,” he grabbed the guy’s arm and pulled him away, down the street.

  She couldn’t breathe, he may as well have punched her in the gut. She stumbled back a step and wrapped her arms around her torso, trying to stop the hemorrhaging of her soul. Tears fell as she whipped around and staggered to her car. Her phone slipped from her hand and she barely registered it, leaving it on the ground.

  Her front tires spit gravel as she sped out of the parking lot. She could barely see through the tears as she ugly-cried all the way back to her apartment. Allie’s car was there, Kaylee couldn’t decide if she was glad her friend was home or not.

  After rushing up the stairs, her hands shook as she tried to unlock the door. Before she could even get the wobbling key in the lock, Allie opened it. Taking one look at Kaylee, she pulled her inside and into a hug.

  “What happened?” her friend asked, pulling away so she could see Kaylee’s lips as she answered.

  Kaylee shook her head, her breath hitching as she tried to get ahold of herself. She went to the couch and sat, holding her stomach and rocking back and forth. As the shock wore off, anger quickly filled in.

  Handing her a tissue, Allie sat next to her, angled so they could see each other’s faces. She put a hand on Kaylee’s knee and waited for her to talk.

  Kaylee’s words came out jumbled, just as they appeared in her brain. “He started to tell me something last night when we kissed. Then again today. But he stopped. I thought maybe…” She shook her head. “I’m so stupid!”

  “I didn’t catch all of that, your tissue was in the way. But I caught enough,” Allie said. “But you are not stupid. Slow down and tell me what happened. And kiss? What kiss?”

  Kaylee put her hands in her lap, tearing the tissue to shreds as she spoke. “He kissed me last night. And again today at lunch. Both times he tried to tell me something after, but stopped. I thought he was…I thought maybe he was going to,” her hands balled into tight fists in her lap, “tell me how he felt about me.”

  “Okay?” Allie said. “I still don’t understand why you’re so upset.”

  “I went to his new apartment. I wanted to surprise him.” She bit her bottom lip. “He was talking to a creepy guy. Blayne told him I was ‘no one’ then turned and walked away with him!”

  “Oh. Wow. That doesn’t sound like Blayne at all.” Allie frowned.

  “I know. Allie, what if he’s back to his old behavior? What if having money for drugs was too tempting for him? Maybe that’s what he was trying to tell me.”

  “No, Kay. That can’t be it. You should give him a chance to explain. Have you heard from him?”

  Kaylee shook her head. “You should have seen the look he gave me. Disgust. Maybe even fear. He was afraid I’d caught him at something, maybe?”

  Allie set her lips in a stubborn line. “I don’t believe that. You need to call him.”

  “No. I can’t. He can call me if he wants to explain.” She stood and hugged her friend. “I’m going to bed.”

  The night was long and full of conflicting thoughts. It was probably a good thing Allie couldn’t hear her crying and thrashing around in bed. Kaylee got up before her alarm went off—then realized her alarm, her phone, wasn’t even there. “Shoot!” A vague memory of dropping it in the parking lot at Blayne’s resurfaced. There was no way she could afford a new phone right now. And there was no way she was going to Blayne’s to get it. Maybe she could talk Allie into going to look for it.

  She got dressed, brushed her teeth, and rushed to class, throwing her hair into a messy bun on her way out to her car.

  “You look rough this morning,” her friend Jamie said as she plopped her bag down and slid into the chair beside her.

  “Yeah. Rough night.” Kaylee pulled a notebook and pen out of her bag and faced the front of the class, not wanting to talk to anyone.

  Kaylee stayed late at the library, “studying” after class and TA-ing. She really just didn’t want to go home. What had she expected? She knew falling for Blayne was a dangerous prospect. She knew the rate of relapse for drug addiction was high.

  When she got home, she washed her face, brushed her teeth, then fell into bed. Allie rolled over in her bed across the room and flipped on her bedside lamp. “You’re late. Have you even eaten anything today?”

  Kaylee shook her head and rolled over to face the wall. After a few minutes of silence, Allie clicked the lamp off and scooted down into her sheets.

  The next two days were much the same, except with more nagging from Allie, trying to get Kaylee to eat more and trying to get her to go talk to Blayne.

  Just before dark on the third night after the incident, Kaylee decided to go check on Mama C. She felt a ton of guilt for not having done it sooner. It wasn’t the older woman’s fault, what had happened with Blayne, whatever that really was.

  As Kaylee pulled into her spot near the viaduct, she hesitated, looking toward it. Maybe they’d moved on. The fire was out and she couldn’t see anyone hanging around. What she’d thought was just a pile of sleeping bags, moved. “Well, someone’s here,” she said to herself.

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nbsp; She looked all around before getting out of her car, worried about the absence of Mama’s group. Seeing no one, she got out. But she froze, thinking, Maybe the person over there isn’t even one of them. Kaylee’s mind flashed back to the man who’d attacked her the first night she’d found the group. Her chest seized, and she froze. Not taking her eyes off of the pile of sleeping bags, she reached blindly for her door handle.

  A horrible, wet, barking cough brought her out of her fear induced shutdown. “Mama C!” She rushed over, keys still jangling in her hand.

  The gravel scraped at Kaylee’s knees as she slid to the ground beside Mama C. She pulled the covers back and gasped. Mama’s lips were blue, her eyes nearly glazed over. Kaylee felt her forehead and jerked her hand away. She was burning up with fever.

  “Mama C. Say something. It’s Kaylee.” Tears ran down her cheeks.

  “Kaylee.” The older woman’s chest rattled as she worked to draw in a breath. Another fit of coughing took what little air she’d been able to get.

  “Mama.” Kaylee pulled at the sleeping bags and blankets, trying to get some cool air to Mama C’s skin. “Where is everyone?”

  Mama looked confused, tilting her head and scowling. “Don’t know.”

  She needed to get to a hospital. Kaylee reached into her pocket before realizing she didn’t have her phone. “Dammit!” She couldn’t pull her car any closer and there was no way she’d be able to get Mama all the way over to it.

  “Mama, I’ll be right back.”

  She ran to her car, spun the wheels in the gravel, and sped to the nearest gas station where she called an ambulance to meet her back at the viaduct. Before rushing back to Mama C, she turned the flashers on so the ambulance would know they were in the right place.

  Kaylee looked around for a bottle of water, but found only empty ones. Where were the others? Why was Mama C alone? Kaylee shivered in the dark as she waited for the ambulance. She kept one hand on the old woman’s chest, worried that each next breath would be her last.