Waiting a Lifetime (The Waiting Series Book 1)

by Samantha Peterson

  “Really?!” I squeal.

  I wasn’t sure he was going to come around, but I can’t even explain how excited I am that he did.

  “Yes,” he chuckles, seeing my enthusiasm.

  “Great!” I grin, practically bouncing out of my boots. “When can we start?”

  “So eager to fight,” he teases, shaking his head.

  He lowers his hand to his side, sighing deeply as if afraid he would ruin my innocence by teaching me to defend myself.

  “We can start right now if you would like!”

  “Yes, please!”

  Surprised, he chuckles at my excitement before he takes my hand and leads me a few feet away from the cabin. I assume it’s because my powers are still very unstable – we don’t want to set the cabin on fire by accident.

  I can’t help remembering how dangerous it is for me to use my powers right now. The slightest flicker of fire from me could send the army of Eden raining down upon us. Even if I want to learn more about my powers, now is not a good time.

  So, what in the hell is he planning to teach me, then?

  Maybe this isn’t the greatest idea. I’m suddenly extremely nervous.

  I’m only anxious for a few moments, though. Once we are several feet away from the cabin, he stops me and starts explaining the basics of self-defense to me. Instead of working on controlling the fire, he begins by teaching me different defensive stances, quickly followed by defensive techniques if someone were to try and attack me.

  Degory is impressed with my progress. I can see it in his smile every time I attempt what he shows or explains to me. It feels good working with him. After several hours, the faint light within the dense forest starts to fade and suddenly the darkness somehow becomes darker.

  The sun must be setting.

  That lets us know it’s already around dinner time.

  We agree to break our lessons until tomorrow, then start back up. He, actually, seems to enjoy helping me learn how to fight and defend myself. I think he secretly likes the idea of me fighting by his side. He would just rather I not get hurt, so he doesn’t say that.

  I can see the excitement in his eyes watching me fight, though, and there’s no mistaking it. He wants to see what I can do, and what working together will accomplish. Even I’m curious about what could happen if we became a team.

  When we get inside, I can already feel my muscles start to tense up and become sore from all the exercises we did. I can say with utmost honesty that most of my muscles required for self-defense I have never used before today.

  I, immediately, retreat to the couch so I don’t have to stay on my aching feet for very long. Degory adds wood to the low-burning fire and goes straight into the kitchen. I watch the flames slowly rise and lick the wood while I wait for him.

  When he comes back, the fire is burning brightly again, and he has two cups of hot chocolate – one for each of us. He hands one to me and sits down on the couch beside me so that our hips are touching and there is almost no space between us. I take a sip of mine and let the warm liquid slide down my throat and sooth my tense muscles.

  I settle with my back against the arm of the couch so my feet are up against his lean, muscular thigh – my knees bent close to my chest. He holds the mug of hot chocolate in his hand while laying his arm on top of my ankles, making sure my pants are just high enough so that his arm is in contact with my ankles.

  Although I won’t admit it, I want that skin to skin contact just as much as he does. He stares into the fire, deep in thought. I take another sip of my drink, surprised at how good it tastes when it’s probably several decades old.

  “What are you thinking about?” I ask, a little concerned.

  “Where we are going to go after this,” he admits.

  His brow is furrowed, hinting to me that he’s frustrated and unsure where we are going to hide next.

  “We can’t stay here forever,” he explains. “It isn’t safe, they will find us eventually. I’m just trying to figure out when the best time to move would be, how, and where.”

  For the first time in almost twenty-four hours I think of my family again, which makes me feel like a terrible daughter and sister. I wonder if they’ve notice I’m gone yet, or if they even care. All my previous thoughts on the subject spring back to the forefront of my mind.

  No matter what I think they feel about me missing, I know that I need to call dad. He deserves to know that I’m safe, even if my siblings didn’t care. I tap Degory on the thigh with my big toe to get his attention again.

  “Is there a way I can contact my dad?” I question, guilt obvious in my tone.

  I don’t want to get us into more trouble with Eden, but it’s important that I try.

  “Without alarming the troops of Eden at least?”

  “Yes,” he responds, sympathy evident in his voice.

  I can’t tell if it’s because he feels bad for taking me away, or he hates that he didn't think about contacting my dad first. Either way, I’m glad that he understands why I need to call.

  “They don’t track phone calls, since they rely on tracking spirit power,” he informs me.

  He gets up, setting his cup on the table in between the couch and the fireplace. Then, he goes into the bedroom and returns with a very basic, black cell phone. In fact, it looks like one of those old Razr phones.

  “Here,” he offers, handing it to me. “You can use my cell phone to call him.”

  “Thank you,” I gush, nervous excitement flowing through me.

  I want to know how my family is doing, but I don’t want to find out I’m right about no one caring about me. I need to hear a familiar voice, though. I dial the house phone, and place the receiver to my ear. It only takes two rings before someone answers.

  “Hello?” Lana greets, not knowing it’s me on the other end.

  “Lana!” I exclaim, surprised by how excited I am to hear her speak. “It’s Sunny. Is dad around?”

  “Sunny, oh my gosh!” she sounds relieved, and I can’t help but smile. “We’ve been worried sick about you! Dad’s right here – one second!”

  She takes the phone away from her face, but I can still hear her calling for dad in the background, letting him know that I’m okay. It’s only a couple seconds before my father is practically ripping the phone from my sister’s hands to talk to me.

  “Sunny?!” dad says, sounding panicked.

  It’s almost like he didn’t believe Lana when she told him I was on the phone.

  “Hey dad,” I greet, shyly.

  I feel so terrible putting him through this. I really wish I had thought about calling them sooner. I’m still not quite sure what I’m going to tell him. I’m going to have to pull a story out of my ass.

  “Oh, thank god you’re alright,” dad sighs. “Where have you been?”

  “Sorry I worried you. I’ve just been out and about with my new friend. I should have called sooner. I just didn’t have access to a phone until now.”

  “Well, I guess we’ll have to get you one so this doesn’t happen again,” he teases.

  I can hear anxious laughter in his voice. As soon as it dies, his tone is more serious than I’ve ever heard before. Worry is back in his tone and it breaks my heart a little.

  “When are you coming home? What about school?”

  I hesitate. My entire body tenses in reaction to his question, too. I really don’t know when I will be able to go home, I hadn’t even thought about it. School seems so unimportant now, knowing that I have Eden looking for me.

  What am I going to tell him about where I am, and why I’m gone?

  A large lump forms in my throat. I try to swallow it, but it doesn’t work.

  “Umm…” I hesitate, trying to clear my throat, but that doesn’t work either. “I’m not sure dad, but I’ll check back with you in a few days, okay?”

  “Are you sure? You don’t even have any clothes.”

  He doesn’t sound too sure about allowing the call to end without me g
iving him a lot more information. I’m relieved that he trusts me and doesn’t push anything. I will have to make it up to him when all this is straightened out and I can go home without putting them in harm’s way.

  “Don’t worry, I’m being taken care of,” I reassure him, looking up at Degory who smiles at me.

  “Okay, I trust you. I’ll be waiting by the phone for your call, sweetie, so call with an update as soon as you can. I’ll talk to you soon?”

  “I promise!”

  We say our goodbyes, complete with tearful and heartfelt I love you’s, and I hang up the phone. I have a smile on my face that isn’t normal for me, and not from something Degory said or did. My family is actually worried about me.

  Well, dad and Lana, at least, are. I don’t think Ian cares much – if at all. He never really notices what I do from day to day. It’s okay, though. I’m content. As long as my dad and sister miss me, I know that I matter to someone.

  I sigh, handing Degory his phone back.

  “Thank you again, I needed that.”

  “I can tell,” he grins, wickedly.

  He won’t stop smiling at me. I would be creeped out if he wasn't so adorable.

  We sip our hot chocolate while he asks me tons of questions about my family and how I grew up. My conversation with dad made him extra curious about how I became the person I am today.

  I want to ask him about his life in Eden, as well as what his life was like when he was alive, but he never really answers whenever I try and misdirected to a different topic. He just keeps asking me more questions about myself and avoiding my questions for him.

  Still, I don’t push him about it, but I can’t say I’m not disappointed. If he isn’t telling me, then I know there’s a reason, and he will tell me when he’s comfortable. I hope that someday he’ll be ready to tell me his life story. He’s been more than patient and generous with me, so it’s the least I can do to repay him for everything.

  We talk long into the night. Well, he mostly asks me questions. Once in a while, I get a war or mission story out of him, but not much. He would, also, get up periodically to put another log on the fire, but he would always come right back and have more questions.

  After a few hours, the hot chocolate is long gone and the conversation dies down, but it’s okay. We stare at the fire while stealing glances at one another until I fall asleep in his arms. It’s one of the best nights I have ever had, and we don’t even talk much by the end.

  Chapter 14

  The next morning, I wake up in the bedroom alone feeling renewed. I still have my eyes closed, but I try reaching over for Degory to find only empty space. I don’t remember him picking me up and taking me to bed last night, but there’s no other explanation for how I got tucked in without waking up.

  Unless I sleep walk, but that would be a first for me. When I don’t feel him next to me, I sit straight up, looking frantically for him. I climb out of bed and move from the living room, to the dining area, to the kitchen to see if he’s around, but there’s no sign of him.

  I slowly walk back to the bedroom, dumbfounded.

  Where could he have gone, and why did he leave me here alone? He promised me he wouldn’t leave me…

  I crawl back into bed so my feet won’t have to touch the cold, wooden floor anymore, and bundle up in the blanket. Wherever he is, he didn’t restart the fire, so it’s freezing inside the entire cabin. It’s manageable for me with my abnormally warm body temperature, but I want to escape back under the covers – and half hope I’ll find my missing other half there.

  Of course, he’s still not in bed, but I don’t know what else to think or do. It’s too dangerous to leave the cabin by myself. I hope that he didn’t do anything stupid, like go after Eden’s soldiers that are looking for me and get himself into trouble. I don’t know what I would do. I would be completely screwed – they would find me for sure.

  With a sigh, I look at the digital clock sitting on the nightstand between the bed and the bathroom door: it’s nine in the morning. Leaning against the clock is a folded piece of paper with the words ‘My Sunshine’ written on it in Degory’s handwriting.

  Relieved he didn’t leave me, I mentally kick myself for not looking for a note in the first place. I pick it up and unfold it carefully.

  My lovely Sunny,

  I have gone to get us some food, as well as a few other essentials to last us a few days, so please do not fret if you wake and find me gone. Since I’m unsure how long we will be staying at the cabin before moving on, I thought it a good idea to stock up on items we may need while we are staying hidden.

  I wanted to take you with me, but I didn’t want to wake you – you looked so peaceful. The safest place for you to be right now is inside this cabin. I know you are stubborn, but I hope that you’ll stay inside until I return. So, please stay safe, and I’ll be back before you know it.

  Always yours,

  Degory Alden

  I read the note a few times. No matter how much time we spend together, it just doesn’t sink in that he is mine and I am his. I’m not sure I will ever understand what he sees in me, but I’m happy.

  It doesn’t matter that he’s helping me run away from the forces of Eden. I won’t ever take it for granted. Even if I don’t deserve him – which I feel like I don’t – now that I have him, I never want to let him go. Not ever.

  I lay back down, still holding onto the note. I wonder how long he has been gone and when he’s going to get back. I’m curious to see what sort of things he considers to be essentials, and what sort of food he’s going to buy.

  Thoughts and questions swirl around the inside of my head while I wait for him. After a few minutes have passed, I debate getting up and attempting to start a fire while I stare up at the ceiling. It’s cold in the cabin, but I’m just fine under the blanket, along with my elevated body temperature, since Degory put me in bed with all of my clothes on.

  He enjoys the cold, so would it even be a nice gesture to start a fire and warm the place back up if he seems more comfortable without it? The cold doesn’t bother me so much anymore, it’s more for comfort and a sense of familiarity.

  I don’t have time to answer my own question, though. The front door opens and I hear the distinct crinkle of plastic bags rubbing against one another. I throw the covers off, jump out of bed, and rush to help him bring in what he bought for us.

  I don’t even know how he has the money to buy all this stuff, but I see that there is a receipt shoved into one of the bags I grab from him, so I don’t question it. He doesn't seem like the type to steal, so I want to sate my curiosity.

  He greets me with a hello and a smile, letting me take a few of the bags from his hands without question or protest. I’m a little taken aback because he isn’t wearing his usual black robe and white, sleeveless jacket.

  This time, he’s wearing light blue jeans, and a heavy, black winter jacket that I haven’t seen before. It’s one of those puffy ski jackets, and looks a little ridiculous on him, so I have to stifle laughter.

  “No robe?” I tease.

  “Not today,” he chuckles. “I had to look alive if I wanted to buy anything.”

  I follow him into the kitchen where we place everything on the countertops to start putting them away. He stops me before I can start taking the groceries out of the bags and hands me two large bags that are practically bursting from how full they are. I’m a little nervous because it looks like some sort of clothing.

  “These are for you,” he reveals, holding them out in front of himself.

  “What is it?” I ask, nervous.

  I’m sort of afraid to look inside. I haven’t ever received gifts from anyone besides my family, so I have no idea what to expect. Even then, I’ve only ever heard of boyfriends giving flowers or candy as gifts before. I don’t want to offend him though, so I do my best to hold back an anxious expression and try to look excited.

  Would it be something he thinks is interesting, but I don’t like at all?
Or is there lingerie in there that I’m not even close to wearing in front him? What if it’s old lady clothes and granny panties?

  A million similar thoughts race through my head while I wait for his response. Either way, though, I can’t help but be grateful for the gesture.

  “I didn’t give you the chance to grab anything before hiding you away,” he hints. “So, I thought I would buy you some new clothes to make up for it. There is, also, a toothbrush and other hygiene products I thought you might like.”

  I’m not sure what to say. No one has ever done anything for me like this. Dad has bought me clothing when it was necessary, but not as a gift. It’s such a sweet gesture that I’m not sure how to react. I decide to go with what my instinct is telling me about how to thank him.

  Instead of speaking, I drop the bags, wrap my arms around his neck, and kiss him. I will never get sick of kissing him, or tasting fresh fallen snow on his lips. Once I pull away, I find the words to talk again, and thank him with a grin.

  “You’re very welcome,” he smiles. “Go try them on while I put the food away.”

  “Are you sure?” I pout.

  I’m excited to see everything he bought me, but I don’t feel right leaving him to put everything away. There isn’t a whole lot of stuff, but I don’t want it to be a one-sided relationship where the man does all the work. Maybe I’m just being overly analytical about our relationship roles. Still…

  “I feel bad for not helping.”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” he reassures me, chuckling a little. “I want to see if you like what I bought you.”

  Agreeing with only a little bit of guilt, I kiss him on the cheek before grabbing the bags and jogging back to the bedroom. I shut the door behind me a little harder than I meant to in my excitement, but disregard it.

  I dump everything out onto the bed with a flourish. There are two pairs of jeans, four t-shirts, two sweaters, two pairs of flannel pajamas, two sweater dresses, a pair of black leggings, and a package of those amazing fluffy socks that are only sold during winter time.