real sit-down date for a while.”
He shakes his head. “Not exactly what I had in mind. We can do better.” He winks at me. “We will.”
Tearing the paper off the extra straw, I smooth it semi-flat with my fingers until it’s just right. Bringing one end to my lips, I carefully cup my hands, positioning them into the perfect pocket, and begin to blow out a tune. Lowering my hands, I ask, “Impressed?”
“You have no idea.”
I nod in satisfaction. “Just wait. It gets better.” Next, I start whistling the tune of “Camptown Races.”
“Okay,” he says with mock seriousness. “Now you’re just turning me on.”
I almost mess up, tempted to giggle at that. Finished, I lean back with a flourish and grin. He claps.
“Didn’t know about that particular talent of mine, did you?” I preen, enjoying myself.
“It puts your other … abilities to shame.”
I laugh, and swivel on the stool. It feels so normal , so right and good to be with him like this. Happy and silly and carefree. I can almost pretend the others aren’t out there waiting on us. He catches my legs and stops me. His face is solemn as he leans in to kiss me with those cool, smooth lips of his, not even caring if anyone watches us. I grasp the edge of his jacket with my fingers, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss, wishing we were alone.
After a moment, we break apart. My breath catches. He’s always been good-looking, but I’d forgotten the effect of that smile. The blinding flash of white teeth. The deep groves along his mouth. It’s one of the first genuine smiles I’ve seen from him since we escaped the stronghold and my heart squeezes. The variable color of his eyes shines like gemstones. As though he can read my mind, he utters, “It will be us soon. Like this. With all the time in the world. And you can teach me how to make straw music.”
We walk back, arms heavy with hot bags of food, grease leaking through the white paper. At Miram’s window, we pass her food for both her and Will. She smiles a grudging thanks. It’s something. Now that Cassian is back, maybe she appreciates everything I did to help rescue her. Maybe things will be different between us now. An unexpected lump rises in my throat as I realize that I would like that.
Before Will opens the back door he presses a kiss to my temple. “Tomorrow we’ll be free.”
I inhale again. Tomorrow. Eagerness trips through me as I think of all the moments I’ll have with Will just like the one we shared in the diner. But even better because the kissing and talking doesn’t have to stop.
He closes his fingers around the door handle to pull it open, then pauses.
I freeze, too, studying him as a predatory stillness comes over him.
“What?”
He holds up a hand as if he needs total silence to listen.
I angle my head and scan the parking lot. There’s nothing in the great stretch of dark gravel except a random assortment of cars and trucks. An occasional customer enters and exits the diner. Yet Will’s features look tight, his hazel eyes intense as he scours the area.
“Will? What is it?”
He shakes his head, sending his brown hair tossing against his forehead. “Nothing, I guess.”
He opens the van door and helps me inside. My last glimpse of him before he closes the door only cements in my mind that something still bothers him, but I don’t know what.
Turning around, I hand everyone food and settle down to eat. I nibble on the end of a fry and try to ignore the tight itchy sensation rippling over my scalp.
12
I t’s imperceptible at first. Just a slight increase in the van’s speed. The faintest swelling growl of the engine. Then we take a turn and all of us slide to one side of the van, food flying everywhere. My head bumps the hard floor.
Tamra topples against Deghan and the solid, muscled bands of his arms wrap around her. I cringe at the sight, but there’s not much I can do from my position, sprawled against the cold metal floor.
Other
He shakes his head. “Not exactly what I had in mind. We can do better.” He winks at me. “We will.”
Tearing the paper off the extra straw, I smooth it semi-flat with my fingers until it’s just right. Bringing one end to my lips, I carefully cup my hands, positioning them into the perfect pocket, and begin to blow out a tune. Lowering my hands, I ask, “Impressed?”
“You have no idea.”
I nod in satisfaction. “Just wait. It gets better.” Next, I start whistling the tune of “Camptown Races.”
“Okay,” he says with mock seriousness. “Now you’re just turning me on.”
I almost mess up, tempted to giggle at that. Finished, I lean back with a flourish and grin. He claps.
“Didn’t know about that particular talent of mine, did you?” I preen, enjoying myself.
“It puts your other … abilities to shame.”
I laugh, and swivel on the stool. It feels so normal , so right and good to be with him like this. Happy and silly and carefree. I can almost pretend the others aren’t out there waiting on us. He catches my legs and stops me. His face is solemn as he leans in to kiss me with those cool, smooth lips of his, not even caring if anyone watches us. I grasp the edge of his jacket with my fingers, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss, wishing we were alone.
After a moment, we break apart. My breath catches. He’s always been good-looking, but I’d forgotten the effect of that smile. The blinding flash of white teeth. The deep groves along his mouth. It’s one of the first genuine smiles I’ve seen from him since we escaped the stronghold and my heart squeezes. The variable color of his eyes shines like gemstones. As though he can read my mind, he utters, “It will be us soon. Like this. With all the time in the world. And you can teach me how to make straw music.”
We walk back, arms heavy with hot bags of food, grease leaking through the white paper. At Miram’s window, we pass her food for both her and Will. She smiles a grudging thanks. It’s something. Now that Cassian is back, maybe she appreciates everything I did to help rescue her. Maybe things will be different between us now. An unexpected lump rises in my throat as I realize that I would like that.
Before Will opens the back door he presses a kiss to my temple. “Tomorrow we’ll be free.”
I inhale again. Tomorrow. Eagerness trips through me as I think of all the moments I’ll have with Will just like the one we shared in the diner. But even better because the kissing and talking doesn’t have to stop.
He closes his fingers around the door handle to pull it open, then pauses.
I freeze, too, studying him as a predatory stillness comes over him.
“What?”
He holds up a hand as if he needs total silence to listen.
I angle my head and scan the parking lot. There’s nothing in the great stretch of dark gravel except a random assortment of cars and trucks. An occasional customer enters and exits the diner. Yet Will’s features look tight, his hazel eyes intense as he scours the area.
“Will? What is it?”
He shakes his head, sending his brown hair tossing against his forehead. “Nothing, I guess.”
He opens the van door and helps me inside. My last glimpse of him before he closes the door only cements in my mind that something still bothers him, but I don’t know what.
Turning around, I hand everyone food and settle down to eat. I nibble on the end of a fry and try to ignore the tight itchy sensation rippling over my scalp.
12
I t’s imperceptible at first. Just a slight increase in the van’s speed. The faintest swelling growl of the engine. Then we take a turn and all of us slide to one side of the van, food flying everywhere. My head bumps the hard floor.
Tamra topples against Deghan and the solid, muscled bands of his arms wrap around her. I cringe at the sight, but there’s not much I can do from my position, sprawled against the cold metal floor.
Other
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