Kate Evangelista - Til Death

“I’m not saying you should.” He met me stare for stare. “I’m just asking for a second chance.”

“But…” I bit my lip, considering his words. Damn. I shouldn’t be considering his words. Penny’s voice bounced around in my head, telling me I was being too nice.

He put one of his strong hands on my shoulder and turned me to face him. I reluctantly met his gaze.

“But what?”

“But I don’t miss you.” It was the truth, yet instant remorse closed my throat. When I broke up with him, I cried. I felt betrayed. But when I pulled myself back together, I realized I didn’t miss him. At all. Yes, I enjoyed the two years we’d spent together. But now that I was free of him, I didn’t regret it one bit. A part of me even felt relieved that he cheated. I was pissed more at the fact that his cheating on me made it seem like those two years didn’t matter to him at all.

Bowen’s lips disappeared into a hard line. A muscle along his jaw jumped. He let go of my shoulder and white-knuckled the pushcart’s bar. His eyes blazed with barely controlled anger. The lines of his face seemed harsher. His shoulders twitched upward. A ripple went through his body, like he was trying hard to remain calm.

“Something wrong here?”

Oh, great. Just what I needed. My head whipped to my left. Dillan Sloan clutched a jumbo bag of chips with both hands. His expression unreadable. My gaze went beyond his shoulder to the end of the aisle where Mr. Sloan stood reading the back of a cereal box.

“Just walk away, Dillan,” I said, glancing at Bowen. “Nothing to see here.”

Bowen breathed in deep. His fiery gaze never left my face.

“Hello, Ms. Fallon. Bowen.” Mr. Sloan joined us and parked his cart behind Dillan.

“Oh, hi, Mr. Sloan.” I forced a smile on my face.

“Mr. Sloan.” Bowen nodded at our teacher.

“Have you met my nephew?” Mr. Sloan inclined his head toward Dillan.

“Dillan Sloan.”

“Bowen Gage.” They clasped hands. “Heard a lot about you.”

“Small school.”

“Small town.” Bowen released Dillan’s hand.

I wanted to get out of there. All of them acting so cordial made me sick. If Dillan hadn’t butted in, I could have finished what I started and hopefully ended this thing. Bowen was clearly pissed by what I said. Maybe if he held on to that emotion long enough, he’d forget about wanting that second chance.

Dillan glanced my way while Bowen and Mr. Sloan started a conversation about the team stats this season. I didn’t meet his gaze. Let him think what he wanted. This morning, he practically treated me like a leper he couldn’t stand to touch. Now, his eyes darted from my face to Bowen’s like he expected something to happen. I wasn’t going to explain myself to someone who gave me death stares.

“By the way,” Bowen’s eerily calm voice tore my attention away from stewing over Dillan, “I just remembered something I need to do.” His blank eyes landed on me. “Do you mind finding your own way home?”

“Yeah.” I swallowed my relief. “Sure. I’ll figure something out.”

“Good.” A flat smile. “Nice meeting you, Dillan.”

Without waiting for a response, and only giving Mr. Sloan a nod, Bowen made his way out of the store. I exhaled the long awaited sigh I’d been holding in.

“Do you want us to give your grandmother a call?” Mr. Sloan suggested.

I shook my head. “Her shift doesn’t end until later.” Plus, I didn’t need my grandmother knowing I was at the store with Bowen. Although, something told me it wouldn’t be long until she found out. Then my gaze returned to Dillan. My brain refused to understand why he scowled at me like I’d just finished kicking a puppy. What’s his deal?

“Are you—”

“She’s fine, Rainer,” he interrupted.

Mr. Sloan frowned. “What did I tell you about calling me by my first name in public?”

Dillan dropped his gaze.

“We’ll talk about it later.” He tsked at his nephew before asking me, “Do you want a ride home?”

I thought about it. Endure a ride with Dillan or walk home? Four miles was no joke with groceries plus my backpack. I steeled myself and said, “Thanks. That would be great.”

Dillan’s scowl turned murderous.

Dillan

Can Anybody Say Awkward?

In the front seat of his uncle’s car, Dillan stewed. Just when he thought he’d gotten her out of his head, she crawled back in. The shopping trip actually helped get his mind off her, but the Fates were cruel bitches. The second he and Rainer turned into the cereal aisle, there she was, standing with a troll of a guy.

That invisible string he’d been talking about pulled taut. He sensed the hostility in the guy’s attitude toward her. Without thinking twice, he found himself butting in on the lover’s quarrel. From the way she scowled at him, she hadn’t appreciated the interference.

Looking at Bowen, minus the rancid stench, his instincts had been right. The guy reminded him so much of a troll. Quick to anger, all brawn, no brains. Clearly, Selena was handling it. If he hadn’t stepped in—and what could he have done anyway?—he wouldn’t be in this situation. Sitting in a car with her strawberry shampoo filling his lungs.

Forced to listen to the constant, yap, yap, yapping, hurt his ears. Rainer and Selena discussed school, of all things, and some stupid field trip he’d rather die than join. The beginnings of a headache pulsed between his eyes.

Arms folded close to his chest, he leaned back, trying in vain to relax. He called on some of the meditative technics taught to him by one of his instructors. He focused on his breathing, inhaling deeply then exhaling slowly. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to clear his mind, Selena’s face kept flashing back in. Having her sitting so close to him…he bit his tongue to keep from asking her outright what she was.

Outside of town, the Mustang turned onto a dirt road. His still sore shoulder didn’t appreciate the bumpy ride. Healing himself meant using energy he might need later. So he balled his hands into fists and sat through the pain.

In the distance, an old farmhouse of peeling, blue paint came into view. To the left stood what looked like a shed, only bigger. A garage, maybe? No fence. No protection whatsoever from any kind of attack. He searched for points where he’d place wards if he still had his Guardian powers. Then he remembered he was at a human’s home. Well, human until he proved her otherwise. And he sure as hell wouldn’t stop until he got answers.

Rainer shifted the ‘66 into neutral and said, “Dillan, why don’t you help Selena with the bags?”

He cocked an eyebrow at him.

“No need. I can bring them in myself,” Selena said from the backset.

His uncle’s lips disappeared as he stared daggers at him. “Selena, let Dillan help you.”

Hearing the finality in the “request,” he unfolded himself out of the car, pushed down the passenger seat, and let Selena out. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and followed him to the trunk. Both his throbbing finger and shoulder stood as witnesses to what his uncle was capable of. After a loud pop, he lifted the lid and grabbed her grocery bags. He didn’t look at her. Yet he was pretty sure her eyes were on him when he led the way to the front door.

Maybe a casual touch? He thought about it. A fingertip grazing her arm and he could prove he wasn’t going crazy. That this girl did shock him.

“I can bring them in myself.” She grabbed one of the bags, barely missing his hand with hers. Dillan yanked back until she was forced to let go. So much for casually touching her.

“Sure you can.” He made his way up the gravel path to the front porch. “Just trying to avoid the long lecture I’d get if I didn’t help.” Among other more painful consequences. Maybe knowing about his uncle’s violent streak was the reason behind the Council sending him to Newcastle. Rainer made the perfect warden. Sadistic.