Page 51 of Wicked Promises
Ifeel him before I see him.
This time, at least, I know it’s him. My neck prickles, and goosebumps race up the backs of my arms. I straighten with the pack of candy in my hand and turn to face him. The vending machine hums beside me.
He walks toward me with his hands in his pockets. His dark hair is brushed away from his face, and his light eyes are tracking my movement. I scan his body just as he does the same to me.
White shirt, black jeans, a black shell jacket.
His expression is serious. Befitting a hospital, I suppose. I shiver, suddenly wishing I was back in the waiting room. There are witnesses there, and…
He’s been weird.
I’ve been weird, too, I know. We’ve been under the same roof, and we only shared a bed the first night. Is there something wrong with me? I want him—just looking at him, right now, Iwanthim. But I haven’t been able to act on it.
“You okay?” He stops in front of me, close enough to touch, but not. “You’re pale.”
“Robert is in surgery.”
His hand tightens on mine. “You’re running away.”
“Just mimicking you.” I glare at him and tug.
He releases me. “It’s because I don’t know how to help you.”
I blink.
“You’re hurting, for fuck’s sake, and I don’t know—” He turns away and runs his hand through his hair. “I’d like to think I know you. That you don’t want coddling. But if not that, what?”
I sigh. “A hug would be nice.”
He yanks me forward, into him, faster than I expect. He wraps his arms around me, bone-crushingly tight. I’m enveloped in his embrace, yes, but also his warmth and his spiced scent. I lean into him, knowing that no matter how hard I push, he’ll stay standing.
“Like this?” he whispers into my hair.
It’s tight enough to hold me together for a moment. Just like Riley’s hug, but this one…
I relax, and his hand cups the back of my head.
“Now, if only we could stay like this,” he teases.
I don’t say anything but slowly bring my arms up and circle his waist. My breath shudders out of me.Yes, I want to say.This could be a forever kind of thing.
“Do you remember what I said?”
I pull away just enough to meet his gaze. “You say a lot.”
His smile is faint. “I’m always going to find you, baby.”
“I believe it.” It scares me as much as it comforts me. “But what if you find me and weboth…”
“Go dark?”
I nod. I can feel it crawling through me. It’s a slippery feeling, addictive. And the worst part? It pushes out all my other emotions. I know he feels it, too. The rare times his demons have come out full force.
He lifts one shoulder. His grip on me eases, allowing me to take a small step backward. “So what if we do?”
I contemplate that.
“Ah, Margo, are you—?” Lenora stops in the middle of the hallway. “Caleb, glad to see you could make it. The doctor is going to talk to us, honey.” She holds out her hand to me.