Page 31 of Citadel

I reach over and cover his hand with mine. I make the gesture instinctively, without thinking, but after I do I realize how bold it really is.

Despite my self-consciousness, I don’t jerk my hand away. He needs something, and this is the only comfort I can offer right now.

After a minute, he draws his hand away, so I pull mine back.

We sit in shared silence for a few minutes. He can’t be too uncomfortable or he’d make a move to leave or go inside. And he doesn’t. He doesn’t move at all.

Finally I ask, “Can I ask you a question?”

“You’ve already asked me a bunch.”

I snicker. “Well, another one then.”

“What is it?” He shifts his eyes back to my face, looking just slightly wary. Like I might ask a question he doesn’t want to answer.

“Why did you take so much time away from your search to help me and Breanna?”

He frowns. “You really think I’m some kind of monster? That I’d just leave you to die?”

“No. I don’t think you’re a monster. But there are levels of commitment to helping us, and you didn’t just save us when our lives were in danger. You went weeks out of your way. And it’s not like you owed anything to us. You’d only just seen me once on the beach. And you…” I trail off.

It felt like we had a connection from the very moment our eyes met on the beach, but there’s no reason to assume he felt the same.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “I really don’t. I’d been wanting to get away from those guys. I sometimes travel with those types since they’re the only ones on the road and it’s easier to travel in a group. But they were worse than I realized when I hooked up with them, so I wanted to get away. But it’s sometimes hard to leave a group like that.”

“They probably think it’s a betrayal.”

“Yep. So I was looking for an opportunity, and their raid was as good an opportunity as I could get. I didn’t actually go out there on the ocean to save you.”

“I know you didn’t. I never thought you did. But you did save me and Breanna when you saw we needed it. You could have kept rowing away, but you turned back to pick us up. And you didn’t just do that. You took us all the way here to Monument. I guess I still don’t understand why.”

His mouth twists. “Not sure I understand either. Just felt like I was supposed to. Like it was my job.”

“So we’re a job to you?” My tone is teasing.

He shakes his head. “You know it’s not like that. It’s been years since I’ve felt connected to anyone. Anyone but Mark. But then there you were, and it felt like I knew you. Like I was supposed to… to help you. I wanted to. That’s why I stopped back here at the first opportunity. Kept wondering how you were doing. Kept wantin’ to check on you.”

I can’t help smiling. “I kind of feel that way about you too.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I kept telling myself not to expect you to come back to see us, but then I kept waiting for you anyway.” I reach out again—very daring—and squeeze his hand briefly before withdrawing mine. “I’m glad you came back.”

He gives me an almost smile. “Me too.”

* * *

I want to stay up talking to him all night, but after a few more minutes, he mumbles something about it getting late, which is a clear sign that our conversation is over.

It’s just as well. If I stay out any longer, Breanna is going to show up and demand I get my ass into bed.

We’re still sharing a room in the guesthouse, and Cole has a room down the hall. We say good night, and I slip quietly into the room.

I don’t need to be quiet as it turns out. Breanna isn’t asleep yet.

“Everything all right?” she asks. She’s in bed and has the covers pulled up to her shoulders.

“Yeah. Sorry it’s so late. I won’t be long getting ready for bed.”

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