Page 19 of Broken Bonds

I deserve that, I suppose. Still, her tone grates against my nerves. Crossing my arms, and lean against the doorframe and arch a brow at her.

“Who wouldn’t want to engage in conversation with you and doing so is such an absolute pleasure?” I snark.

She turns her nose up before focusing back in on lacing up her boots.

While I stand there and watch her, and take a moment to assess the bond. I definitely feel it tugging at me, drawing me to her, but it’s not as strong as yesterday. Very likely, it’s weaker because we’re not touching, just as I suspected it would be. I stay in the doorway to keep out of reach of her, knowing a repeat of what happened last night would be disastrous.

“I’m going to go observe the Antarctic hoatzin,” she tells me.

I frown, not a real fan of that idea. “Alone?”

She shoots me an exasperated look before rolling her eyes. “Yes, alone. There’s a nesting grounds near here with a large number of the birds that I can study.”

That’s all fine and dandy, but the idea of her going out there alone still doesn’t sit well with me.

“You shouldn’t be out there without a partner,” I tell her. “It’s dangerous.”

She arches a brow. “Um, I’ve been out there a couple times by myself already, and I’ve been perfectly fine. Not that you would have noticed I was gone, seeing as your lab is about the only room you see most days.”

Beneath her annoyance, I can hear a sliver of hurt. I don’t like it. I don’t like the idea that I’ve hurt her, even though I know it’s for the best. For a long moment, I just watch her finish getting ready and try to think of how I can fix things in a way that won’t give her the wrong idea about my intentions.

When I can’t think of anything, like an idiot, I settle for, “I really don’t think you should go out alone. Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll go with you.”

She freezes and looks at me with a furrowed brow, as if she’s confused. By my offer? By my concern? I’m not sure, but the next moment she releases a sigh and shakes her head.

“It’s fine, really,” she insists, her tone not as sharp and cold. “I appreciate the offer, but the flock isn’t too far from here, and I’m just doing observation today. It’s really not a big deal.”

I know she’s right, and it’s really not my place to tell her she shouldn’t go out there, especially since she has a few times already and I didn’t even notice. That realization makes me feel pretty crappy, I won’t lie.

“Alright,” I say with a nod. “If you say so, but at least tell me you have a radio with you?”

The corners of her mouth twitch, and I think she might be fighting a smile.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got one,” she assures me.

“Okay,” I reply. I feel silly, acting like some concerned parent or boyfriend, but I would be concerned about anyone going outside by themselves. Not just her.

Silence falls between us then, and that heavy weight of awkwardness seems to increase on my shoulders as I wait to see what she’ll do.

At length, she finally says, “Well…I’ll get going, then.”

She moves toward me, and I jump out of her way so she doesn’t graze me as she walks past. She pauses for just a moment and glances at me out of the corner of her eyes. Another flash of hurt crosses her gaze, but it’s there one second and gone the next.

“See you later,” she says in a soft voice.

“See you,” I respond. She continues out of the room and I watch her until she disappears down the hall.

Samantha

The birds are a thing of beauty. They’re odd looking, with reptilian features that make them look almost like dinosaurs, but just like the other times I’ve come to see them, they leave me breathless with their expansive wings and snow-white feathers. I give them plenty of space as I watch them, and apart from a few curious looks and some territorial feather-ruffling, they ignore me.

I hold up my camera and take some pictures while I also jot down notes about their behaviors. I’m grateful for the peace and quiet to do my work, awestruck by the landscape around me…and yet I can’t stop thinking about Dr. Pyrrhos. He should be the furthest thing from my mind right now, and yet I can’t seem to push him out.

I keep thinking about that kiss, and how good it was. Tingles shoot up my spine remembering how his lips felt pressed to mine. How his hands felt roaming my body.

More than that, though, I find myself angry. Really angry. Like, surprisingly angry, actually. I wouldn’t have guessed it would bother me quite so much to have Dr. Pyrrhos essentially ignore me after the fact. What’s worse, though is that heranfrom the room after he broke the kiss! The look in his eyes was one of shock and near horror, and it hurt me way more than I would ever admit out loud.

What’s so wrong with me that he would react that way? Did he even think about the way he was making me feel in that moment? Doubtful. I’m beginning to think Dr. Pyrrhos is incapable of considering anyone’s feelings but his own.

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