Page 52 of Shadows of You

People around here didn’t see me that way. At best, they saw me as damaged goods. At worst, someone to fear. But Aspen? She saw me as the man I wanted to be.

Cady bounded out of the back hallway. “I’ve got pink and purple and green and blue. The pink’s my favorite. What do you want? Ooooooh, I could do all the colors! Sometimes, Miss Maddie gives me rainbow nails, and it’s the bestest.”

Aspen’s lips twitched as she headed for the kitchen. “Have fun, Mr. Grizz.”

I muttered a curse under my breath. Cady grabbed my hand, leading me over to the couch and explaining all the different colors in detail. As she chattered about what glitter shone the brightest, her mom looked on from the kitchen with amusement. That pressure returned to my chest.

Sheer panic nearly stole my breath. Nothing could happen to these two. They were lights in a world of darkness. And I knew better than most that anything could happen when people believed lies about you like the ones people believed about Aspen.

16

ASPEN

“He’s still sleeping,”Cady whispered, leaning over Roan.

I frantically waved her back to me. I swore, you let a six-year-old out of your sight for a second, and you never knew what they’d do.

She leaned closer, almost as if checking his breathing. Roan’s lumbering exhale fluttered the hair around her face. He looked so relaxed in sleep. Peaceful. Almost childlike. I’d never seen him with so few defenses in his wakeful hours. And it made me wonder just what he was guarding against.

Cady glanced up at me, and I widened my eyes as I kept waving her over. She frowned, her shoulders slumping, but she obeyed.

“I want Mr. Grizz to have breakfast with me,” she complained.

“Then you’re going to have to wait a bit. Most people don’t wake up at five in the morning.”

Cady let a little giggle loose. “I was excited. I couldn’t sleep.”

Something foreign slid through me. A longing. For something I wasn’t sure was in the cards for me. Watching Roan sit as Cady painted each fingernail and toenail last night, letting her talk his ear off and answering whatever out-there question she asked, had made me realize I wanted that. A partner. Someone to share the ups and downs with.

But that was impossible when you didn’t let anyone in enough to truly know you.

“Okay, I’ll eat now,” Cady mumbled. “I’m too hungry.”

I bit back a laugh. “All right. What do you want? Cheerios and bananas or Cap’n Crunch and strawberries?”

“I want the Cap’n,” Cady answered.

“Coming right up.” I grabbed bowls and cereal, then got to work slicing berries for us both. As I turned around, I caught sight of Pirate slinking around the couch.

It was as if it happened in slow motion. I waved a hand, trying to get the cat’s attention, but she was too focused on her prey. That prey being the bare toes peeking out of the blanket covering Roan.

Pirate launched herself onto the arm of the sofa and attacked Roan’s foot with a vengeance. He came awake on a shouted curse, jerking upright. The cat let out a loud hiss, not pleased to be separated from the game.

“What is that thing? A monster from the seventh circle of hell?” he snarled.

I hurried over to him, snatching Pirate into my arms. “She’s just a kitten. She’s still learning her manners.”

Roan glared at the creature in my arms. “It looks more like that thing went ten rounds with Mike Tyson.”

“She’s not athing. She’s uniquely beautiful,” I argued.

He lifted a brow as if to say:Is that really what you’re going with?

I knew that Pirate was a little odd-looking with her one eye, half an ear, and patchy fur, but she was loved.

“Mama says looks don’t matter. It’s what’s on the inside that counts,” Cady chimed in helpfully as she munched on her cereal.

“What’s on the inside is a demon. I almost lost a toe,” Roan grumbled.

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