Page 73 of Incubus
"Don't be so melodramatic. You know my abilities don't work that way. I can't see everything; the future changes every time someone makes a decision. You're not getting any life-changing advice over the phone."
"Well, then, what am I supposed to do?"
Wade audibly sighed. "Same thing I told you before, sweetheart. You found the first person from yourDevilcard, so stick to him.Howyou stick to him is entirely up to you. Anything else you'll have to figure out for yourself."
Nathan grumbled, "What kind of psychic are you, anyway?"
"Anhonestone," Wade said. "So suck it up, Grier. You’ve got a long journey ahead of you. What I can tell you is that if you want Mr. Incubus for yourself, you better get your butt in gear. His patience can only stretch so far. Good luck."
"Wade, wait, I—!"
The other end of the line clicked and went silent as Wade hung up. Nathan was going to drunk-dial her the next chance he got even if shecouldsee it coming.
The sound of Sasha’s voice on the other side of the door made Nathan’s entire body stiffen. Nathan was supposed to be taking a shower, and he had left the water running to keep up the illusion while he called Wade. Over the sound of the water, he could hear Sasha and Jim murmuring about something. Quietly, Nathan pressed his ear to the door, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“Aren’t you being a bit childish, Nathan?”
Nathan jumped, relieved at least that he hadn’t squealed. He turned around to see Walter sitting on the toilet seat. “Shhh, I’m just…trying to work this out,” Nathan whispered.
“Work out…something intimate that happened between you and Sasha in the Gatehouse?”
Nathan cringed. “Do you have to sayintimate? We just kissed.”
Walter stared at Nathan steadily.
“I didn't tell you because…I didn’t want to hear you spout some advice at me one way or the other, okay?” Nathan said. “Not about this. You keep saying I’m making things more complicated for myself, but what does that mean? I don’t want to see him with someone else. I hated that last night. But is this way off the mark? Am I supposed to break things off? What am I supposed to do?” He had been so worried about what Walter would say, but now the questions poured out of him.
Then, to Nathan’s surprise, Walter smiled, subtle and appeasing. “Your path changes with every decision you make, Nathan. I’ve told you that many times. Wade said the same. Bringing Jim back, allying yourself with Sasha, all of it complicates things. Relationships always complicate things. You can still follow the right path even if the road is more difficult. I only wish for you to understand that and be prepared.”
“I don’t know if I’d call what’s going on with me and Sashaallyingmyself with him,” Nathan said with a small smirk.
“Be that as it may,” said Walter, “this is a decision you need to make on your own. And as Wade said, it may be one you need to make quickly. It sounds like Sasha has left.”
Nathan returned his attention to the door, listening carefully, but was no longer able to hear Sasha’s voice.
He turned off the tap to the shower, waiting a few moments to collect himself and think. Once Walter had faded again, stillwearing that subtle smile, Nathan figured it was time to get out of the bathroom.
Chapter 28
“Hey,”NathansaidtoJim as he exited the bathroom. “Did I hear the redhead?”
Jim was engrossed in notes on the case they were heading to in Georgia. “Sasha ran down to the gym. Said he needed to let off some excess energy. Probably from last night,” he added with a smirk.
Nathan held back a grimace. “This place has a gym?”
“I’m guessing a big empty room with a treadmill and a punching bag, but who knows.”
“Huh.” Nathan reached for the fresh clothing he had laid out on the bed. “I think I’ll run down there too,” he said. Pulling a T-shirt over his head did nothing to block the weight of his brother’s eyes when they turned to him.
“You just took a shower,” Jim said.
“So? I’ll stretch and do sit-ups. I don’t have to get sweaty.”
“Nathan—”
“I’ll make sure we’re back in half an hour so we can get out of here,” Nathan interrupted, quickly heading for the door. As he left the room, he chose to ignore the impatient repeated utterance of, “Nathan,” that followed after him.
Nathan could admit that half of him was terrified to face Sasha, but his feet carried him through the hallways regardless, following the signs and arrows that pointed toward ‘Workout Room’.
