Page 145 of Satan's Spawn
With a quick count to three I propel myself off and into the strong arms of a madman.
Both of Crayton’s hands are secured under my ass, allowing them to slide up my back as he lowers me to the ground, his sapphire eyes connected with mine the entire time.
“Thanks.” I smile, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear when he releases me.
Crayton nods, passing me slowly as he goes back to leading the way.
Which isn’t much further because within a minute we're standing at the side of a waterway that leads to a crosstimber bridge hovering low over it.
Crayton gets us there in no time and finds an opening in the middle to sit. Then, he takes off his boots and sets them aside. I do the same with my bag and flip flops, even though my feet are already exposed, the last thing I need is to lose them in a mini river.
We sit shoulder to shoulder with our feet dangling in the water, and I won’t lie and say it doesn’t feel amazing.
The night is warm, only a gentle breeze blowing through the air which tickles my neck.
“Why did you jump in the pool after me that day?” he asks, feet swirling against the current.
“Because I thought you were drowning.”
“So?”
“So…I wasn’t gonna let you die.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because that’s who I am, Crayton.”
He shifts in place, the expression on his face unrecognizable, other than it being the most boyish he’s ever looked.
“Why did Saint throw you in the pool?”
“To prove you would try to save me.”
“Did you really need him to do that in order to believe I would?”
“Yes.”
I roll my shoulders, attempting to prepare myself for the heavy conversation I know is coming.
“I’m not evil, Crayton. I mean, I make mistakes like everyone else, but I’m not a bad person. Only a bad person would allow a person to drown.”
His gaze drifts to meet mine. “Do you think I’m a bad person?”
What the fuck is happening right now? Is this Crayton’s version of opening up? And how do I answer a question that has two valid answers?
I go with the one that feels less likely to prove him right.
I know people believe Crayton is crazy.
Hell, I know Crayton believes he is crazy.
A huge part of me does, too.
But here’s the thing about crazy people, they’re almost always driven to it by some catalytic event. And if an entirely different person existed before, chances are this person still exists after somewhere deep down.
In Crayton’s case—deep deep down.
“I think you’re a guy who has a lot of demons. Who’s in pain and takes it out on the world instead of remedying it.”
