Page 47 of Rebirth Of Order
“What? Kyra, no. You didn’t do anything other than what was asked of you.”
“Then why’d the flames go out? Why is Holland adamant on removing me, and why does Ethan want me dead?” I blink, and the weighted tears race down my cheeks. “I must have done something wrong.”
Angie stalks off, ignoring my questions and the few escaping tears, ripping off her dress in one angry pull. She turns and faces me, her hair swinging behind her back with a smile that makes her eyes squint. Standing before me in a black thong and no bra, I notice her body is flawless–angelic even–with a faint glow bouncing off her skin.
“I know. We need coffee. Iced coffee.” She turns away, heading for the fridge. Her heels click in cadence while I watch her perfectly tanned ass switch back and forth. How on earth does this woman make it through the day? Everything she does is random.
“Wanna fill me in here?” My tears dry before more have a chance of escaping.
“What do you mean?” she asks, popping off the cold-brew bottle’s lid.
“Why do we need iced coffee? More importantly, and I can’t stress this enough, why are you naked?”
She continues fixing our beverages in silence,rushing and disregarding me entirely as ice cubes spill along with small amounts of coffee. She is panicking, which is unlike her naturally serene and poised self. Something is off. She is compartmentalizing and doing a terrible job of it. I approach her back, gently placing a hand atop her shoulder, and she jitters beneath my touch, startled, yet she continues her objective.
“Angie, what’s wrong?” She turns, still dawning a false smile whilst her eyes tattle a different story. The truth. Puffy and red underneath, her mascara has a faded trail running down her cheek.
“Nothing’s wrong. We need more sweeteners for the coffee. I’ll run out and get some.”
“Iced coffee,” I correct, knowing she despises the regular version. And since when does she ‘run out and get’ anything?
“Yeah…iced coffee.” Her tears snowball, each one pulling more along with it and unknotting a tangled web of emotions she has been dedicated to holding. Without a second thought, my arms wrap around her.
“Talk to me.” Laying my head against the softness of her tense shoulders, I refuse to let go.
She sobs. “They’re trying to get rid of you, and I don’t want you leaving. I won’t allow it,” her voice shatters. “I know we just met, but it feels like I’ve known you my whole life. I can’t let them wipe your memory and send you back defenseless–or…” Her head falls onto my shoulder. “The other option.” I listen attentively, my own feelings resonating with hers.I don’t want to leave either.
Choking back a cry, I allow her to continue, “You may not feel it yet, but the spell that brought you back placed a portion of me inside you, and vice versa. I used too much magic in fear of not being able to save you. We’re affinity bonded…” Loose tears find their path over the tender skin of my cheeks, reminding me that I wouldn’t be here had she not saved me. “And I know it happened against your will. I’m sorry.”
But I do sense it. There is something about Angie that makes mefeel not alone anymore, and it isn’t until now that any logic could be made from it.
“We’ll circle back, but Angie, I don’t want to leave either. I just don’t know how to stay if I can’t wield magic.”
“We just need a little time to figure that out.” Her sobs lessen.
“Then let’s make a plan and find a way to explain what happened tonight.” She nods after a well-deserved sigh. Her shoulders ease from the newly found hope.
“Hey, Kyra,” she says lowly.
“Yeah?”
“I’m naked, and you’re holding me.”
“Only you would take a serious moment and make it not,” I release her with a playful smile.
“This is serious. Only besties hold each other naked.” She frowns. “So, that means we’re officially besties, right?” Her vision sparkles, but I know she is not letting this go.
“Is this what best friends do in your realm?”
“Yes. Though I’ve never had one. So maybe.”
An ache weighs in my chest hearing that. “Sure, we’re besties.” I laugh.But am I betraying Rosie? Her memory. Legacy. The connection we share…shared. Is it possible to have more than one best friend?
A gasp refocuses my mind. “Does that mean I can do your hair now?”
“Nope. Still can’t touch my hair.”
“Just you wait; one of these days, you’ll let me. Mark my words.” I doubt it, but who knows. After all, our relationship just became a little more complicated.
