He lifted the pillow and caught a familiar scent. Pulling the pillow toward his face, he inhaled deeply. It smelled exactly like Meg. The scent of her shampoo was on this pillow. She laid on this—slept her peaceful, na?ve sleep. Pressed her cheek into this pillow and closed her eyes. His imagination was crisp.
Creed shook his head, trying to snap himself out of it. Quit thinking of the girl, and finish the job. When you’re done with this target, you can think about her. Just finish what you started before you run out of time! He scolded himself back into reality. The idea of running out of time and being in this room when Meg came back was enough to make him feel a wave of panic. He took a step toward the woman, leaned over her, and slipped the pillow up to her face. It was then that she opened her eyes and looked with terror into the face of her executioner.
15 He Was Just Here
“Where’s he from?” Alik asked
“How old is he?” Evan asked before I could answer Alik.
“How did you meet him?”
“Who is his ‘friend’?”
“What does he know about you?”
“For Pete’s sake, you two! You don’t even stop asking questions long enough to let me answer!” I was getting more nervous with every step. Introducing my brothers to this handsome guy I barely knew was really sounding like a crazy-stupid idea.
“I don’t know where he’s from. He’s about eighteen-years-old. I met him while taking Maze for a walk. I don’t know his friend, and he doesn’t even know my name!” I felt myself very close to the edge of panic as I looked around the lawn. Creed wasn’t there.
“Well, where is this mystery guy of yours?” Alik asked scanning the area.
“Stop calling him that. He’s no mystery, just a guy,” I said trying to sound composed. “I saw him at a distance while we were sparing. I don’t know how much he saw, but maybe it freaked him out.” I swallowed hard. “You know, regular girls don’t fight for fun like me,” my voice trailed off. I was looking at my sneakers wondering what I must have looked like to him. I felt heat spread up my neck and burn my ears and was thankful for my long hair right about then. When you feel like a freak, it’s nice to have a built in veil that can hide your pain.
“Maybe he just had to run to the bathroom,” Evan offered, gently.
“Not everyone has a fascination with bathroom plumbing like you, Ev,” Alik said. “Listen, Meg. We’d better head back to mom’s room. We’ll meet him some other time. Okay?” I felt my brother’s arm drape over my shoulders in an uncharacteristically affectionate way. I couldn’t help it. Hot tears of humiliation brimmed in my eyes. I couldn’t look at my brothers. The first time I’m to introduce them to a boy I liked, and the idiot stands me up!
“Who are we going to meet some other time?” a familiar voice spoke from behind us. I turned to see Cole’s gentle, smiling face. His green eyes matched the evergreens behind him. His dirty blond hair was just getting long enough to be called scruffy, even in his halfhearted attempt at gelling it up and off his forehead. He wore a soft brown fleece hoodie and faded blue jeans. His large hands were shoved into his front pockets in an obvious attempt to keep them warm against the cold Kansas day. I loved the way his wide smile made his nose crinkle just a little at the bridge. I felt as safe with Cole as I did with my brothers. And as I stood surrounded by my boys, I couldn’t help but compare Cole to Creed.
“Um…Meg? You wanna answer him? Or should I?” Alik said in a flat attempt at being politically correct.
“Oh, no one important, Cole,” I said walking up to him and wrapping my arm through his. I immediately felt a calmness flood through me. It was crystal clear when I was around him: Cole’s love for me was genuine and unconditional. Why would I allow myself to get swept up by a tall, dark stranger when I know where I should be? Why was Creed’s mysteriousness so darn sexy to me?
“We were just heading back to mom’s room,” I said changing the subject. “So, did the kids like our exhibition?”
My brothers were uncharacteristically silent as they fell into step behind me and Cole. I could feel their disapproval of me. What did they want me to say? Yeah, um…Cole. See, I know you love me and have proven you would risk your life for me and my family, but I kinda met some other guy and totally get hot and bothered every time he comes around. You good with that? I had to work to push their judgmental feelings away from me.
“The kids were stoked! They were cheering so loudly, the nurses came in and teased them that they would have to send everyone back to bed if they didn’t calm down. You should have seen their faces. These little sick kids, some of them with no hair, skinny and pale, all of them wearing their hospital gowns and slippers…they looked like they could sprout wings and fly with excitement watching you three!” Cole’s face flushed with happiness as he talked. He really did have a heart of gold.
“I’m glad they enjoyed it,” I said genuinely.