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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] what is in the best interests of my people. Your people. He leaned forward. You sound like your aunt. I take that as a compliment. She is unfortunately a bit set in her ways She is a successful building owner, store owner, and person. Tall s voice interrupted his boss. Not that I had the privilege of meeting her for real, but since I ve spent time down here& I can feel her. Oh, man. He was wearing the rumpled white dress shirt and the loosened tie. There was a streak of dust on one cheek as if he d gotten a little dirty at the construction site. He didn t look at me, but I couldn t stop staring at him. Yes, I m sure, Johnson said, giving us a smile before he got to his feet. It was nice meeting you at last, Sam. I nodded, watching him leave the yarn shop before I cut off Tall s escape with a quick twist of my chair. Tall looked down at me, a muscle working in his jaw. Let me pass. No way, I said. I looked over at a fascinated Mel and Miranda. Give us a moment? They left the yarn shop reluctantly. Our residents knew a good show in the making. I waited, and when he didn t say anything, I held out my first twig, though I was prepared to give him a whole olive tree at this point. My aunt had a float made out of my book. It was going to be a surprise this holiday. His face softened. So Casper had the right idea with Dark Captive as a theme. That will please him. Guess so. I looked over at the windows. Those are really nice. Thanks. No, uh, thank you. I ran a hand over my T-shirt, seeing it was clean but wrinkled. Quite a contrast to the night before and my fancy clothes, but this was me. Tall, I was wondering if you d take part in our parade, help us out as a volunteer. He blinked. But you don t want Stevenson doing that& He s not one of us. Oh, shit. I was so mad at you justifiably and now you go and say something that makes it all go away. He put his hands in his pockets. Very annoying. Sorry. I couldn t stop a small grin as I nudged him with my chair. Stay for dinner? I think I can do that. Maybe we can order takeout? There s this Indian place not so far from here. I think I know the one. Joe should be okay with that. He likes spicy pasta sauce. Okay then, Tall said. Sam, I have to say one thing, and if you don t want me to stay for dinner after I say it& His blue eyes were fixed on my face. My heartbeat thudded. I didn t want to fight with him again. Say it, I said. I think that there should be only one parade this year. I think you should let Stevenson do what he has planned, work with him. He held up his hand. As a marine, you put your men first. If Stevenson wants to show people a good time& I think there is no better time than now. Not because of the holidays, but because everyone is missing Audra. It may bring people s spirits up. I nodded. He was persuasive, maybe because he was right. I still don t like that man. Granted. Neither do I, particularly. He likes you, I growled. He smiled. You re jealous. Tall& I think I like it. He pretended to consider and I bumped him again, and then he was on his knees, resting his forehead against mine, and my hand was in his hair. We stayed that way, no talk, just breathing. * * * Are you going to kiss him and stuff after dinner? Joe asked when we finished ordering the Indian food. I noticed his hair was matted to his forehead with perspiration. He was gulp- ing down some milk from the fridge. I ll pay you good money not to hear about kissing and stuff from you again, Tall said. Yeah, how much? Joe grinned. Joe& I chided. Did you and Mel play basketball after school? Nah, didn t feel like it, he said. Did, uh, Audra like her tree? he asked, his tone nonchal- ant. I was not fooled. I told her about it. Maybe tomorrow we can visit her and you can water it. I looked at the one on our sideboard. It looked slightly healthier. Had Joe given it a shot of fertilizer? It smelled pretty ripe, like rotted fish. I got some dirt from Audra s compost heap, Joe told me. I went out last night and spread some on the topsoil of the tree. I hadn t a clue, but I wasn t remotely a gardener. Okay, good going. She didn t, like, her hand didn t twitch or anything when you told her about her tree? Joe looked at me. I knew he was getting that script from TV movies. No, she just lay there, I said, forcing myself to be honest. Maybe you didn t tell her enough about it& Joe. I m gonna go to my room till the food gets here. Later! He was rubbing his stomach. Are you all right? I asked him. Yeah, just a little wiped. He was gone before I could say more, and my head fell back. Still haven t had that difficult conversation with him? Tall asked, sitting down at the table and undoing another button in his shirt, loosening up after a long day. Suddenly I didn t want him leaving tonight. Stay. Can you? Think so. He smiled. A first for us, me staying over. It ll take getting used to. I remembered I had watch tonight. I have insomnia, so I may not be with you all night. He raised his brows, but I didn t elaborate. The intercom beeped, and I rolled to the foyer to usher in our food. Tall followed me and then looked toward Joe s room. I ll get him, he said. Thanks. I took out my wallet, and when the kid arrived at my door with the food, I paid for it. It smelled fantastic. Would tonight be a better night for me and Ta Sam! I dropped the cartons, flying down the hallway. My chair hit the frame for the bathroom door, so I had to pull back, try again& Joe was in the empty bathtub. He had his forehead pressed to the rim, his shirt off. Tall was rubbing his shoulder. I saw the pool of vomit between the bathtub and the toilet. Joe threw up again, and Tall twisted around to look at me. Sam, he s burning up! Chapter Thirteen So what are you writing now? Tall s voice. I checked back in, realizing I d been staring blankly at the waiting room wall for& how long? It took a moment to reboot. I was& My voice came out cracked, like old asphalt. I got a rejection, I finished baldly. Oh. Tall blinked. That s not good. I guess. I rubbed my eyes. I felt like a piece of cloth stretched out and tearing slowly. Joe. Why was it rejected? he asked me, obviously not willing to let me go back to staring at the walls. My editor thought my hero was too perfect. He s a Navy SEAL named Rock, and he can do anything, succeed at any kind of mission, and have any man he wants. Right. Tall was slumped in the seat opposite me. I noticed his eyes were just as tired as mine felt. He hadn t left my side since we d brought Joe in. Must be nice. Yeah, I said. I was living his life in my head, you know? Living his life and then I met you and you seemed to have fucked up my Rock muse, really shorted it out, so now I m not sure I can finish the rewrite. I m sorry, Tall said. But he sounds like a really annoying guy, like someone you wouldn t want to hang with. Ouch. You sound like my editor. Maybe you can write something else. That s what she said. I sat back, rubbing my jaw. I loved Dark Captive, Tall said. It seethes with passion. I wrote it at first, when I thought I d walk again, I said. Then my cheeks burned. What the fuck? I hadn t just told him that. And Rock was your blue period, when you& I swallowed. Yeah, when I knew it wasn t going to happen. I shrugged. You don t have to stay here. Don t be an asshole. But his voice was affectionate. He reached out and gripped my hand. He s going to be okay. I cleared my throat, unable to say anything. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |