CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

After sleeping in a tent of my own, I woke up refreshed for the first time since arriving at the colony. Somewhere in the night I’d resolved to ignore what Kaden has said. I mean, if merely admitting we were married was his way of wooing me, I wanted nothing of it. Whatever had happened in my Complements timeline had nothing to do with mine, and his frequent mood swings were a deal breaker. No. I was smarter than that, and I was in control of my feelings. I wouldn’t fall for Kaden, no matter how cute he was. In fact, I’d devised a contingency plan where, need be, I’d be ready for a quick getaway after I’d stashed away a few necessities. In the meantime, I’d act as if living in the colony had been the answer to my prayers.

Peeking out of my tent at the sleepy little village, I scanned the outdoor kitchen for signs of life. Typically Lana would brew coffee and start breakfast, though people took turns. Her absence, considering Peter had just returned, made sense.

Digging in the pantry, I found flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs, bacon grease, and fresh biscuits. I stowed away two in my pocket for the future before starting on some gravy. Adding fuel to the outdoor stovetop, I whisked my ingredients in a pan and waited for the sauce to boil.

“You’re up early.” I jumped at Kaden’s voice and almost dropped the fork. He chuckled. “Sorry.”

“No worries.” Peering at him from the side, I studied him as he helped himself to some coffee I’d percolated before starting the gravy. “Just trying to be useful,” I added.

He grunted between two sips as he leaned against the counter and gazed longingly at the wisps of fog floating off the water.

“What are your plans today?” I asked, still awestruck by the bomb he’d dropped on me. How he could act as if nothing had happened yesterday infuriated me.

“Not sure yet.”

He turned to me, his damp, dark hair catching the morning light, and his face lit up in a mischievous smile. He’d apparently been up before me and had washed and shaved, and his sexy smooth face made me feel conflicted again. Then I frowned, feeling self-conscious and ran my fingers through my greasy hair. Bits of sand had taken residence on my scalp. Though I’d taken a sponge bath and washed my hair everyday with a bucket of lukewarm water, I still didn’t feel clean. If only the lake wasn’t freezing, I’d dive in and rinse off.

Just then, Van and a few of the guys sauntered by. I turned and smiled, expecting them to be all over my biscuits and gravy. Kaden nodded and the rest of them responded, then they kept walking as if I didn’t exist. What the?

I bit my lip and continued to whisk the gravy, secretly studying my reflection in the nearby pan lid. Did I look that bad? I lifted my arm a tad and nonchalantly sniffed. My suspicions were confirmed. I needed a bath bad.

“What’cha cookin’, good lookin’? Smells good.” Memphis came from the trees, his blond hair slicked off his forehead. His dimples drilled deliciously into his smooth cheeks.

I smiled. Forever the ace in my pocket. “Gravy. Want some?”

He reached for the nearest plate and I drizzled the delectable golden liquid over an opened biscuit. He grinned widely as he took the first bite, then he grabbed the counter and faked like he’d fainted. “Girl. You’ve been holding out. You can cook.”

I handed Kaden the second plate with a smug smile, hoping for a similar, yet cool Kadenish kind of reaction. He took it silently, helped himself to a bite, then moved to the fire. Memphis followed, oohing and aahing behind him. I waited, trying not to be hurt over his silence, and joined the two with my own plate, forming a triangle of awkwardness.

“Brother,” Memphis said, eyeing him playfully. “She is a keeper.”

My glance slipped to Kaden as his eyes stayed on the plate. He smirked, his jaw working on another bite. Did Memphis know? Or was he just eerily close to the truth. Then my eyes locked with Kaden’s and he held me there. Why was he acting so indifferent? Say something, will you? At least he could tell me I was a good cook. He shrugged and kept eating. I wanted to throw my fork at him.

“Well,” I said after finishing another bite, “this was my only secret to help me pass probation, yet only you boys were able to enjoy it.”

And that was partly the truth, though I’d most likely be on probation forever until I hooked up with someone. Today I was leaning toward Memphis.

“Well, you and I both know it’ll take more than cooking.” Memphis waggled his eyebrows.

My stomach clenched as I watched Kaden’s cold response. Would he say something? Or let it ride. At his silence, frustration flooded me. How’d we end up together anyway? It was almost as if Kaden assumed I was a sure thing. Well, he was sorely mistaken.

“Well, I’m good at that, too.” I shot Memphis my nicest smile.

Memphis’s lips quirked upward and he winked at me as Kaden shoveled the last bite into his mouth and stood up. He then deposited his dish on the counter and walked off.

“What’s with him?” Memphis asked.

I merely shrugged, but lost my appetite all the same.

~~|~~

After breakfast, I took a pot of hot water from the fire and lugged it to the dish washing station. For some stupid reason, I was on the brink of tears.

“I’ll get that,” Kaden said from behind me. I swiveled around, half-startled, and almost tipped the water onto his feet. He reached for the bucket just in time and his skin grazed mine. Against my will, heat and butterflies burst in my stomach.

I pulled away. “I got it.”

“No. I insist.”

I scowled, but let him take the bucket. My eyes darted to the ground in confusion. Memphis’ touch never gave me butterflies like that, and yet in one instant, images of Kaden’s hand laced in mine, his fingers caressing my cheek, his lips on mine—they fluttered through me as if carried on those wings. I squinted and pushed the betraying thoughts away.

“Did you think about what I said?” His voice cut through my musings.

I furrowed my brows and smirked. “Your marriage proposal?” Unlikely that’ll ever happen, buddy.

“No.” He moved the water to the station and quickly washed the pan, plates and forks. I stood alongside and offered to dry. “About whether or not you’re staying.”

My mouth hung open for a moment as the stupidity of what I’d said settled in. “Oh….”

“Well?”

I paused, unsure what to say. My shoulders shrugged. “That depends.”

“On?”

“You… for starters.”

“Then don’t lead my brother on if you don’t plan to stay,” he said as he handed me the last dish, eyes hard.

The plate practically slipped from my hands as he charged toward the stairs. Well wasn’t that a nice little warning. I wanted to yell out: Jealous much? Go complain to Jewels about me, why don’t ya? Instead, I bit my tongue and turned around to the pile of clean dishes. A new collection of dirty ones had appeared from nowhere. I scanned the beach for the culprit. Besides Memphis, most of the guys had left for the day, leaving an eerie silence. Where was everyone?

After I’d cleaned up the rest, I took the teetering pile of dishes to the community cabinets just a few huts down. Unable to see my feet, I tripped, almost sending the entire stack flying. Van’s laughter sent my cheeks on fire. I looked up. His back was turned as he hit Garrett’s shoulder. Maybe he hadn’t seen what happened. I rolled up to my feet, then I waited for a moment. Normally, he’d have been by my side in an instant, offering to help. Instead, the two continued on as if I were invisible.

Perplexed, I rewashed the dishes I’d dropped in the sand and returned them to the locker (in two trips this time). Dusting off my hands, I wondered where everyone was. I’d gotten used to differing groups working together on certain chores (I’d always hung with the guys), then the ladies disappearing on certain mornings to gossip (I assumed), but school should have started by now. It was as if the return of Peter and his men had distracted everyone, which was fine, but I needed something to distract me from thinking about how furious I was with Kaden.

The dwindling wood pile caught my eye and I decided an extra chore could help in my favor. After piling up at least fifty logs and splitting a few for kindling, I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my sleeve, surprised none of the guys secretly assisted when I wasn’t looking. Was there a tribe meeting somewhere I wasn’t invited to?

Off to my left, I heard laughter as a couple emerged from the tree line hand in hand. They both were toweling off their wet hair.

That does it! I want to see this lagoon.

Stepping through the brush, I headed toward the waterfall. Memphis and I had passed by the thick brush once before, but he wouldn’t let me go near the water. Something about the wrong day. I had no clue what he meant, but I had to see it. Heck, I’d get a bath while I was at it.

“What are you doing here?”

I yelped and swiveled around, meeting Peter’s hardened expression. “Nothing.”

“The lagoon is off limits. You need to return to the beach.”

Peter waited somberly until I turned around. What was hiding at the lagoon? I decided tomorrow morning I’d go early and find out.

A high-energy baseball game ensued on the beach. Shirts verses no-shirts with an amazing display of biceps and muscular chests, all sinewy and glistening with sweat, yet who did my stomach do flips for? I growled at myself. It was as if just because Kaden had told me I’d marry him someday, the choice had been made. No way. Not with his constant brooding.

Clearing my head, I scanned the group for Memphis. Kaden stuck out like a sore thumb, dressed as if snow was forecasted. The rising heat made me want to change into my dress. Why wasn’t he playing?

“Hey, Van.” I ran to the nearest team. “Can I play?”

“Uh.” Van’s eyes flickered at me.

“And don’t even think to put me on the ‘no shirts’ team,” I said with a laugh.

He forced a chuckle as everyone stared at me. He glanced over his shoulder at Kaden who stood on the sidelines, sharpening his knife. “Guys only, Abby.”

“What?” I stifled a nervous laugh. “You’re kidding, right?”

“It’s just tradition. Maybe another time,” he said plainly before taking his turn to bat.

I stood, clenching my jaw, as the sting of tears lit my eyes. No one would see me cry, especially not Kaden. Not over this. I slipped over to my tent and took a seat in front. Did Peter set up new rules? Or Kaden? Someone had to have said something. Just the other day, they fought over which team I could play on after I hit the Wiffle ball into the water on Dixon’s first pitch.

I glared at Kaden. Temptation to march over and give him a piece of my mind in front of everyone sped through me. If only he was just some punk, someone who didn’t really matter, someone who hadn’t risked life and limb to save me. But what did he save me from? What was real and what wasn’t anymore? Was this the way things were going to be now? I was his property. Hands off?

I disappeared into my tent and forced myself to lie down. Maybe a nap would fix this. Over the laughter and jeering, sleep wouldn’t come. I’d never felt lonelier in my life.

~~|~~

“This seat taken?” Memphis asked from behind me.

I jumped at his voice, at the fact someone acknowledged me, and nodded. “Of course you can sit here.” I scooted over as the logs crackled in the fire pit. “Where were you today?”

“You missed me, huh?” He set down his duffle bag and stretched his arms over his head.

“Well, yeah,” at least you’re not afraid to talk to me. I pushed my bare feet into the hot sand, warming them.

“I was doing errands. Dumb stuff.”

“Probably more exciting than what I had to do today.” I glanced over at the pile of clothes sitting on the table, all stitched and patched—my handiwork from afternoon to dusk.

“Probably.” A wide toothy grin covered his face, the dimples playing peek-a-boo into his cheeks, and I had to look away. I didn’t feel like being social and he was cute, too cute for his own good.

“I have a surprise for you.”

I hoped he wasn’t joking, because at this point, I was on the brink of tears and couldn’t handle anymore disappointment.

“Close your eyes.”

I laid down the sock I’d prepared for surgery and closed my eyes. My stomach did a quick cartwheel as I listened to him unzip his bag.

“Hold out your hands.”

I did as he suggested when the smell of cooked apricots and flakey pastry tickled my nose. Then something warm and heavy was laid on my fingertips.

“Oh, dear date of death, this isn’t what I think it is, is it?” I didn’t dare open my eyes; my mouth watered something crazy.

“Well, open your eyes and find out.”

Swimming before me were sliced apricots surrounded by golden brown islands of crispy dough. “How?”

Memphis lifted one shoulder and smirked. “I have my ways.” He produced two silver spoons.

I swiped a spoon before he knew what had happened and slipped it into the cobbler. The sweet tart goodness filled my mouth, sending my taste buds into overload. “Oh, this is heaven. I could…” Kaden’s warning not to lead on his brother zinged through me.

“Could what?” Memphis chuckled and matched me spoonful for spoonful.

“Hug you. This is perfect.”

He beamed and after a mere five minutes, the entire pie was gone. I loosened the button on my jeans.

“I made it myself.”

My jaw dropped. “Really?”

“Well, after your gravy masterpiece this morning, I had to show you my talents.”

I chuckled, feeling my tense shoulders loosen. “Hardly.”

“Now, I just need to show you the ocean,” he said quickly. “And all my promises will be fulfilled.”

Blown away by his kindness, I tried to think of something cute to say. “And the Ritz, too.”

“Oh, that’s right. The Ritz.”

I smiled; a real smile that reached deep inside me. Memphis might not have been the one I’d been initially attracted to, but he’d been the most stable. He cared when he didn’t need to. He wanted to make me happy. I could trust him, but mostly I could count on him to be there. Dependability had to rank higher than saving one’s life, right?

I reached over and squeezed his hand. “Thank you. I really needed that.”

His fingers squeezed, then interlaced with mine. He pulled me forward, bringing my face close to his. I could see what he wanted and I waffled. Did I want this, too?

My body tensed when he leaned in. A flickering light behind his shoulder caught my attention. I turned my head at the last second. Memphis’ lips brushed my cheek.

Moving away from him, my cheeks grew hot. The couple from earlier today passed by, lantern in hand, and nodded a ‘good evening.’

“I’m… sorry,” I murmured. “It’s just…”

“Crowded.” He smiled, massaging my hand with his. “We need time to ourselves.”

I bit my lip. The last time we were alone, we fell asleep and I ended up with nightmares of zombies. Even still, I hated the feeling I was doing something wrong. Why did they have to be brothers?

“Maybe,” I said, feeling guilty.

Date: 2015-02-03; view: 584