Page 82 of Massacre Monday

“Is that how many you want?”

“I want as many as you’ll let me have.”

She considers me for a long moment, as if seeing a future vision before her eyes.

When we reach the glass doors off the sagging wooden porch, I throw them open, and we step inside the large space. The floor is cleared to concrete, and the walls are bare to the studs. Bones of an old kitchen are visible through an arched hallway. But the reason I wanted the place lies to our right.

Pen gasps and wanders over to the wall of clear doors leading to the beach and the blue-green ocean roaring up on the sand without a break in the view. I follow, kicking off my sandals, and she does the same. With a girlish giggle, she takes off to the water, and I pursue her as we splash into the tepid waves that rise to our shins.

A frothy one rolls up, and she tries to sprint away, but I grab and lift her until she nestles her legs around my waist. The foam rushes over my knees, but I keep her safely above it, and we hold each other’s gaze.

Her eyes have sparkly bits of gold I never noticed, and the longer I look into them, the deeper I fall for her.

“I think I could love you, Ryan Cardell.”

“I think you already do. You just don’t know it yet.”

She fakes a scoffing breath, but I use her open mouth to press mine to hers, relishing her contented hum. We embrace tightly as the force of water swirls around us.

I won’t let her go, no matter how high the tide gets.

twenty-nine

Once we’refinished strolling through the gutted houses along the small lane, I finally choose which we’ll make our own. The big one in the middle makes the most sense.

As we walk through it, I feel like I’m playing house. A little too young and inexperienced. Getting married to a stranger. Not a complete unknown, but a man I’m not very sure of. His moods change so rapidly, he throws me off. I’m someone who thrives on seeing my opponent coming.

Is that what he is? My enemy?

He calls me his partner, and that’s what I long to be, but is hemine?

I guess time will tell. And if not, my brothers and father will kill him. They won’t even care what the society says.

In the main bedroom, or what will become that space, I envision where the bed will go, but it’s like I’m picturing a future that won’t happen. Or not to me, at least.

“What is it?” Ryan asks as he stares at where I’m looking. “We can change the walls if you want. I thought that this one could be moved here?—”

“I have classes, you know, homework and studying to do.” My arms cross to emphasize my point. “I’m not a famous hockey player on campus who can get straight As because they need their star for the big game.”

He stands still as a statue. When the words leave my mouth, I half regret them, but seeing a look of pain cut through his face makes me wish I’d kept them to myself.

“I took care of your work for next week.”

“What? How?”

“I wrote your paper for English. Submitted your quiz for stats. Downloaded the notes for Criminology as well as a summary sheet for the mid-term.”

“Ryan…those aremyclasses. How am I supposed to learn if you do everything for me? If youcheat?”

Black hair tousled perfectly, he grips a chunk until it’s disheveled. “I need you here with me this week.”

A gnawing discomfort fills my belly as my brow lowers. “Why?”

The sound of his stubble brushing against his hand is the only answer for a long moment. Finally, he peers at me with his intense blue gaze, and I almost fall to my feet, obeying whatever is about to come from his mouth. Thatlookmakes me crumble.

He wets his bottom lip before he answers. “Because I think someone’s after you. I haven’t quite figured it out. Notwhoorwhy, but it’s pretty obvious you’re getting hunted, and I have my suspicions. To protect you, I brought you here.”

“To protect me...” I trail off, trying to digest what he’s saying.