Page 39
Story: The Gargoyle Beguiles the Beauty (Nocturne Falls #17)
There’d been no sign of Sydney either, something that left him feeling bereft in a way he hadn’t expected. He’d had no reason to think she was going to show, but he’d clung to the possibility, building it up in his mind.
His disappointment was his own fault. Didn’t stop the hollow feeling in his gut. The sense that things between them were really and truly over. He wasn’t just sad; he felt like he was grieving.
Strange to grieve for something he’d never actually had. One kiss. That was as close as they’d gotten to something more than friendship, but then she’d said that was all she wanted. And that would have been fine. Well, it would have been better than nothing.
He was leaving anyway.
And she was human.
But they could have at least been friends until he headed back to Chicago. Now they weren’t even that. Now, they were nothing.
Sure, maybe in a few more days, she’d come around and things would return to the way they’d been, but he doubted it.
It was more likely that she’d never look at him the same way again. If she even looked at him.
Living next to her, knowing she was just a few steps away, was going to make the next five months feel like an eternity. Maybe he’d join a gym after all. It would give him a place to go instead of being home all the time. Of course, that would leave Sugarbelle alone, and he didn’t like that idea.
He’d just have to keep doing what he was doing and try not to dwell on Sydney. Although he already missed her, and it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours yet.
Why was she so present in his mind? He’d only known her a few days. But they had spent some time together. Shared a couple of meals. Talked.
Was that really enough for him to feel like this?
It was if he was falling for her.
That couldn’t be it. He was still recovering from Veronika, something that had been underlined by her appearance.
But Sydney was the anti-Veronika. She’d given up her career and her business to chase what she’d truly wanted. Her dream of a family. A traditional life. A simpler future.
The same dream he’d had.
Except she hadn’t pictured her life including a shape-shifter.
Well, he hadn’t pictured a human ex-supermodel in his.
That was sort of comparing apples to oranges, but it gave him a small amount of comfort.
Time ticked by, and eventually, the platform vibrated to let him know his shift was over. He pressed the small hidden button to lower it. Other than seeing Sugarbelle, he wasn’t that interested in going home.
It would just remind him of what might have been.
When the platform touched bottom, he climbed off, giving a nod to Justin, his replacement. “Morning.”
“Morning.” Justin was already in gargoyle form, his voice rough from the change. “How was it?”
“Pretty standard shift. Nothing major.” Adam morphed back to human.
Justin raised one clawed hand as he headed for the platform. “Have a good one.”
“You, too.” Adam walked out, making sure to close the doors behind him, then walked the Basement corridor to the same steps he’d brought Sydney down.
At street level, he took his usual route back home. It was nice being able to walk instead of having to drive or take public transportation. He enjoyed being out in nature and the quiet at this hour. It was so different from the city, where it was never really quiet.
When he’d first arrived in Nocturne Falls, the peacefulness had been odd, almost unnerving.
Now he was a little more used to it and found it soothing.
He could almost imagine he was the only person in existence.
Knowing it wasn’t true was the only reason it was enjoyable.
In reality, that would be his worst nightmare.
He inhaled, catching the sweetness of some night-blooming flower.
It was a beautiful evening. Stars twinkled overhead.
Maybe he’d take Sugarbelle for a walk when he got home.
She’d probably need it, and he wasn’t tired enough to go straight to bed.
It had been the same when he’d worked as a bouncer.
He’d needed an hour or two to wind down.
Back then, that had usually resulted in him making breakfast for Veronika before she headed off to work at the law firm. Once she left, he’d sleep.
There were no lights on at Sydney’s when he walked toward his house. Just an observation on his part, but that suggested she was in bed. That was good. It meant she wasn’t so bothered by what had happened that she was unable to sleep.
He’d hate to think he’d caused something like that. At least the bread was no longer on her front porch. That was also good. Unless a squirrel had dragged it off. If a squirrel could manage something like that.
He unlocked his door and went inside. Sugarbelle came running, little whines of urgency spurring him to move faster. He grabbed the leash he’d started keeping by the front door, snapped it onto her collar, and took her straight outside.
She was barely down the steps when she squatted.
He laughed softly. “You needed that, huh? Good girl for not doing it in the house.” At least, he hoped she hadn’t. He hadn’t looked yet.
When she finished, he led her down to the sidewalk. He wouldn’t take her too far, just a block or two, just to give her some exercise so she could go back to sleep with him.
Despite the dark, she was happy to go, trotting along with her tail in the air, stopping to sniff things and just thoroughly enjoying herself. It was nice to see. He was glad to be with her and very glad he wasn’t the only person left in existence.
He still missed Sydney.
He walked Sugarbelle up two blocks in the opposite direction of the park so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea about where they were headed, then back to the house.
This time, there was a light on at Sydney’s that he hadn’t noticed before. Looked like maybe the kitchen. Was she up?
Didn’t matter. Wasn’t because she wanted to talk to him. He pulled his phone out just to be sure.
His text remained unanswered.
He took Sugarbelle inside, gave her fresh water, then toed off his shoes and made himself a sandwich. He took it outside and sat on the steps to eat, leaving the back door open. Sugarbelle soon joined him, running down into the yard to chase fireflies, which he quickly realized she was terrible at.
He ate, trying to focus on his dog and not what his neighbor might be doing. Or thinking. Or feeling.
He ate the last bite, brushed off his hands, and leaned back. Sugarbelle was having a great time, so he was content to let her be.
The quiet was … actually not that quiet. He heard something, small, soft sounds. He tipped his head, attempting to hone in on where they were coming from.
Next door. Sydney’s. He got up and padded through the grass to the fence, listening hard. Soft gulps and little gasps. A sniff. Was she crying?
The breeze shifted, and he caught a whiff of her scent, a mix of her perfume and some kind of sweet, lemony fragrance that he thought might be soap or shampoo.
She was crying. He swallowed, his heart aching for her.
He put his hand to the fence, wishing he could do something for her but knowing in his bones that whatever he might do would only make things worse. If she wanted to talk to him, she knew how to make that happen.
He stood there, filled with angst, powerless to help the woman he truly cared about. He leaned his head against the fence and whispered the things he wanted to say. “Sydney. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
One quiet sob followed, then silence.
Then, “Adam?”
He closed his eyes and sucked in air. “Yeah, it’s me.”
More silence. Enough that he thought that was all she was going to say, but she spoke again.
“Mackie misses Sugarbelle.”
He smiled. “She misses him, too.”
A few seconds went by and turned into a full minute of nothing.
He wasn’t sure what to do, but he wanted to keep talking. “You okay?”
Her answer came without hesitation. “No.”
He frowned. “I’m really sorry. For all of it.”
A sigh of resignation. Or defeat. “It wasn’t all your fault.”
He didn’t know what to say to that, because it was his fault. Veronika never would have come here if he hadn’t been here in the first place.
Sounds of movement, like she was changing position. Or getting up to go inside. He lifted his head to stare at the sky. At least they’d had a few?—
“Do you, uh, want to come over?”
He jerked back, surprised by how close she was. She had to be right on the other side of the fence. “Do you want me to?”
“We could talk. Just here, in the backyard.”
“Sure, that would be good.” It would be great, but he didn’t want to overdo it and make her change her mind. “I can jump over the fence. If that’s all right with you.”
“You can jump over this fence?”
“Yes.” It was eight feet, but that was nothing for his abilities.
“Okay.” The answer came from farther away again. She’d moved back. Out of his way.
“All right if I bring Sugarbelle?”
“Yeah. Mackie would love that.”
“Just a second.” He turned and found Sugarbelle sniffing a dandelion, closed tight for the evening. He picked her up, holding her securely in his arms, then backed up, took a few steps, and made the leap.
Table of Contents
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- Page 39 (Reading here)
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