My Soul to Steal
Page 28
Kaylee, shes not going to
What happens, Nash? I demanded, stepping closer as the girls jostled their way out of the bathroom and into the hall.
Not that Sabines ever done this, but taking too much during a nightmare can leave the sleeper sick, unconscious, or He didnt finish. He didnt have to.
Dead? Chill bumps popped up on my arms at the memory of the dreams shed woven for me.
Nash nodded. But Sabine wouldnt
So you keep saying. But if youre so sure shes not dangerous, how come I dont see you offering up your dreams to keep her sated?
Nashs irises exploded into motion, and his brows rose. I could do that he began. But I didnt think youd want Sabineeven her astral formstraddling me in my sleep, literally riding my dreams.
Damn it. My cheeks flamed. But I couldnt help being a little relieved by the fact that he hadnt let that happen.
Fine. Then lets find her something more appropriate to eat. Okay?
He shrugged. At least thatll give us something to do, other than think about what we cant have.
I was confused for a moment, until his meaning sank in. By us, you mean you and Sabine, not you and me, dont you? Of course he did. Id just given them another reason to be together. Maybe I should have just let her snack on my cousins dance team.
Kaylee, no matter what she thinks she wants from me, what she needs is a friend. Traffic had picked up in the hallway, a sure sign the warning bell would soon ring. Youll just have to believe me when I say her problems are bigger than a bitchy cousin, an absentee dad, and a species identity crisis.
I blinked and felt my face flame.
Im sorry Nash said, before I could recover from shock enough to even think about responding. But the truth is that youve got it pretty good right now. Good grades, good friends, a decent place to live, and a dad who loves you so much he hardly wants to let you out of his sight. Sabine doesnt have any of that, and I dont have He swallowed, then met my gaze and continued. I dont have you, and without you, it feels like what I do have doesnt matter.
The sudden sentimentality and the yearning clear in his eyes threw me off and dampened my anger. I didnt know how to respond. I miss you, too, I said finally, and the swirling in his irises became frantic at my admission.
And suddenly we were talking about us.
Then whats wrong? Nash asked, trying to read the answer in my eyes.
I just I cant help thinking about how much she must mean to you, foryou to go through so much trouble for her.
Nash let his bag slide to the floor and stepped close to me. I could feel the delicious heat from his body and had to look up to see the urgent swirling in his eyes.
I love you, Kaylee. Nothings going to change that, including Sabine. But she does mean a lot to meas a friend I thought Id lost. Sabine and I have a history we cant just erase, and Im not going to drop her, like everyone else in her life has done. I dont want to drop her, because when she looks at me, she doesnt see an addict or a football player, or any of the other labels people keep trying to stick me with. She sees me. She sees what I was before, and she knows Im trying, and thats enough for her. I really need someone whos okay with me the way I am right now, Kay, and I know that cant be you. So why cant you let it be her?
I didnt want to answer. I wanted to be able to give him what he wantedwhat he neededto get through this and get back to the person hed been when wed met. But it wasnt that simple.
Because youll never see her coming, Nash. You think you know her, but you dont know how far shell go to get what she wants, because back when you knew her, she didnt have to chase you. She already had you. But now she has to work for what she wants, and shes really good. That was obvious, based on the fact that shed seamlessly sewn herself back into his life and hed accepted her like shed never been gone.
Youll just be sitting there one day, alone with her, talking about someplace you went back in the day, and the next thing you know it, youll be looking into each others eyes, and itll feel just like it used to. Shell kiss youor maybe youll kiss herand itll feel so good and familiar you wont even remember that you should stop it. So you wont. And then shell have you, and Ill have lost you, all because I did the right thing, and she was willing to play dirty.
Nash shook his head slowly. Thats not going to happen, Kaylee. I wish youd let me show you. He leaned into me, watching me so closely he seemed to see right through my eyes and into my soul.
He bent toward me, and my lips parted, my heart and body ready to take him back right then, even while my mind screamed in protest of abandoned logic.
My pulse raced, and his lips touched mine, just the slightest warm contact. Then a familiar voice at my back drenched our rediscovered heat with an auditory bucket of ice water.
Well, this looks promising!
I jerked away from Nash and turned to find Emma watching us both, her Cheshire cat grin firmly in place. It was, Nash mumbled, retrieving his bag from the floor.
What happens, Nash? I demanded, stepping closer as the girls jostled their way out of the bathroom and into the hall.
Not that Sabines ever done this, but taking too much during a nightmare can leave the sleeper sick, unconscious, or He didnt finish. He didnt have to.
Dead? Chill bumps popped up on my arms at the memory of the dreams shed woven for me.
Nash nodded. But Sabine wouldnt
So you keep saying. But if youre so sure shes not dangerous, how come I dont see you offering up your dreams to keep her sated?
Nashs irises exploded into motion, and his brows rose. I could do that he began. But I didnt think youd want Sabineeven her astral formstraddling me in my sleep, literally riding my dreams.
Damn it. My cheeks flamed. But I couldnt help being a little relieved by the fact that he hadnt let that happen.
Fine. Then lets find her something more appropriate to eat. Okay?
He shrugged. At least thatll give us something to do, other than think about what we cant have.
I was confused for a moment, until his meaning sank in. By us, you mean you and Sabine, not you and me, dont you? Of course he did. Id just given them another reason to be together. Maybe I should have just let her snack on my cousins dance team.
Kaylee, no matter what she thinks she wants from me, what she needs is a friend. Traffic had picked up in the hallway, a sure sign the warning bell would soon ring. Youll just have to believe me when I say her problems are bigger than a bitchy cousin, an absentee dad, and a species identity crisis.
I blinked and felt my face flame.
Im sorry Nash said, before I could recover from shock enough to even think about responding. But the truth is that youve got it pretty good right now. Good grades, good friends, a decent place to live, and a dad who loves you so much he hardly wants to let you out of his sight. Sabine doesnt have any of that, and I dont have He swallowed, then met my gaze and continued. I dont have you, and without you, it feels like what I do have doesnt matter.
The sudden sentimentality and the yearning clear in his eyes threw me off and dampened my anger. I didnt know how to respond. I miss you, too, I said finally, and the swirling in his irises became frantic at my admission.
And suddenly we were talking about us.
Then whats wrong? Nash asked, trying to read the answer in my eyes.
I just I cant help thinking about how much she must mean to you, foryou to go through so much trouble for her.
Nash let his bag slide to the floor and stepped close to me. I could feel the delicious heat from his body and had to look up to see the urgent swirling in his eyes.
I love you, Kaylee. Nothings going to change that, including Sabine. But she does mean a lot to meas a friend I thought Id lost. Sabine and I have a history we cant just erase, and Im not going to drop her, like everyone else in her life has done. I dont want to drop her, because when she looks at me, she doesnt see an addict or a football player, or any of the other labels people keep trying to stick me with. She sees me. She sees what I was before, and she knows Im trying, and thats enough for her. I really need someone whos okay with me the way I am right now, Kay, and I know that cant be you. So why cant you let it be her?
I didnt want to answer. I wanted to be able to give him what he wantedwhat he neededto get through this and get back to the person hed been when wed met. But it wasnt that simple.
Because youll never see her coming, Nash. You think you know her, but you dont know how far shell go to get what she wants, because back when you knew her, she didnt have to chase you. She already had you. But now she has to work for what she wants, and shes really good. That was obvious, based on the fact that shed seamlessly sewn herself back into his life and hed accepted her like shed never been gone.
Youll just be sitting there one day, alone with her, talking about someplace you went back in the day, and the next thing you know it, youll be looking into each others eyes, and itll feel just like it used to. Shell kiss youor maybe youll kiss herand itll feel so good and familiar you wont even remember that you should stop it. So you wont. And then shell have you, and Ill have lost you, all because I did the right thing, and she was willing to play dirty.
Nash shook his head slowly. Thats not going to happen, Kaylee. I wish youd let me show you. He leaned into me, watching me so closely he seemed to see right through my eyes and into my soul.
He bent toward me, and my lips parted, my heart and body ready to take him back right then, even while my mind screamed in protest of abandoned logic.
My pulse raced, and his lips touched mine, just the slightest warm contact. Then a familiar voice at my back drenched our rediscovered heat with an auditory bucket of ice water.
Well, this looks promising!
I jerked away from Nash and turned to find Emma watching us both, her Cheshire cat grin firmly in place. It was, Nash mumbled, retrieving his bag from the floor.
