The man pulled a small device from of his pocket, and I got a bad feeling. Someone needed to intervene.
I took Talen’s arm and smiled at him. “Please, just do as the man asked.” Growing up with many men around, I’d learned the art of calming them.
His expression softened. “Fine.” He stepped to the side with the uniformed man.
Thoroughly searched, Talen was waved forward, and we walked to our gate.
I adjusted my pack. “We have multiple flights today. Will we have to do that every time?”
Kevin patted my arm. “Nope. That’s it for the day. You survived that part.”
“It is Talen I worry about.”
He was walking a little ways in front of us with Monty. From his gesturing, he was still upset about the incident. I did not blame him. I would have been outraged by the treatment.
Kevin nodded. “Yeah, he’s like a loose cannon.”
“He is part beast.”
“He should have been the one named Brutus.”
“You really have an aversion to that name.”
He shrugged. “Kind of.”
“Only kind of? So you would not mind if I called you that from now on?”
“Do you really want to tell people your boyfriend is named Brutus? Hey, it would probably keep other guys away.”
“Boyfriend?” I said the word slowly. I assumed it was akin to the girlfriend term Rachel had used.
“Oh, I was just joking.”
“Were you?” I pressed. I wanted to discover if his feelings ran further than the mere physical.
“Only halfway. I wouldn’t mind the position.”
“If I understand what it is, I would not mind if you had it.”
He grinned. “I’m going to assume you do understand, and I’m taking it. I kind of feel like I’m back in middle school with this conversation, but no complaints.”
“Middle school?”
“It’s where you go when you are around twelve.”
“Oh, so I sound juvenile?”
“No. No. It’s a joke. Forget it.”
“You really need to get better at expressing your humor, Kevin.”
“I’ll try.”
I decided to let him off the hook. “All right, tell me everything I need to know about this flight.”
He smiled. “You’re going to find out in a few minutes anyway.”
Chapter Ten
Liam
I stared straight ahead. It wasn’t as if there was anything better to look at. I sure as hell wasn’t turning around to look at that damn inn. I never liked Charlotte being with Calvin, but knowing what he was most likely doing with her made me want to punch something—or someone. He was the same age as I was, but he seemed so much older. Maybe it was because he was from Energo. Apparently, adolescence didn’t exist there.
I couldn’t stand around any longer. I was sick and tired of sitting back and letting things happen. So what if he was her Gerard? I’d known her so much longer, and I understood her so much better. I was the one she was supposed to be sleeping with. I’d thought about it enough. I kicked a rock into the desolate street. I played it down, but the ghost town was giving me the creeps, which only added to my bad mood.
Henry came out. “It is not the rock’s fault.” He had to be there to relieve me. Had three hours really passed?
“Are you suggesting I kick Calvin instead?”
Henry laughed. “No. I would not suggest that at all.”
“I hate this.”
“I know you do, but you cannot change things.” Henry put a hand on my shoulder. “He is her Gerard. It is surprising they waited this long.”
“Great.”
“You can go back in.”
“Not a chance. You can sleep. I’m not going in there.” I knew I sounded like a whiny kid, but I didn’t trust myself not to do something stupid.
“They are sleeping. It is not like you are going to hear anything.”
I spun on him. “Damn it, Henry.”
He held up his hands. “What? I am just telling you the truth.”
“You’re just saying you heard them. I preferred pretending she said no.”
“What good would that do you? Pretending does not change the fact that she is completely off-limits. Get through this, and you can go home and find someone available.”
“Yeah, because there are a million girls as amazing as Charlotte out there.” Maybe at one time I would have considered it, but my feelings for Charlotte were only getting stronger. I wanted her so bad it hurt sometimes.
Henry dug his foot into the gravel road. “Maybe it is healthy that you are finally admitting it. James would pay to hear this.”
“For once, I wish he were around. He’d support me on this.”
“He would support you on what? Keeping the Essence away from her Gerard? Not a chance. It is like defying destiny. They belong together whether you like it or not.”
“So I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life—my ridiculously long life—watching the girl I love be with someone else?”
“Love? Wow, Liam. That is a big word.”
“It’s true. I’ve been in love with her since we were kids.” I found a new rock to kick. Once I started being honest, I couldn’t stop.
“Does she know? Did you ever tell her?”
“What does it matter? Wouldn’t it defy fate?”
“It would. I just wondered. I think she is in love with you, too, but it is not enough. You are not her Gerard. It is a feat in itself that you are on her Guard at all.”
“A feat?”
“A non-Energo man a Guardian? Unbelievable.”
I gave up on the rock. “She kissed me. Before she left for Alaska, she kissed me. I’m almost positive that’s what started it all.”
“I take it you have thought of that kiss often?”
“Way too much.” I’d stared at her stupidly afterward. By the time I could come up with the courage to talk to her about it, she’d already left.
“You sound like one of those men from Rachel’s books.”
“I didn’t realize you read romance books, Henry.”
He punched my arm. “I do not read them. She just talks about them. At least I am not losing my head over a girl.”
“No, you’re just missing one.”
“True. Very true.” He patted my back again. “Get some sleep, Liam.”
“I can’t.”
“You have to. You need your strength. Your job is to protect Charlotte, and you cannot do that job if you do not rest.”