Now I sit outside in the fog-consumed courtyard, spread across our pool chairs, even though it’s way too cold to swim today. It’s that in-between season—some days bright and warm, others grim and grey. I kind of like this better. More peaceful.
A loud cough interrupts my solitude, and I turn to see Elijah hovering over my chair.
“Are you sick?” I ask.
“No, it’s just kind of cold.”
“Well, you sound sick, so can you back up?”
“Um, no, because then I can’t see you through the fog.”
I glare at him. “Aren’t you bored?” He stares ahead and says nothing. “I won’t tell Enzo; you can go inside and watch TV or something.”
“No,” he says cold and sure.
“Okay.” I lie back down and close my eyes.
“Aren’t you bored?” he asks this time.
Which is strange because he hasn’t initiated any conversation with me since that night.
“No, I think a lot.” He doesn’t reply, so I keep going, “I think better when I’m alone.”
“What do you think about?”
Wow, he must really be bored.
“I don’t know, life and my future.” I shrug.
“What future?” He whispers.
My mouth opens, and I sit up to turn and face him. That’s when I see the smile on his face. “You’re an ass.”
His smile turns to laughter. “Come on, Ace, that was funny.”
“Yeah, it’s so funny that I’m gonna die.”
“Not on my watch,” he replies, reaching for my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear.
I should hit his hand away, but I can’t help that I still crave his touch.
I swallow nothing and hold his gaze.
After a minute, he says, “What’s with the outfits since I started?”
A grin fills my face. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
He returns the smile. “Well, I may not have been your primary protector, Ace, but I still noticed you, and you weren’t dressing like this with Enzo.”
I look down at my navy low-cut long-sleeve shirt and white sweat shorts that sit quite high near my hips when I’m sitting like this.
“It’s literally just regular clothes, you perv.” I push his hand off my head and sit back down facing the pool.
Yes, you don’t have to imagine as much with this outfit, but I’m not naked,for god’s sake,so I don’t like the insinuation—pointing out what I am, in fact, doing.
“Perv?!” he shrieks.
It comes out high-pitched, and I can’t help but laugh.
