A crow swoops down from the trees lining the cracked concrete driveway to land on the metal roof of the carport. It makes little clanging noises as it jumps about. The sun set hours ago, but this isn’t the first time the bird has done this. It’s been with me this whole time. At least when it was still evening and the sun glinted off the metal roof, I could understand the bird’s fascination. Having it come back at night feels a little bit ominous.
It could be that Shadow feeds the birds in his yard and they like being around. I could imagine him doing it, bringing out seed at night to fill the bird feeders, and probably the squirrel feeders too. Maybe he makes those fun puzzle feeders for smart birds like crows and ravens.
I’m way overthinking all of this and shouldn’t be here.
At all.
The crow gives a squawk and flies off in a woosh of flapping wings, right before the side door of the house opens.
Darned birds are smart.
I’ve been crouched in this position for hours. My legs are numb and the rest of me is past uncomfortable, but all of that is forgotten as an instant adrenaline rush spikes through my blood.
A dark clad figure steps outside.
Holy shit,he’s tall. Taller than I remember. Broader too. Shadow was twenty-one when he saved me from the fire, I guess in the five years that passed he’s filled out.
He turns around to lock the door, giving me a full view of the bowed angel on the back of his vest. My gaze quickly travels down to his rock hard ass in worn jeans. He’s wearing heavy biker boots like my dad does. Nothing is weird about his appearance except that he already has a black helmet with a full dark visor on, as well as gloves. A black bandana hangs at his neck.
It’s summer. A warm night. Why the gloves? Why come out of the house with the helmet already on? Sure, a bandana is great to cut a cold wind, but is it actually all that cold riding on a night sticky with humidity?
There’s a good chance that I’m way overthinking this.
I promised my dad and I promised myself that I’d leave if there was nothing weird going on. My gut is all cramped up, and that alone feels wrong.
It’s the last thing I should do, but I act on instinct alone.
I get up, ignoring the pain and tingles that spread through my legs as my muscles protest angrily. I’m also dressed entirely in black, but I put my hair up in a messy bun and I’m wearing sneakers. I didn’t want my nefarious actions to be obvious if a neighbor saw me. I look like I’m going out for a run. Or to burglarize a house…
I race around the carport and before Shadow can start the bike, though he is straddling it, I walk over to stand directly behind it. I cross my arms like I mean business, though on the inside, I’m trembling. I can barely breathe.
Five years.
Five years of wondering, of dreaming, of searching, of thinking about this man, and he’s righthere. Veryreal. No longer ashadowat all.
His head turns, catching the flash of my movement. His hand shoots to the small round mirror on the bike and he adjusts it, tilting it so he can see me.
He gets off the bike so fast that it’s like watching a cat turn around. All lithe agility. He plants his feet wide and stares me down, hands balled into fists at his side. He doesn’t take the helmet off or lift the visor.
He stares me down, silently. Ominously.
My heart races so fast that I feel half-sick with it. It leaps right into my throat, choking me. I figure I have two minutes before Shadow disappears back into the house, locks me out, and calls my dad.
This is a mess. I’ve made it. I need to clean it up. It’s pointless starting with a friendly greeting. I’ve gone too far for that. I’ve got one chance to make him listen. One chance, and that’s it.
Shadow crosses his arms. His leather jacket parts, revealing a black t-shirt that rides up just a little over hard abs. A golden sliver of skin is illuminated by the carport’s lights and the security light mounted further back, on the corner of the house.
“I’ve had this hole,” I blurt stupidly, tearing my eyes away from that tiny bit of exposed skin that feels so vulnerable.Nice. Great way to introduce yourself.“It’s a you sized hole,” I quickly correct. “It’s been there since the night of the fire. I don’t know why you won’t see me, but I want you to know I’m not here forpity or gratitude.” I stupidly hold out a hand, like I want him to step forward and grasp it. “How about friendship?”
In one swift movement. Shadow tears off his helmet.
His shoulders heave as the light shines right on his face, revealing dark, closely cropped hair. The scars run down the side of his face, disappearing into his collar. His face is a masterpiece, even though his jaw is clenched so tightly that the shiny skin on the scarred side locks up, giving his face an uneven tilt. He has a strong nose, a deep brow, long, thick lashes, and the darkest eyes. I don’t remember the golden specks from the night of the fire, but it could be the way the light is shining on him.
He stabs one gloved hand up to the scarred side of his face. “You’ve come,” he growls. “You’ve seen me. You’ve sated your curiosity. I don’t want friendship.”
He slams his helmet onto the seat of his bike, turns, and walks to the door. He jams the key so roughly into the lock that I’m shocked it doesn’t snap off. He bangs noisily into the house, pulling the door shut so hard behind him that the whole building rattles.
I’m frozen. Stupidly.
