Page 17 of Black and Brown

“Yes.”

“I heard they’ve only been together a year.”

Mirage bit his bottom lip until it turned a light shade of pink.

“Do you think we’ll be as in sync with each other as they are?”

Grace didn’t hesitate. “I think we already are.”

“Really?” Mirage blinked.

“Before I met you, I heard your heart beating when you passed the door to the silent suite. You may be a mirage to others…but you’re not to me.”

Mirage attempted to conceal a shudder, but Grace saw it.

“Today, I felt you moving in my direction, and it got stronger before you came into the room. It was so strong that it took a moment before I could turn and face you.”

Grace stunned even himself at the declaration.

“Tomorrow, I’ll feel when you wake up in the morning…so imagine what I’ll feel from you in one year, Mirage.”

Grace turned to leave.

“I’ll see you in the morning.”

Mirage

Mirage awoke at 5:00 a.m., and the first thing he thought was…did Grace feel that?

He dressed in his brown camo pants and jacket with the hood before he went in search of food.

As usual, the cafeteria was empty except for a couple of workers behind the line.

He figured they must have already prepared food shipped in because there was no way they could offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a staff of four people.

His nutritionist told him the organization was very selective about personnel, preferring to hire retired military or government contractors who’d undergone extensive background checks. And anyone who accepted employment had to live there and was not granted much outside contact.

Mirage took his tray of boiled eggs, turkey sausage, and grits with extra butter—he had to indulge a little—outside and sat at one of the patio tables.

He trained for twelve hours a day, outside of the time he was being analyzed in the labs.

Before Mirage could get comfortable, a voice that sounded like a ghost who tormented dreams made his breath hitch.

Mirage turned to find Grace sitting in the shade at the farthest table from the door.

He had on a different trench from the one from yesterday.

This one looked like soft, breathable cotton, with another low-riding hood.

Mirage couldn’t see his eyes while he hid from the sun.

“I eat here most mornings before training. This is my first time seeing you.”

Grace’s expression didn’t change. “I eat alone.”

Mirage returned to his food and sprinkled some salt and pepper on his eggs. “So what are you doing here then?”

“Watching you.”