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I snorted as my first two loads of laundry buzzed. I went over to the dryer, glad for the interruption. “Apparently not,” I muttered as I threw our clothes onto the table.
“I don’t know what exactly happened but I’m sure they were still worried about what happened with you last night. They were probably afraid that it would happen again.” Gavin said quietly as he started to help me fold the clothes.
“I understand that,” I grudgingly admitted it. “But today, when you guys were coming up the trail, I knew I could control my gift, especially with them.”
“Did you think that last night?” he asked quietly.
“No,” I acknowledged honestly. “Last night, I knew Noah and I needed you and Sierra if we were going to heal Spencer. I never had my gift act like it had a mind of its own. Today I knew if they were all with me my gift would behave, if that makes sense.”
He slowly nodded. “I guess. I think the more I use my gift the more I get to realize I need to trust my instincts with it. If I feel uneasy or start questioning myself, I stop. The only problem was last night I couldn’t do anything once I got that feeling.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m stronger now and your gift was powerless against my own,” I guessed aloud.
“It is,” Gavin nodded. “I feel it every time I mimic you. I see it when I allow myself to see the auras. It’s nearly blinding.”
“So yeah, now they’re mad at me,” I said bitterly. “They felt I disrespected them for compelling them. They felt like I didn’t give them the chance to think of another solution. I know I was wrong, but when I tried to talk to them, they refused to listen. They keep snubbing me. I guess the connected life for them isn’t what they imagined.”
“You can’t believe that,” Gavin commented bluntly.
“I do,” I said resolutely. “Why else are they hanging out with the Nons? Why didn’t they give me a chance to explain and let us talk it out?”
“Every relationship goes through roller coasters,” Gavin stated. When I gave him a pointed look he rolled his eyes. “Yes, Jemmy and Sierra are my first relationships, but I got to see two people who are madly, deeply, in love with each other my whole life. Give it to the morning and they’ll be more receptive. I’m sure of it.”
I snorted. “Gee, I can sleep so much better tonight now.”
I placed all our folded clothing into the basket. “Thanks for keeping me company and protecting me from the creeper.”
He gave me a lopsided smile. “What are best friends for?”
I almost smiled. He really was. I think in some ways I considered my guys my best friends, but sometimes having someone like Gavin in my life helped. He could always be an objective sounding board for me. My guys grew up with each other. Sometimes I think their judgement was clouded by that fact.
“True,” I feigned a smile and turned to leave.
“Ake,” he called to me. I turned. “Thanks for talking to me, too.”
“Anytime,” I said turning back around.
I got to the door when I remembered the guitar. “Can you do me a favor and take that back to the dayroom?”
“Chicken,” he mocked with a wink. “I can.”
I didn’t acknowledge his remark as I left the room.
I carried the basket of clothes and passed the dayroom, refusing to look in there. When I got back to the apartment, only our little lamp was lit in the living room. I assumed Drake had gone to bed. I was somewhat relieved. I didn’t want to see him right now. He would know immediately something was wrong, and I didn’t want to talk.
I emptied the basket onto the ottoman. I could put them away later. I needed to get back to get the sleeping bags. As I neared the laundry room I suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous. I held onto the wall and tried to make my way back into the laundry room. I wondered if I was so emotionally distraught that it was taking a toll on my body. As I entered the laundry room I grabbed the nearest folding table, trying to take deep breaths in my nose and blowing it slowly out of my mouth, willing the feeling to pass. I grabbed my drink taking another long pull from it. It didn’t help.
As I made my way to the first dryer, I felt my vision blur. Something was wrong was my first thought as the lights in the room went off. I heard the distinct sound of the door closing and the dead bolt being turned. I turned and saw someone coming towards me. I assumed it was Gavin.
“Gavin,” I muttered. “Something’s wrong…Turn back on the light.”
He advanced closer. My gift of empathy rose up. I felt his hunger, his desire. I felt his need to overpower me and validate himself as a man. I realized too late that the face that came from the shadows and into the weak dim lights of the hallway coming in from the window, wasn’t Gavin.
Cold dark eyes danced with satisfaction, a small cruel smile spread across Bradford’s lips. “Nope, not Gavin.”
His voice came from far away. Like he was at the end of a tunnel. My body was becoming numb. I couldn’t feel it. Panic rose within, and I tried to call my gift. I tried to make him leave.
I tried to lurch away from him. I tried to run to the door. My limbs were heavy. His hand shot out with quickness, hitting me across the mouth. I tasted the blood on my lip as it split open. “Damn teases,” he muttered almost manically. “Always spreading your legs for other people, but I try to be nice to you all and you snub me. You girls act like you’re so much better than me. Whores. You’re all whores.”
