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“We should get you a cell phone while we’re here,” Sierra said. “I bet I could add you to my plan.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want a pocket computer that kept so much of the human population enslaved.
“Or you could get your own plan if you’d rather.” As if that was my problem with what she’d said.
“I don’t need a phone,” I said. “You’re the only person I care to talk to, and I have no problem finding you if I need to tell you something. That’s the point of being bonded.”
“But the bond doesn’t let us talk. You know, with actual words?”
“You’re not getting rid of me by handing me a cell phone and saying you’ll call if you need a bodyguard,” I snarled.
She flinched, and I almost felt bad about my tone. Almost. I still remembered her conversation with Kylie last week about how bad I was for her dating life. I knew why she wanted to get rid of me. I was hurting her chances of being approached by guys.
“I’m not trying to get rid of you.” Her eyes swirled with hurt. “I’m trying to give us another way to talk.”
“Sure, and it had nothing to do with me scaring off all your potential suitors,” I muttered dryly.
“That’s what you think this is about?” The look of disgust she gave me cut deeper than it should have. “I’m perfectly capable of scaring off suiters all on my own. Trust me. The guy I’m looking to share my life with isn’t going to care about you.”
I opened my mouth, but the words stuck in my throat. I couldn’t tell her that the thought of some douchebag human touching her made me see red. It wasn’t even that I wanted her, I just couldn’t stand the thought of her with someone else. And I knew that made me a hypocritical asshole.
She stood, taking her empty cup to the trash and then walking out of the shop without a backward glance.
I let her go even though every part of me wanted to run after her and demand we work this out. If I ran after her now, it would only make things worse. She needed space from me, the same space I’d been after when I suggested we go out today.
I waited for a while to see if she’d come back. When she didn’t, I headed to one of the countless phone stores in this mall. She wanted me to have a cell phone, I could get a damn cell phone. I had a feeling it wouldn’t be enough of a peace offering for Sierra, but it was a start.
Way too many hours later, I walked out with the simplest, least “smart” phone I could buy tucked in my back pocket.
I could feel that extra heartbeat in my chest telling me Sierra was still close by. It was the only thing keeping me from losing my mind. I’d gotten used to being able to hear her all the time, being close enough to feel her proximity even without the bond.
What had I been thinking, believing that space would help? Sierra Meyers was in my blood now, buried deep under my skin where I couldn’t get rid of her if my life depended on it. There was no amount of space that would make me forget about her. I was a fool for even trying.
I followed the pull in my chest until I saw her. She was sitting on one of the cushioned benches next to the metal-and-glass railing overlooking the lower level of the mall. Her head was bent, red waves hanging over her shoulders and hiding her face from my view.
Silently I sat beside her and placed the scrap of paper I’d gotten at the phone store with my number on it in her lap.
“I promise to keep the thing in my pocket in case you ever want to reach me.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said softly. “I’m sorry for running out on you. You didn’t ask for this job, and I know chasing me around isn’t how you want to spend your life.” She exhaled heavily. “You literally can’t get away from me.” She let out a bitter-sounding laugh. “Of course we’re going to get on each other’s last nerve.”
“Look at me.” My voice held a note of pleading, and for once I didn’t even care. “I’m not going anywhere, and it’s not just because you’re a job. You irritate the hell out of me, but you’re also not bad company. If I have to be a guardian to someone, I’m glad it’s you.”
She gave me a tiny smile. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Where are we going next?”
Her smile widened, becoming real. “You’ll see.”
Eleven
Nathaniel
A firing range.She took me to a firing range.
I shouldn’t have been so surprised. I knew she carried, or at least it was an easy conclusion to draw since she’d mentioned shooting the lord of Hell prior to stabbing him with the iron stake. I’d never actually seen her with a gun before today though.
Now we were standing at a lane, both decked out in neon-green earmuffs and wearing plastic safety glasses. The glasses were fucking annoying, and it wasn’t like my eyes were in danger of any permanent damage, but Sierra had threatened to kick me out if I didn’t keep them on. So I was wearing the damn things.
