AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I realize I’m blowing any cover of pretending I’m cool right now, but I like you too much to play games. I’m thinking of you and wanted to tell you.
I’ve read over those words at least a dozen times, even with the excitement of the trolls. I just don’t know how to respond.
I can’t wrap my head around being able to date someone right now. I need to focus on Miranda’s training and keeping her alive. I can’t allow myself the kind of distraction a new relationship would be.
And then there’s the whole matter of bringing Andrew into this mess of a world. The first big baddie we had to deal with abducted Jake. It would be naive of me to think that anyone I care about will be at any less of a risk. And ignoring that would be selfish of me.
But there’s also the simple fact that I really like Andrew, and I don’t want to mess this up.
Shaking my head, I check on my bath and bring my phone with me. The tub still needs another minute or two, so I begin to pace in the bathroom, staring at my phone. Finally, I decide to respond.
Hey, sry for the slow response. Had some issues with a client and then had some property damage I had to deal with. I’ve been thinking of you too though. Promise :)
My thumb hovers over “Send” for a few seconds before I breathe, “Fuck it,” to myself and tap the screen.
I take and release a deep breath and return to the bath to shut the tap. After lighting a couple of vanilla-scented candles, I throw my clothes into the hamper and lower the lights before easing myself into the hot water.
Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing with my hands over my diaphragm so I make sure to pull the air in the proper way. In a pattern of four counts, I pull the air in, hold, and exhale through my mouth. I focus on nothing but the air flowing in, through, and then out of my body.
But after a few breaths, I still feel tense. I pull in a deep breath and slip myself under the water.
A throaty laugh, low and feminine, fills my ears or, more specifically, my mind. I open my eyes, but I don’t see my bathtub anymore. Instead, water far bluer and more copious than couldn’t ever fit in my bathtub surrounds me, all the way to a distant horizon. Even though I see only the wide ocean around me, I still feel the smooth porcelain against my naked back and butt, so what the hell is going on? My heart beat speeds up as I look around for something and see nothing but the surface of the water.
“Oh, sweet docent. How are you?” calls the feminine voice.
I don’t know who she is, but her voice is velvet enveloping me. I can’t bring myself to respond. I don’t know how I even would if I wanted to. I want only to hear her again. “You don’t need to answer me. It’s okay. I’m sorry I distracted you from your date the other night.”
Distracted me from my date? I wasn’t distracted from my date.
“You looked so happy looking up at the sky. Are you in love?”
The lady in red. It must be. At least now I can put some amount of a visage to the strange, even if sultry, disembodied voice.
She chuckles. “Yes. That’s me. Did you like how I helped you with your troll problem? I told them to stop fighting their bonds. I forced them to wait calmly for their own demise. It was the least I could do after causing that whole dragon turtle mess. I didn’t mean to chase him up from the ocean. Who knew those giant creatures had such sensitive ears?”
My mind can’t fully grasp what she’s saying as her words float away with the water draining from my bath. I’m suddenly shivering as goosebumps pop up all over my wet and exposed skin. I blink and I’m back in my bathtub, though it is now empty. I scrunch my eyes shut to hold onto what she said. Maybe ask for clarification. But she’s gone.
If she was ever really here to begin with.
Chapter 12
Miranda
WhenIwakeupWednesday morning, a series of short, half-thought-out texts from George fills my screen. I can’t really complain. I too am the type of person that will send six separate texts that could have been one.
You up?
Guess not. Nevermind.
Just, please come right here after you drop the kids off.
I’ll have coffee waiting! No need to stop!
I’m not in danger or anything. Just, something super weird happened
I’m ok though. Nothing BAD happened, just WEIRD
I immediately decide Jake has to take the kids to school today. The moment his car reverses out of the driveway, I rush to get to my own vehicle.
