Part 13 (1/2)

His head dropped into his hands the moment I said it and I felt like a first cla.s.s moron. His fingers pressed so hard into his forehead that the joints were bone white.

”You don't have to say anything,” I said, and not being able to stop myself, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

”It's like the place was meant for us.” His words were m.u.f.fled against his hands. I knew he didn't mean him and me.

It was selfish of me, but I was beginning to grow jealous of a dead woman. I wished he wouldn't have kissed me if he still harbored such feelings for her. I wanted to walk away, but I stopped myself. This wasn't about me and I had to be his friend right now.

”I know,” I sighed against his arm. ”While we're on this subject...” Shut up, Elle. Shut up, Elle. Shut the h.e.l.l up, Elle! ”What my dad did-I'm sorry.”

”Don't,” he said, his voice frighteningly steady.

”I have to apologize for what he did. I know why he stooped so low, but the reason will never justify his actions; I have to let you know how sorry I am it happened. It's disgusting and horrific, and I hope someday-”

”Stop!” He bellowed and it surprised me so intensely that I fell flat against the mattress. I automatically curled into myself-a natural reaction.

Nothing happened though. I opened my eyes to find Gabriel gawking at me from across the bed.

”Did you really think I'd hurt you?” He looked in pain as he crawled over to me and straddled my waist.

I pressed my lips together and shook my head.

”G.o.d, Elle.” He cupped the side of my face and softly slid his thumb along my cheekbone. ”I would never. I just wanted to stop you from apologizing for your father.” He did the thing I never seemed to get sick of, which seemed even more intimate than a single kiss-he laid his forehead against mine and we both closed our eyes. ”You never need to apologize for what he did. I know you are not him.”

”You'll forever connect me to his crime though. How could you not?” He rolled off of me and pulled me into an embrace, holding me tightly against his body.

”How could I not? How could I? It has nothing to do with you! Don't think like that, please.” He smiled against my temple and kissed me there.

I was coming down with another case of word vomit. Shut up, Elle! Don't even think about opening that mouth of yours.

”Sarah.” I said it a little too quickly, so that I couldn't stop myself.

”What about her?”

”You seem like you still have feelings for her, yet you are like this,” I pointed to his arms around me, ”with me. I just don't want to be lead...” I stopped, afraid I was beginning to sound like a jealous girlfriend.

”It's true that I miss her sometimes, but my love for her faded some time ago. It was out of my control.”

I let out a breath and stood up. ”You know-this place could have been made for my family as well. It makes me miss my mom a lot. The design of the interior was exactly her taste. I just wish I knew how she died.”

”I'm sorry. I was being selfish-I didn't even think about how this place would make you feel,” Gabriel sighed.

”No. We've both lost a lot and something will always make those difficult memories resurface. All we can do is survive for our lost loved ones. That's the only way their memories can live on.”

Gabriel smiled and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. ”Aren't you just full of wisdom.”

I laughed. ”Are you surprised?” I asked as I looked out the window. ”I'm hungry and I'm tired. Shall we see what looks good in the garden?” I held out my hand to him and he took it. It felt right.

We both had our problems and faults and I knew we'd overcome them without a hitch. As corny as it sounded, we just had to work at it together.

Chapter 20.

[ Gabriel ]

Elle and I both filled up a plate with fruits and vegetables. No more expired MREs, stale potato chips, and five-year old beef jerky. We sat down at the small dining table that had seating for four. Elle sat across from me and I waited for her to take the first bite. She had the biggest smile on her face as she stared down at the ripe strawberries, bright orange carrots, and the apple she had sliced into quarters. My plate mirrored hers, except I had added a couple of peaches, snap peas, and half of a peeled cuc.u.mber.

As soon as she bit into a strawberry, I dug into my meal. I wasn't used to such healthy and fresh options, so I didn't waste any time at all. My plate was cleaned off in a little over five minutes. The fruits were sweet and the cuc.u.mber had that same refres.h.i.+ng taste I had always known and loved.

Elle took my dish and brought it to the sink with hers. She turned on the faucet and started to rinse them off. Not being able to resist, I came up behind her and slipped my arms around her waist. She jumped slightly, but quickly leaned back into me, molding her body to mine. I rested my chin atop her head. She smelled like freshwater and strawberries.

”Ah, doing what a woman should be doing.” I snickered and she jabbed my ribs with her elbow.

”Oh, I didn't know you were a male chauvinist.” She turned around and wiped her wet hands all over my neck, then dried them off on my s.h.i.+rt.

”Oh, please! You know I'm teasing you.” I nipped at her ear.

”Of course, I do.” Elle laughed, shoved me out of the way, and headed towards the bedroom. She yawned and arched her back, stretching. ”It must be almost noon. Time for bed.”

”We're going to have to go back to being diurnal.” I stepped after her.

”Aw, but I so loved living the life of a vampire.” Her lips twitched and she disappeared into the room.

I used the bathroom and by the time I made it into the bedroom, Elle was dressed in another woman's pajamas and curled up on the bed. She made the bed look more comfortable than it probably was, but I wouldn't complain.

”May I join?” I stood at the end of the bed.

”You didn't even have to ask. It'll just be like sleeping on the cave floors, except actually comfy.”

I stripped down to my boxer briefs and lied down beside her, placing my hands behind my head. I stared at the ceiling, thinking about what we had been through just to make it this far. I wouldn't have met Elle if it hadn't been for what her father had done and I didn't like to think about that. It was just plain strange how things seemed to turn out sometimes, but there was no point in trying to change them or figure them out. s.h.i.+t happens and sometimes a miracle is born from that. My miracle was apparently Elle and she was laying on her side staring at me.

”What's on your mind?” I asked.

”I was about to ask you the same thing,” she said.

”You first.” I turned on my side and rested my head in my hand.

”I've been curious.” She rubbed her eyes for a good thirty seconds. I thought she wasn't going to continue, until she took a deep breath and turned back to me. ”Where did you get the map? Why are we here and not the rightful owners of this place?” She squinted, as if she was afraid of the answer.

”It's not some grand tale or anything.” I took my free hand and traced my fingertip along her collarbones. ”After the tsunami, I had been so, so-distraught. I just wanted to get away-go anywhere. In doing so, I came upon these three bodies, and you can guess who they were. I was in need of supplies and I looked into the man's backpack-there it was in all its glory.” I shrugged, not wanting to think about their burned and blistered bodies, especially the little boy's.

”That's sad.” She murmured as she scooted closer to me. ”Your turn.”

”I was just thinking about how everything led me here, to this place...to you.”