Part 27 (2/2)
Nessa licked her lips. ”I'm thirsty, Ike.”
Ike frowned. ”You're dehydrated. It's from the blood loss.”
”I know. I'd still like some water.”
”Right.” He felt like an idiot as he dug into his pack and retrieved a water canister. He held it out to her, and she took it and drank. When she was finished she placed it at her side.
”How do you feel?”
”It b.l.o.o.d.y hurts, Ike.”
”Is there anything I can do?”
”You could give me some morphine.”
He chuckled softly. ”I wish I could, luv. Do you have any? I'm fresh out.”
Nessa groaned and s.h.i.+fted, trying to get comfortable. ”You don't have to stay in here with me, you know. I'll be all right.”
”You're saying you want to be alone?”
She glanced away and shook her head.
”All right then.”
Ike sat down at the edge of the tent, a.s.sault rifle draped across his lap. He tugged the flap open so he could see dawn fall over the campsite. Lavender turned to bright pink and then to yellow. He gazed back at Nessa and watched the slow rhythm of her breathing. Her brown eyes came up to meet his.
”What?”
He hesitated then grinned. ”I was just thinking how I'd like to buy you a drink when we get out of this mess.”
”Buy me a drink?” Her eyes went wide with laughter. ”Now you've lost it, Ike. How can you think about that at a time like this?”
”What else would you like me to think about?”
She smiled and shrugged. ”I think you're supposed to buy the drink before the s.h.a.gging.”
”I've always had bad timing.”
”Oh, I believe that.”
Ike's face grew serious and he slid a palm over his forehead. ”I just wish I met you before . . .”
”Before what?”
He slipped a hand over hers before gently lifting it. His fingers brushed across her ring finger and the diamond ring.
Nessa raised her eyebrows in realization. She gently pulled her fingers away and s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably. ”Well. The thing about that, Ike,” she swallowed nervously. ”It's actually a funny story. And you're going to think this is kind of strange.” She lifted her hand so the ring was visible. ”I actually bought this for myself.”
Ike blinked in disbelief. ”You what?”
”I did. I bought it for myself.” She began to chatter like an embarra.s.sed schoolgirl. ”You don't understand the pressure they put on me, Ike. My family, I mean. They want me to be successful and they want me to get married. He has to be successful, and Jewish, of course. You know, I thought I'd found that kind of man at one point. He was very polite, respectful, and successful. But eventually, what's it going to be, a husband or a career?
”We were engaged for six months and then he left. He took back his b.l.o.o.d.y ring. He met some girl in the States while he was on business. He said I was never around, that I was always traveling. Well, what do you think he was doing over there anyway? Traveling, on business, just like me.”
”b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
”Oh, I wish. You don't know how I wish he was. The truth is, I know why he left. He was always saying it. I'm a cold b.i.t.c.h. I'm heartless, he'd say.”
Ike leaned over and cupped the side of her face. Her skin felt cool and moist to the touch. ”Well that's not true. I know you're not heartless, luv.”
”Don't say that. I'm a b.i.t.c.h to you and you know it.”
He grinned. ”Maybe, but you have a heart. You just like to hide it.”
Nessa inhaled, her eyes wet. Ike's words seemed to soothe her at least. She turned her wrist, inspecting her hand. ”Anyway. When he broke it off, I couldn't bring myself to tell my family. I bought this.”
”A lot of money to please the fam, don't you think?”
”It's worth its weight. I'm not worried.”
”True enough. Why do you wear it? I don't see your folks around.”
Nessa sighed and rolled her eyes at Ike, the corner of her lips showing a smile. ”I need it to keep away the h.o.r.n.y mercenaries.”
”Whatever made you think that would work?”
They both laughed at that, but Nessa winced in pain.
”Honestly, it takes the pressure off. I don't have to think about it when I have it on. I forget it's there most of the time.”
Ike paused in thought.
”I know it's stupid,” she said. ”Don't pretend like it isn't.”
”The only thing stupid I see about it is, what happens if you run into some nice bloke while you're wearing that? Aren't you worried you're gonna miss an opportunity?”
She shook her head. ”I don't care all that much.”
”Well, that's a load of c.r.a.p.”
Ike leaned over and glanced outside the tent. The others snored peacefully, wrapped in their bedrolls. Otherwise, the forest sounded quiet.
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