“Do they always do that?” I asked Memphis.
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Don’t get me started.”
The slouch in his shoulders told me that he wished he were the important one, the one who had the news.
“Let’s go clean up the fish.” He motioned to the cleaning station. I followed reluctantly.
“He’s not telling me everything,” I confessed.
“Get used to it. He doesn’t tell me either. If I would have known…” His voice trailed off.
“Known what?”
His cheeks flushed slightly. “Never mind. Let’s just clean up the fish.”
“No, tell me.”
He paused, staring at me. His big blue eyes revealed his insecurity. “How pretty you are. I would have fought heaven and hell for you, Abby.”
His admission took my breath away. I ducked my head down, my cheeks blazing.
“Come on,” he said, chuckling. “Let’s get the fish on the fire.”
I followed and forced a smile as my new dilemma hit me. From the openness of his feelings, Memphis didn’t know future Kaden and I were supposedly married. Holy, crap. Married. I almost started laughing. Ever since I’d learned of Advice Meetings and boys, that’s all I worried about. And now, knowing it was Kaden, I wanted to take back the knowledge. I wouldn’t allow it. I would choose.
Memphis rinsed off the fish and pulled out their bones. I kept my distance.
“Can you explain the timeline thing again?” I asked. “You said we time jumped or something.”
“Oh.” His shoulders straightened. “The wrinkle, you call it. It links to a future timeline, but it’s not necessarily our future. Uncle Jeb says the future is uncertain. Just because you decide today to do something doesn’t mean if given the opportunity again you’d make the same choice. But then again, Aunt Clara says, ‘Who ya love, will be who ya love, and ya can’t fight it.’” I smiled at his sudden southern drawl before the implication hit yet again. Did I believe in fate? Or free-will. “And since the EA’s messed with time and so has Kaden, I’d say fate is screwed. Besides…”
My eyes wandered over to Kaden. They were still in a serious discussion. My future flashed before my eyes and my stomach roiled.
Memphis filleted the fish and my mouth suddenly went dry. “What about the bait thing?”
“That’s a very real possibility.”
“Why would it matter if time isn’t linked?”
Memphis lifted one shoulder. “Who knows? That’s a question for your Complement.”
Crap. I knew it.
I continued to watch as their conversation turned more heated. What were they arguing about? I could only guess. That Kaden shouldn’t have dumped me off and left.
“Where are Uncle Jeb and Aunt Clara anyway?” I asked.
“At the…” Memphis trailed off, then waggled his finger at me. “Naughty question.”
“What?” I lifted my hands. “Why can’t I know about this stuff? I’ve been here over a week now and you’ve even stopped blind-folding me.”
“Well… that was a freebie. Probation means probation.”
“Then how do I get off probation?”
Memphis’ lip curled and he shot me a look—one that sizzled my spine. I yanked my head backward. He couldn’t mean what his look implied. Memphis arched a brow and nodded his head. Then he placed the fish in a grilling basket and walked over toward the fire.
The reason I wasn’t at the main homestead, but here communing with a group of attractive single males clicked. If I became attached to Memphis or one of the others, then I’d confide in them, or better yet stay for love rather than just asylum. Lana needed me to have something to lose. Smart.
Memphis looked over his shoulder at me, the coy grin still on his lips. “Just one kiss’ll do it.” His eyes lit up as he waggled his eyebrows. “Well, that’s if it’s convincing enough.”
I sucked in a large breath, imagining such a kiss. But it wasn’t with him. Kaden flashed through my mind. And I blushed as my eyes found him storming toward me, a deep scowl embedded in his face. I could see him grabbing me and kissing me, hungrily, right here.
“Now would be a good time,” Memphis said low and he reached for me and tugged.
Caught off balance, I fell into Memphis’ chest and he steadied me. I looked up into his inquiring face. After Kaden’s admission, I just wanted to piss him off and show him who was boss of my feelings though my body wanted something entirely different. If there was a difference between the two timelines, he couldn’t manipulate me with my future.
Kaden stopped midstride and glared at us.
“Hey, Brother. Care to dance?” Memphis laughed and dipped me down. Once upright again, I pulled out of his grip and smoothed my hands down my jeans.
Kaden’s eyes lost focus for a moment, then he passed us and jogged up the stone staircase without a word.
With a sense of longing, I watched him escape. “Where’s he going?”
“Who knows?” Memphis shrugged. “Don’t worry about him. Ready to eat?”
I shook my head, my appetite ruined. Nothing sat right with me. Not Memphis’ affection. Not Kaden’s admission he was my husband; nothing.
“Hey, Abby,” Van called out while walking past. I waved absentmindedly.
Nothing but that—the gentlemen of the colony. I chuckled on the inside, remembering I’d believed them to be criminals. They’d been nothing of the sort and they were most definitely a far cry from the nerds in my DNA matebook. Had Lana pushed me to be with Memphis to spare my feelings since Kaden spent so much time with Jewels?
“Do you think he’s off with her?” I muttered to Memphis.
“Who Jewels? Probably.” Memphis snorted. “It’s ironic that she’s the only one who understands him.”
I rolled my eyes but the words stung. Kaden swore he didn’t have a thing with her. How could he deny that? I knew better and I resolved to catch him in his lies.
“Well,” I said while dragging my fingertips over Memphis’ shoulder. “I’m famished. Let’s eat.”
I hoped somewhere in the shadows Kaden lurked and took in an eyeful. After his confession, he’d see I wasn’t so easily swayed by what future-me decided. I’d choose and I still hadn’t made up my mind yet. Though I tried to make up my mind, my body had different ideas, confusing the hell out of me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
After sleeping in a tent of my own, I woke up refreshed for the first time since arriving at the colony. Somewhere in the night I’d resolved to ignore what Kaden has said. I mean, if merely admitting we were married was his way of wooing me, I wanted nothing of it. Whatever had happened in my Complements timeline had nothing to do with mine and his frequent mood swings were a deal breaker. No. I was smarter than that, and I was in control of my feelings. I wouldn’t fall for Kaden, no matter how cute he was. In fact, I’d devised a contingency plan where, need be, I’d be ready for a quick getaway after I’d stashed away a few necessities. In the meantime, I’d act as if living in the colony had been the answer to my prayers.
Peeking out of my tent at the sleepy little village, I scanned the outdoor kitchen for signs of life. Typically Lana would brew coffee and start breakfast, though people took turns. Her absence, considering Peter had just returned, made sense.
Digging in the pantry, I found flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, eggs, bacon grease, and fresh biscuits. I stowed away two in my pocket for the future before starting on some gravy. Adding fuel to the outdoor stovetop, I whisked my ingredients in a pan and waited for the sauce to boil.
“You’re up early.” I jumped at Kaden’s voice and almost dropped the fork. He chuckled. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” Peering at him from the side, I studied him as he helped himself to some coffee I’d percolated before starting the gravy. “Just trying to be useful,” I added.
He grunted between two sips as he leaned against the counter and gazed longingly at the wisps of f
og floating off the water.
“What are your plans today?” I asked, still awestruck by the bomb he’d dropped on me. How he could act as if nothing had happened yesterday infuriated me.
“Not sure yet.”
He turned to me, his damp dark hair catching the morning light and his face lit up in a mischievous smile. He’d apparently been up before me and had washed and shaved, and his sexy smooth face made me feel conflicted again. Then I frowned, feeling self-conscious and ran my fingers through my greasy hair. Bits of sand had taken residence on my scalp. Though I’d taken a sponge bath and washed my hair everyday with a bucket of lukewarm water, I still didn’t feel clean. If only the lake wasn’t freezing, I’d dive in and rinse off.
Just then, Van and a few of the guys sauntered by. I turned and smiled, expecting them to be all over my biscuits and gravy. Kaden nodded and the rest of them responded, then they kept walking as if I didn’t exist. What the?
I bit my lip and continued to whisk the gravy, secretly studying my reflection in the nearby pan lid. Did I look that bad? I lifted my arm a tad and nonchalantly sniffed. My suspicions were confirmed. I needed a bath bad.
“What’cha cookin’, good lookin’? Smells good.” Memphis came from the trees, his blond hair slicked off his forehead. His dimples drilled deliciously into his smooth cheeks.
I smiled. Forever the ace in my pocket. “Gravy. Want some?”
He reached for the nearest plate and I drizzled the delectable golden liquid over an opened biscuit. He grinned widely as he took the first bite, then he grabbed the counter and faked like he’d fainted. “Girl. You’ve been holding out. You can cook.”
I handed Kaden the second plate with a smug smile, hoping for a similar, yet cool Kadenish kind of reaction. He took it silently, helped himself to a bite, then moved to the fire. Memphis followed, oohing and aahing behind him. I waited, trying not to be hurt over his silence, and joined the two with my own plate, forming a triangle of awkwardness.
“Brother,” Memphis said, eyeing him playfully. “She is a keeper.”
My glance slipped to Kaden as his eyes stayed on the plate. He smirked, his jaw working on another bite. Did Memphis know? Or was he just eerily close to the truth. Then my eyes locked with Kaden’s and he held me there. Why was he acting so indifferent? Say something, will you? At least he could tell me I was a good cook. He shrugged and kept eating. I wanted to throw my fork at him.
“Well,” I said after finishing another bite, “this was my only secret to help me pass probation, yet only you boys were able to enjoy it.”
And that was partly the truth, though I’d most likely be on probation forever until I hooked up with someone. Today I was leaning toward Memphis.
“Well, you and I both know it’ll take more than cooking.” Memphis waggled his eyebrows.
My stomach clenched as I watched Kaden’s cold response. Would he say something? Or let it ride. At his silence, frustration flooded me. How’d we end up together anyway? It was almost as if Kaden assumed I was a sure thing. Well, he was sorely mistaken.
“Well, I’m good at that, too.” I shot Memphis my nicest smile.
Memphis’s lips quirked upward and he winked at me as Kaden shoveled the last bite into his mouth and stood up. He then deposited his dish on the counter and walked off.
“What’s with him?” Memphis asked.
I merely shrugged, but lost my appetite all the same.
~~|~~
After breakfast, I took a pot of hot water from the fire and lugged it to the dish washing station. For some stupid reason, I was on the brink of tears.
“I’ll get that,” Kaden said from behind me. I swiveled around, half-startled, and almost tipped the water onto his feet. He reached for the bucket just in time and his skin grazed mine. Against my will, heat and butterflies burst in my stomach.
I pulled away. “I got it.”
“No. I insist.”
I scowled, but let him take the bucket. My eyes darted to the ground in confusion. Memphis’ touch never gave me butterflies like that, and yet in one instant, images of Kaden’s hand laced in mine, his fingers caressing my cheek, his lips on mine—they fluttered through me as if carried on those wings. I squinted and pushed the betraying thoughts away.
“Did you think about what I said?” His voice cut through my musings.
I furrowed my brows and smirked. “Your marriage proposal?” Unlikely that’ll ever happen, buddy.
“No.” He moved the water to the station and quickly washed the pan, plates and forks. I stood alongside and offered to dry. “About whether or not you’re staying.”
My mouth hung open for a moment as the stupidity of what I’d said settled in. “Oh….”
“Well?”
I paused, unsure what to say. My shoulders shrugged. “That depends.”
“On?”
“You… for starters.”
“Then don’t lead my brother on if you don’t plan to stay,” he said as he handed me the last dish, eyes hard.
The plate practically slipped from my hands as he charged toward the stairs. Well wasn’t that a nice little warning. I wanted to yell out: Jealous much? Go complain to Jewels about me, why don’t ya? Instead, I bit my tongue and turned around to the pile of clean dishes. A new collection of dirty ones had appeared from nowhere. I scanned the beach for the culprit. Besides Memphis, most of the guys had left for the day, leaving an eerie silence. Where was everyone?
After I’d cleaned up the rest, I took the teetering pile of dishes to the community cabinets just a few huts down. Unable to see my feet, I tripped, almost sending the entire stack flying. Van’s laughter sent my cheeks on fire. I looked up. His back was turned as he hit Garrett’s shoulder. Maybe he hadn’t seen what happened. I rolled up to my feet, then I waited for a moment. Normally, he’d have been by my side in an instant, offering to help. Instead, the two continued on as if I were invisible.
Perplexed, I rewashed the dishes I’d dropped in the sand and returned them to the locker (in two trips this time). Dusting off my hands, I wondered where everyone was. I’d gotten used to differing groups working together on certain chores (I’d always hung with the guys), then the ladies disappearing on certain mornings to gossip (I assumed), but school should have started by now. It was as if the return of Peter and his men had distracted everyone, which was fine, but I needed something to distract me from thinking about how furious I was with Kaden.
The dwindling wood pile caught my eye and I decided an extra chore could help in my favor. After piling up at least fifty logs and splitting a few for kindling, I wiped the sweat off my forehead with my sleeve, surprised none of the guys secretly assisted when I wasn’t looking. Was there a tribe meeting somewhere I wasn’t invited to?
Off to my left, I heard laughter as a couple emerged from the tree line hand in hand. They both were toweling off their wet hair.
That does it! I want to see this lagoon.
Stepping through the brush, I headed toward the waterfall. Memphis and I had passed by the thick brush once before, but he wouldn’t let me go near the water. Something about the wrong day. I had no clue what he meant, but I had to see it. Heck, I’d get a bath while I was at it.
“What are you doing here?”
I yelped and swiveled around, meeting Peter’s hardened expression. “Nothing.”
“The lagoon is off limits. You need to return to the beach.”
Peter waited somberly until I turned around. What was hiding at the lagoon? I decided tomorrow morning I’d go early and find out.
A high-energy baseball game ensued on the beach. Shirts verses no-shirts with an amazing display of biceps and muscular chests, all sinewy and glistening with sweat, yet who did my stomach do flips for? I growled at myself. It was as if just because Kaden had told me I’d marry him someday, the choice had been made. No way. Not with his constant brooding.
Clearing my head, I scanned the group for Memphis. Kaden stuck out like a sore thumb, dressed as
if snow was forecasted. The rising heat made me want to change into my dress. Why wasn’t he playing?
“Hey, Van.” I ran to the nearest team. “Can I play?”
“Uh.” Van’s eyes flickered at me.
“And don’t even think to put me on the ‘no shirts’ team,” I said with a laugh.
He forced a chuckle as everyone stared at me. He glanced over his shoulder at Kaden who stood on the sidelines, sharpening his knife. “Guys only, Abby.”
“What?” I stifled a nervous laugh. “You’re kidding, right?”
“It’s just tradition. Maybe another time,” he said plainly before taking his turn to bat.
I stood, clenching my jaw, as the sting of tears lit my eyes. No one would see me cry, especially not Kaden. Not over this. I slipped over to my tent and took a seat in front. Did Peter set up new rules? Or Kaden? Someone had to have said something. Just the other day, they fought over which team I could play on after I hit the Wiffle ball into the water on Dixon’s first pitch.
I glared at Kaden. Temptation to march over and give him a piece of my mind in front of everyone sped through me. If only he was just some punk, someone who didn’t really matter, someone who hadn’t risked life and limb to save me. But what did he save me from? What was real and what wasn’t anymore? Was this the way things were going to be now? I was his property. Hands off?
I disappeared into my tent and forced myself to lie down. Maybe a nap would fix this. Over the laughter and jeering, sleep wouldn’t come. I’d never felt lonelier in my life.
~~|~~
“This seat taken?” Memphis asked from behind me.
I jumped at his voice, at the fact someone acknowledged me, and nodded. “Of course you can sit here.” I scooted over as the logs crackled in the fire pit. “Where were you today?”
“You missed me, huh?” He set down his duffle bag and stretched his arms over his head.
“Well, yeah,” at least you’re not afraid to talk to me. I pushed my bare feet into the hot sand, warming them.
“I was doing errands. Dumb stuff.”
Glitch Page 17
