Time Warper: Fated, A Sage Hannigan Novel

by Peggy Martinez

Chapter Eleven

  I JUST ABOUT HAD ENOUGH. Everyone was being polite—that wasn’t the problem at all—but I would rather deal with people screaming at me and throwing things to show their anger. No, everyone was polite, in a detached sort of way. They were still talking to me, but only when strictly necessary. Classes were tolerable, but beyond frustrating. My jaw was sore from having clenched it for so long, trying to just get through another day of shunning. The worst part was knowing I deserved it, and they still didn’t even know about the letter.

  As I sat at the dinner table for three torturous days after my infamous excursion, listening to conversation flow around me, without me, I wanted to hurl my wineglass against the opposite wall and watch it shatter into a thousand pieces just to see everyone’s reactions. I was pretty sure it wouldn’t have earned me any brownie points, though. Instead, I dropped my fork onto my plate with a loud clang and stood up slowly from the table.

  Everyone’s attention was riveted on me. I leaned forward and rested my palms on the table, one on either side of my plate. Lowering my head, I took a deep breath, but my voice came out wobbly when I spoke.

  “I’m sorry, okay? I know I’ve disappointed everyone. I know I screwed up, and I know you are all pretty pissed at me right now, and I deserve that. I have no excuse, except that I was feeling restless and caged in. I never meant to put everything we have worked so hard for in jeopardy.”

  Unfortunately, a few tears had already escaped down my cheeks, and I could feel my emotions on the brink of a total breakdown. I swiped at my face quickly and made a beeline for the dining room doors. After I made it out, I gathered up my skirts and ran up the stairs two at a time, passing a scandalized maid in the process. By the time I’d made it to my room, Dr. Blake had caught up with me, and tears were flowing freely down my face.

  “Go away!”

  I ran into my room to slam the door, but he wedged his foot in the doorway. I looked up through my tears into a face filled with tenderness and concern. A sob escaped from somewhere deep inside me, and I began to cry in earnest. Dr. Blake pushed the door open, and I went to sit on the edge of my bed in defeat. I heard the click of the door shutting and then felt a dip in the bed behind me. I hated to be seen at such a weak moment and to feel so vulnerable.

  Dr. Blake’s steady fingers pulled the pins out of my hair, allowing it to fall in waves past my shoulders. He pressed a tender kiss to my temple and gently tugged me back onto the bed into his arms. I turned into his embrace with my face pressed into his white linen shirt. His arms felt strong and sure around me.

  I cried like I had cried only one other time in my life. I cried for the unfairness of life, for the future I might never get to see again, and because I never asked to be burdened with so much. Dr. Blake held me in his arms all night, whispering nonsense to me and caressing my arms and back until I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.