Page 70 of Counting Quarters

Chapter Thirty

Blaire

Grammytemporarilyclosedthe hotel after the covenstead since Mayor Douglas used his last shred of influence over the town to close its borders to any visitors. He claimed it was to stop any Movement Members from leaving or entering, but it only inflamed the conflict within Beacon Grove. Businesses were already being boarded up at an alarming rate due to Members being exposed and detained, and now they wouldn't have the tiny percentage of tourists he was allowing in to help them, either. His ban only put a chokehold on the ones still struggling to survive.

Without work at the hotel to fill my time, I spent most of my days at the cabin, training with the Quarters. There wasn’t much else for me to do in town without drawing too much attention toward myself.

So, we continued to train. Every day.

We didn't stop until one of us was worn down or the sun set. Then, I'd run home and Kyle would be waiting for me on the porch, pulling me through his front door before I had a chance to reach for my own.

I hadn't told him what Mom said about being my Counter. Any time I tried, we either got too distracted or I'd lose my nerve. For some reason, putting that label on us made things too real. Too permanent. I was afraid of his reaction when he found out that our connection was one he was stuck with for life, whether he liked it or not.

I decided to ask Storie about it, since she was the only person I knew who had experienced the bond firsthand. Remy had been training with me near the creek for the day and Storie tagged along, as she usually did.

“Isn't that enough for the day?” she complained from her spot on the ground where she'd been watching us manipulate the water in the creek for the past hour. “I want to spend time with my friend.”

Remy smiled down at her, then considered me for a moment. “We have to get back to town in a little, anyway. How do you feel?”

I shrugged. “Good. I think I've got the hang of it.”

To prove my point, I held up my hand and the water from the creek lifted into the air in thick, round droplets. It hung there, defying all gravity and logic, until I flicked my wrist and sent it flying against the trees beside us.

Remy nodded his approval. “Just make sure you're focusing hard on the destination. That was a little sloppy.”

My response was a splash of water in his face. Storie's laugh erupted behind us and Remy wiped his eyes, which were crinkled in amusement.

“Better.”

He leaned down and placed a kiss on Storie’s lips before disappearing inside the cabin to give us privacy, never allowing too much distance to come between them. Not after last year. Storie claimed they were working on their separation anxieties, but it still seemed like neither one was motivated to stray too far from the other.

“I wanted to ask you something,” I began when he disappeared behind the door, jumping right in before I lost my nerve.

She patted the spot on the blanket beside her, and I fell onto it.

“Shoot.”

“First, I have to tell you something. I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about it, though.”

Storie and the Quarters tolerated Kyle whenever he was around, but they still hadn’t made much of an effort to include him in their group—not the way they had done for me. I figured it was his age that wedged the gap between us all, but I knew there was a history between Kyle and Storie that neither of them was willing to face.

“My mom told me something interesting about Kyle…” I began nervously. Then, I rolled my eyes, annoyed with my nerves. This was Storie. She understood me better than anyone else.

She stayed quiet, patiently waiting for me to steel myself.

“She said she thinks he’s my Counter.”

There. I ripped the band aid off.

Those odd, violet eyes widened, blond brows raising into her forehead. “But… he… he wasn’t born the same day as you. Or even the same year.”

“You mean he’s old,” I teased, easing the tension behind her words.

She smiled sheepishly and looked down at a speck of lint on the blanket, allowing her hair to fall between us as a curtain.

“I know. That was my first thought, but something happened with these gifts we’ve been given. Something disrupted them. And as you know, Mom never inherited hers.”

Storie nodded.

---