Page 45 of Wait For It

“So, Killian,” she simpered, dismissing me from the conversation. “That’s a unique name. What does it mean?”

I lowered my head, jolting when his fingertips brushed over my knuckles. When I lifted my eyes, he gave me an encouraging nod and mouthed,chin up, before reaching for his fork.

My skin blazed from the heat of his touch. I folded my hands in my lap, confident I was never going to recover from the loss.

“It means church,” he answered, keeping his gaze on me like the answer was solely mine. Helen waited for him to elaborate further before moving on to the drama surroundingTrue North.

Church.

My heart hammered against my ribs, sending more than just blood rushing through my veins as I studied his face. The nest of birds residing in my lower belly stirred, awakening something fierce within me. It was accompanied by the oddest feeling that I knew him from somewhere.

“What do you think?” he asked, inclining his head toward me. I had no way of answering, as I’d been quite busy surveying his gorgeous mouth. Every one of his teeth was a healthy shade of white and perfectly aligned with the next. I wondered whether it was the byproduct of good genes or just fantastic dentistry.

Killian’s lips twitched as he fought a smile, and I realized he was still waiting on a response. I shrugged helplessly, having spent a good chunk of the conversation staring at him. His eyes sparked with something that indicated I hadn’t necessarily been discreet in my perusal.

“Young lady!” Helen snapped her fingers. “What do you think about the aquatic therapy here? I told Killian here it wasn’t as good as the center over inOak Lake. See, that’s how you get her attention—just snap.”

I gaped at the woman, my face flooding with heat. I was no stranger to condescending people and being ignored, but it didn’t mean I was unfeeling. My shoulders sagged and bowed my head, trying to hide my mortification.

It only hurts if you let it…

Killian made a low sound in the back of his throat and pushed back from the table, the fork clanging as it connected with the edge of his plate. Helen continued rattling off the advantages ofOak Lake’sfacility overTrue North’s, seemingly unaware anything was amiss.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just remembered I have somewhere to be.” The humor was gone from his voice, and the hairs on my arms lifted at the sudden chill in the air.

He was leaving.

I rubbed my damp palms against my skirt and forced myself to pick up my fork. Once the lump in my throat settled, I stabbed a roasted carrot and brought it to my lips with a huff.

Helen launched into yet another complaint, but I busied myself with the task of chewing and swallowing, tuning her out. It was best not to dwell on what Killian must have thought of me until I was safely back in my room.

“You coming, girl?”

I jerked my head toward Killian, freezing at the sight of his squared shoulders and furrowed brow. The last traces of warmth fell away as he glared down at me, leaving glaciers where his eyes had once been.

“But I’m not finished yet,” Helen protested with a sniff. “Awfully rude and disrespectful to just leave someone in the middle of a meal.”

He glanced down at me, his icy expression thawing slightly. “What do you say?”

I lowered my fork to the plate, completely ready to leave with Killian until I considered the implications of it. Only two weeks in and I’d just come dangerously close to slipping up. Morgan might have bought me some time, but Tristan had little birds lurking everywhere.

If he got word that I’d gone off alone with a man, I’d be back behind those walls before they opened the cafeteria for dinner. I fidgeted with the pendant around my neck and slowly shook my head before slouching back against the wheelchair with a frustrated sigh.

It was too risky for us to be seen together.

What could I say?Hi Killian, I’d love to leave with you, but I’m a grown woman who is still terrified of her father. Who’s my father, you ask? Oh, just Tristan James, the pastor on television every other day of the week. There’s also a strong possibility he killed my sister, but don’t worry, you’re probably safe.

The truth was sad, and would no doubt scare the man off permanently. Or worse, cause him to look down on me in pity.

The sullen look returned to his face, and he stood silent, absently gnawing on his bottom lip. I squirmed under the weight of his unhappy stare before forcing my mouth into a smile.

My dress felt itchy against my skin, but I didn’t dare scratch. Instead, I returned my attention to the plate in front of me, my fingernails leaving crescent-shaped indentations in my palms.

“You’re staying?” Killian tilted his head back toward Helen. “Here?”

I doubted there was an ounce of conviction in my nod, but it didn’t matter. Killian was already turning away, the rubber tip of his crutches swiping angrily against the floor as he stormed out. I kept my head down and waited a full minute before pushing back from the table. Tiffani saw and began making her way over to me, and I released a harsh breath, ready for the day to be over already.

Helen tapped her fork against the side of her plate until I reluctantly inclined my head in her direction. “You like him,” she said in a singsong voice, giving me a conspiratorial wink.

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