Page 45 of Purgatory
I smile softly and nod, raking my hand through my hair, and turn to grab a few mugs from the cupboard. When I turn back toward him, he’s already got the stove lit and water set to boil for the press, but his gaze lingers on me.
Cole has this unique ability to read a person without even talking to them. To know exactly what they need without even having to voice it. And right now, he’s reading me like a book. Thumbing through the pages of my psyche until he finds what I need. What I crave to get out of this prison I’ve built in my mind.
“We should take Aly on the boat, today. I bet she doesn’t even know it’s out there. It’ll be a good opportunity to teach her how to use it in case the shit ever does hit the fan out here. Plus, it’s looking like a nice day today, she’ll love it,” Cole suggests. And God-fucking-dammit if he isn’t spot on with what he thinks I need. He’s so fucking right. Why the hell didn’t I think of that?
With Cole and Hawk, I don’t need to worry about protecting them. They’re pretty self-sufficient and proficient when it comes to survival. The years of training in the military weren’t for nothing. But with Aly? She doesn’t have that training. How she survived these past months is beyond me, but I couldn’t be more proud of her.
She has the spirit, the will to live, but I still want to give her the best chance I can. Cole’s suggestion of showing her the boat, taking her out on it and giving her some sort of active survival training with regards to living here? I can do that. It’s the least I can do. If I’m backing out of the romantic potential, I can, at the very least, push forward on the protection and safety potential.
“I think you’re right. But someone needs to stay behind, with the radios, just in case.” I nod at both his suggestion aswell as the water now boiling. Coffee is gonna be a requirement if I’m going to get through the day on the, less than, two hours of sleep I was lucky enough to get. Cole pours the water into the press and lets it steep.
“Not a problem, Hawk’s been getting a bit grabby with Aly anyways. He could use a little ice on his balls.” Cole smiles and pushes the sugar canister toward me. “I’m sure Aly could use the air too. No funny business, just relaxation on the lake.” He looks at me knowingly. It’s funny, though. He doesn’t extend that sentiment to include me, but we both know he’s silently saying that I could use some time to relax as well.
I take a spoon and shovel two scoops of sugar into my mug as Cole, simultaneously, pours coffee into the cup. I say nothing, but nod my thanks to him.
For the coffee.
For the perspective.
For the suggestion.
For simply just being there through it all.
Chapter 30
Cole
We take our time, sipping our liquid breakfast. I don’t mind the quiet. It gives me time to think. Time to observe and admire. I admire Jax’s tenacity. For how much he’s been through, the fact that he is so fully committed to Aly’s well-being is commendable. I understand that he is more comfortable outside of our tryst, but he’s still there, protecting her as if she’s his whole world. I don’t know if he realizes it yet, but he’s in deep. The more I can do to ease him into the knowledge of this, the less abrupt the fall might be.
It’s why I suggested the boat outing. He needs to focus on something other than the house or the property or baking bread for the umpteenth time. Focusing on Aly’s safety? It’ll be as easy as breathing and it’ll loosen up that crease that has seemed to take up permanent residence in between his eyebrows.
I take the time to inform Aly of our plans, to which she danced around on her tip toes like an anxious little pup ready to go to the park. Then, I got to receive the saddest rendition of a puppy dog face from Hawk, as I told him he had to man the fort. After he finally caved and submitted to the will of the house, I had to avoid a near miss with his fist to my face when I said, “good boy” and patted him on the head. We both laughed it off shortly after and I walked out to meet the rest of our motley crew out back.
As soon as I open the door leading to the lake, I see Jax and Aly. I hear them talking animatedly about which superpower is the best. Aly is dead set on super strength, giving examples of Superman or The Hulk, while Jax is pushing for the power of invisibility, using the argument thatif they can’t see you, they can’t shoot you.I get where he’s coming from. Stealth is definitely an advantage, but so can insane strength and invincibility.
“Personally, I think time manipulation or superhuman stamina wins out.” I pitch into the conversation. They both stop and look over at me with curious glances. Aly is the first to respond.
“What? Look, I get the time manipulation. Go back and fix stuff in the past to better the future, whatever, I get that. But stamina?” I nod as she continues. “Really? Why? There are so many better ones out there.”
“You know why.” I mutter under my breath as I smirk and wink at her. She blushes almost instantly. The rosy color looking so perfect on her pale skin, it makes me wonder what the rest of her body would look like with little red tints gracing her curves.
Surprisingly, Jax must have overheard what I said to Aly because he’s also smirking at my suggestion. Fancy that. Maybe today won’t be as awkward as dinner’s been lately. Eggshells belong in a compost bin not on the floor. I don’t want to feel like I’m walking on them anymore.
Jax throws his arm up, indicating that we should be getting a move on and we turn to follow after him. Aly and him continue their debate, which has now taken a turn, discussing the pros and cons of telepathy. While their conversation has depth and they’re both interested in the topic, he stays a bit ahead of Aly and myself, obviously keeping his distance as we get closer to the lake.
When we get there, Aly stops. Both the conversation and her feet. She stands there, head cocked to the side, her eyessquinting, like she can’t quite wrap her head around what she’s looking at.
“Uh.... where’s the dock?” She asks. Confused when she sees the boat Jax is moving towards drifting about one hundred feet out into the lake with no walkway to it.
“There isn’t one,” I say to her.
The other properties surrounding the lake all have docks. Hell, this one did once upon a time, but Jax being Jax decided on safety and security over convenience so he chose not to use it and got rid of it. I understand his reasoning behind the decision, though.
She looks to me, scrunching her nose up at the site. But while she notices the obvious, I notice something odd myself. Something hidden. Actually, I noticed it when she came downstairs for breakfast but it wasn’t until now that I started questioning it. She’s wearing a t-shirt and shorts which is a normal clothing option for being outside on a day like today, but she's currently sweating buckets.
“Would you like me to get you a pair of these?” I point to my light green P.T. shorts. “Maybe a tank top? You look a little uncomfortable.” She quickly shakes her head, turning down my offer of getting her a pair of silkies. I mean, I get it. They’re not exactly the most fashionable thing I could be wearing. And yea, they’re nut huggers to the tenth degree but at least I'm not drenched in my own fluids.
She brings up her arms around her waist, hugging herself while simultaneously trying to downplay the subtle movement by smiling and offering a kind response.
