Page 72 of Quiet Rage
Logically I should be happy, or at least content about my new life. I’m no longer in danger, my parents are safe, and we don’t have to worry about money anymore. Everything is falling into place, yet I can’t shake the feeling that something is missing.
I try to force myself to believe it’s the absence of my brother that causes the hollow feeling inside my chest, because the alternative is unthinkable.
I can’t misshim.
I huff out a frustrated breath. I shouldn’t be thinking about Kellen at all, but I do. All the time. It’s hard not to after everything that happened between us or the fact that I wouldn’t be here without him. He caused me so much pain, but he also saved my life, in more ways than one.
Then there is knowing that Kellen literally killed someone for me. He risked his own life, his freedom to make sure Dante wouldn’t be able to hurt me.
Shoving those memories away, I reach for my coffee. My fingers wrap around the warm paper cup, and I bring it to my lips, taking a big sip of the vanilla latte. I look around the small campus coffee shop, realizing it’s gotten pretty empty since I sat down.
Glancing down at the corner of my laptop screen, I see it’s already after five p.m. I don’t even know how long I’ve been here, but I do know I’m going to regret drinking two large coffees this late when it’s time to go to sleep.
I’m about to pack up my laptop and get up when my attention is drawn to the front door. One of the guys from my English class has just walked in. I think his name is Jaxon, and I’m pretty sure he is on the football team. He looks over to where I sit and spots me right away. A smile spreads across his face, and his hand raises in a small wave.
Smiling back at him, I return the wave. I expected that to be the end of our interaction, but he must have taken it as an invitation, because the next thing I know he is heading straight for me.
Nervous energy fills my gut as he approaches. He doesn’t look threatening; he has more of a boy next door vibe, with shaggy blond hair and kind blue eyes. Nevertheless, having his attention on me is nerve-racking. I don’t have time to dwell on those feelings.
He makes it to my table, confidently taking the chair across from mine.
“Tamson, right?”
“Yes, that’s me,” I say awkwardly.
“I like that name. It’s not one you hear often.” He points at my coffee cup. “What are you drinking?”
“Vanilla latte.”
“Can I buy you another one?” He asks with a boyish grin.
“I think I already drank too much caffeine, but thank you for offering.”
He looks disappointed at my rejection but quickly recovers and goes in for another try. “How about dinner? There is a really good pizza place not far from here.”
I take a second to consider his offer. He seems like a really nice guy, and he is very cute. He could be the kind of boyfriend I always dreamed of having. I should give him a chance and go on at least one date with him.
The only problem is that when I think about having dinner with someone it just feels so…wrong. It feels like doing something I’m not supposed to.
“Jaxon…” His eyes light up as I say his name. He looks at me hopefully, and I feel bad for turning him down, but I have to. “I’m sorry, I can’t date right now.”
Jaxon frowns, clearly disappointed in my answer. “Let me guess, you just got out of a bad relationship?”
“You could say that.” I give him a half-hearted smile, hoping he is not mad at me or offended.
“It’s okay, I get it,” Jaxon tells me. “But if you ever change your mind, you come and find me.”
“She won’t change her mind,” Kellen’s angry voice booms into the space before his large hand grabs hold of Jaxon’s shoulder. “Move,” he growls as he pulls the poor guy from his seat.
There is a flicker of anger in Jaxon’s eyes, and for a moment I think he is going to fight Kellen, but then he takes a good look at what he would be facing and decides not to engage.
Jaxon scrambles to his feet, holding up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I’m leaving.” He doesn’t even look at me again. He simply spins around and heads out of the coffee shop.
My eyes land on Kellen just as he sits down across from me. It takes me another second to comprehend that he is here. He is really here. At my campus, in this coffee shop, sitting at my table.
“Hello, dragonfly,” he greets me with a soft smile.
“Hi,” is all I can come up with.
