Page 59 of Bound By Water
Their heads swivel at the same time to look at me, and the burn of their stares across the expanse of dirt and grass is enough to make me squirm. What will they do if they find out my secret? Kick me out? Maybe that would be for the best. At some point, Hightower will find me. Everyone around me is in danger.
My second alarm goes off. Ten minutes until class. The two turn in my direction. Tanned skin glistens in the morning sun, and I lick my lips, admiring the muscles flexing hard as they push their bodies to the max. Older but still hot. These are men in every sense of the word. Not wanting them to see me staring, I lift my face to the sun’s warmth, but I don’t need it anymore. All my hollow spaces are filled with heat.
“Is everything okay?” Oliver asks in a slightly breathless voice.
I open my eyes to find them both standing in front of me, their Army green shorts and tanks leaving little to the imagination, and I straighten under their scrutiny. I’m sure they’re used to women drooling, but not me.
Oliver’s unusual eyes are more blue than grey this morning. Intense, they drill into me, searching and assessing. Of course, Quaid’s brows are pulled together in his usual scowl. His amber eyes are sweeping me from head to toe. He’s either looking for a weapon or gauging my physical state. The two of them are quite a pair.
“Just enjoying the sun and my breakfast,” I tell them, holding up my glass of juice. “Do you run every morning?” If so, I might have to find another bench to sit on. For my peace of mind.
Oliver’s head tilts. “We do.” He glances at his watch. “If I’m going to make your session with Beckett this morning, I need to grab a shower. You’re good with me attending, right?”
Uneasy, I stare at him. “I didn’t realize you were joining us.” It makes sense, though. If he’s going to help me with my powers, he’ll need to know the best way to approach it. Me. “It’s fine.” Fine is such a fucked-up word. It’s like these grey sweatpants, which are not fine.
Oliver must agree because a flash of concern sweeps across his face but instead of probing me further, his eyes dart to Quaid, who nods. “Right. I’ll see you in ten.” He takes off jogging toward the facility.
Quaid props his foot up on the bench beside me to stretch one of his long legs. Seriously? Is that really necessary?
“Are you doing okay this morning?” His tone is gruff, as if he’s not sure how to proceed.
Don’t look. Don’t look. My eyes slide to the leg beside me and the muscles on display. Instead of hair, tattoos cover his thick, muscular thighs and one of his calves. I almost whimper.You were almost a damn physical therapist!I mentally yell at myself. You’ve seen skin. Muscles. Nothing new.
“All good,” I reply, surging to my feet. “I’m fine.” There’s that damn word again. Now, I’m scowling. “See you later.”
River’s leaving. I’m trapped. I don’t know how to get to point B or even where point B is. Will I ever be safe again? Can someone give me a manual for using my damn powers? And why the hell does Mr. Surly look so damn good? All that is the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
He grunts like he doesn’t like my answer but doesn’t stop me, which sort of pisses me off further. I dump the empty juice bottle on my way to Beckett’s office.
Beckett’s waiting for me when I arrive at his office, leaning against the doorframe, looking cool, calm, and collected, and it freaking irks me. His gaze narrows, and it’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. He’s probably evaluating my mental state, which, to be honest, is kind of shit this morning. Straightening, he motions for me to join him. I grab the same seat on the couch like last time, but this time, he sits next to me.
“I’m sorry. I pushed too hard on our first visit,” he says, looking at me. His light grey eyes stare at me, waiting for an answer. They remind me of Oliver’s when he’s irritated, but Beckett’s eyes don’t have any blue in them. His are sort of silvery grey. “I mean it. I should have realized it was too much.”
It was, but denial is my best friend. I open my mouth, but the only word that comes to mind is fine, so I close it. It’s rude, but honestly, I’m not sure I care this morning.
Oliver arrives, dressed in a solid navy suit with a light blue shirt that brings out the blue in his eyes. Beckett moves to the chair across from me. The second he settles into it; a cloak of professionalism falls over him. That must be his usual spot. He motions to the seat beside me, but Oliver takes the chair on my right.
“Greer. Oliver wants to use his mental ability to help you discover the pathway to your powers. He’s explained your reservations, though, which I completely understand. Having someone in your head is unnerving,” Beckett begins. Oliver clears his throat, but Beckett ignores him.
“We also need to develop your control mechanism, correct?” he asks, tapping his pen on the notepad in front of him.
I nod. Quaid probably told them both what happened.
“This is your decision, not ours. What do you want?” he asks, flicking a glance at Oliver. “Do you want to use your powers?
Oliver immediately leans back in his chair, giving me space.
I look from him to Beckett. In the Army together for a long time, it’s clear they all speak some second language. One the rest of us can’t hear. Another aggravating point.
“I want to be normal, but since that doesn’t seem to be on the table, I guess I need to find a way to use and control my abilities,” I concede, knowing the choice was made that day by the waterfall. It just took me this long to realize it. “But I don’t want to have to keep reliving that day in order to use my powers.”
“Quaid said David’s hands around your throat threw you into the past?” Beckett’s question is light but probing.
“Someone tried to kill me,” I admit, feeling a tightness around my throat. “The water came to my aid and shared its secrets with me. It told me I could use it as a weapon, so I did.”
Both Oliver and Beckett sit up straighter. “What did you do?”
My lips tremble, but I spit out the truth. “I killed him. And his friend.” Silence descends in the room, but I can’t tell what they’re thinking. Will they kick me out?
