Page 85 of Crimson Promises
“Anything except you staying. I didn’t think you would believe me, and even though there was a tiny possibility that you did, most people wouldn’t want anything to do with me. I’ve learned over my years on this earth that people tend to band together when they’re presented with evidence of differences. Safety in the masses is easier than embracing the truth.”
A look of pain passed over her features. “I am familiar with what it feels like to be the outcast. To be the unusual one.”
“Is that why you stayed?”
“Maybe it had something to do with it. An angel is your species. To me, it doesn’t define who you are.”
“The world could use many more people as open-minded as you.”
“Thank you.” She blushed. “So, what is an angel doing in a tiny Oregon town attending ACU? Aren’t you a little old to be attending university? Actually, how old are you?”
“Nosy today, are we?” I flicked her nose playfully.
“You can’t blame me for having questions, Bennett.”
“No, I certainly can’t.” My tone grew more serious, wanting to address any concerns she had. “Every few decades, I relocate to a different part of the globe. Angels age, though not in the same way as humans. Our life spans thousands of years. A mortal lifetime is just a grain of sand on the beach. Because of that, it isn’t safe or realistic for me to stay in one place for very long. People change; they age. I seem to stay stagnant.” The following words out of my lips tasted bitter like burnt rubber. Some truth, primarily lies. “The coastline of Oregon always seemed beautiful in a haunting way. It was a nice change from the heat in Jordan, so I decided to settle here. I’ve been doing this long enough that it was easy to forge some transcripts to settle into the quiet of ACU. I needed somewhere I could blend in into the background.”Liar, liar, pants on fire. I’m here to watch over you.
I looked at our legs tangled together on the couch.A little closer than Michael wanted, I think.
“Well, whatever brought you here, I’m happy you’re here with me now.” She reached to tuck a stray lock of hair above my brow and snuggled into my chest.
Guilt clenched my gut. Aurora deserved more than the half-truths I could offer her.
“This is nice,” she murmured. "I swear, you remind me so much of someone. Probably some hot, broody actor."
We stayed like that for a few more minutes until Aurora’s ringtone sang out across the room. She stretched her arms above her head, giving me a glimpse of her toned stomach, before getting up to check her phone. I remained where I was, quite content with watching her mouthwatering backside.
“Hey, Dad,” she answered. “I’m just finishing a shift at work. Can I call you when I’m done in five minutes?”
I completely forgot that I needed to get back to Michael once she left. In all my time as her guardian, I’d never stood him up or delayed our meetings. He needed to trust me. Proving that I could be at his beck and call was part of that.
“Leave it to my dad to be the one to drag me back to reality. As much fun as this was, I should get going.”
“Of course.” That was my cue to get off the couch. I looked down at the stiff leather sofa. I never spent much time there, but the memories I made today would be forever branded into my mind.
Aurora did a lap of the studio, making sure she had everything, including grabbing her bag from the tiny closet she had been hiding in earlier.
“I think I have everything I need,” she claimed as she stood by the front door.
“Well, I know where you live. In case you forget anything, I can always drop it off.”
“Thanks.”
She briefly rubbed her hands over her arms.
“Are you cold?”
“A little, but my building is across the street. I’ll only be outside for no more than a few minutes.”
I reached behind her to open the closet and grabbed one of my many leather jackets, but this one was lined with fur. “Here, take this. You can give it back to me next time I see you.”
“You mean when I cash in on the bet you owe me,” she waggled her eyebrows.
“There I was, thinking you’d forgotten about our arrangement.” I held the jacket open for her to put her arms through.
“I don’t believe that for a second. You want this to happen just as badly as I do.”
“Only one way to find out.” I was dancing over the line more than I should, but after today, how could I not want to spend more time with her? While I couldn't tell her everything, she was the only person apart from Michael that had any inkling of who I was.
