Page 28 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
Piper
Um, I expected fast food, and you sent steaks. Why was I even surprised?
Me
Because you don’t quite know me yet.
Another few moments went by before she finally responded.
Piper
I’m not going to be around long enough to get to know you.
It was a clear dismissal.
One I should respect.
But I couldn’t shake the sense that there was something more going on with her.
Didn’t matter what lies and obstacles she tried to toss out.
I just wasn’t wired to turn my back on something like that.
Not when I knew firsthand the atrocities of this world. Knew how sick and deranged fiends could get.
That fear radiating out from beneath that ferocity urged me to look closer.
Me
Maybe I want to take care of you while you’re here.
A moment in time to help her if she would accept it.
It was all I could give.
Hell, just that was really pushing past the boundary hedged around my being.
No piece of me truly left because I owed it all.
But this? How was it any different than what I did for Sanctum? I did my best to convince myself that’s all that it was.
Piper
I don’t even know what to make of you.
Exasperation was woven in the words.
Me
Only thing you need to know about me is I’m the guy to come to if you need anything. If you need help. If you’re afraid. Anything you want from me, and it’s yours.
Wondered if she took it as a proposition because I could almost see that fucking adorable scowl from across the property.
Piper
You know nothing is going to happen between us, right? You can forget it if that’s what you’re angling at.
Me
