Page 29 of Seer
My chest tightened and I heard roaring in my ears. Memories of a childhood spent neglected, my brother and I left to fend for ourselves, tried to claw their way to the front of my brain. I shoved them back.
Just because Cal and I resonated didn’t mean I had to bond or even connect with him.
“Greg!” Craig’s voice finally penetrated my thoughts, and I jerked in my chair.
“Sorry. Um, I—” I cast around, trying to find something that needed my attention urgently. Fuck it. I stood, not looking at Cal again. “I need to use the restroom.”
Cal was standing slightly between me and the door. I edged by, leaning to the side so I wouldn’t touch him. It was mostly futile, though, since we were still close enough his magic and mine reached for each other, humming louder in an effort to connect. Fuck.
I made it past him and rushed through the office door. Avoiding eye contact with any employees or clients, I race-walked across the lobby and burst through the doors into the daylight.
I walked down the sidewalk in front of the building as if I were heading to my car. I thought wistfully of my keys andmy phone, still sitting in my desk drawer. I’d have to go back in there. I’d have to talk to Cal, tell him about this new world he’d been thrust into without his consent.
I hesitated, my step faltering. No, best not to think of Cal and thrusting in the same sentence.
I neared an old white pickup. It had to be Cal’s. Bark & Purr’s clientele skewed toward people who drove fancy European cars. This one was a Ford, and it was easily twenty years old. I could see spots, large and small, all over the exterior where someone had inexpertly removed and painted over rust. I itched to find a professional painter and have it fixed.
I glanced around, but no clients were in the parking lot, and the employees in the yards seemed occupied with the dogs. I walked closer and couldn’t stop my nose from wrinkling. The bed of the truck was littered with trash. Cal was a fan of fast food and cigarettes. A glance through the passenger window showed more trash on the floorboards along with stained upholstery.
My head spun. The roaring sound filled my ears again. I fought to keep the anxiety at bay, but I had to lean over and put my hands on my knees.
It’d be okay, I told myself. I didn’t have to form a connection with Cal, and I certainly didn’t have to bond with him. Obviously we’d never be truly compatible.
I chuckled darkly, thinking of the call with my mother an hour ago. She’d been upset at Ellis and Shane for frightening Cal, but she’d also been gleeful that they hadn’t resonated with him. Which meant—to her at least—that he was destined for me. Well, sorry, Mom. Resonation or not, Cal and I would not be connecting. My mental health wouldn’t allow it.
After thirty seconds or so I was able to stand upright again. I turned away from the truck and faced the daycare yards. The dogs ran around in the sunshine, barking playfully and chasing each other.
I breathed through my nose and exhaled through my mouth.
I could do this. I could talk to Cal in a professional manner, and everything would be fine.
Gritting my teeth, I walked back into the lobby. I waved calmly and cheerfully at the employees and clients. Then, taking a deep breath, I turned the corner to the office.
I hadn’t closed the door all the way when I’d left, and Craig was talking.
About me.
“...doesn’t have OCD or anything. It’s just some coping mechanisms for some shit I’m sure he’ll tell you about eventually. But it’s nothing major. I mean, look, he lets me be as messy as I want as long as I confine it to the top of my desk.”
I shoved open the office door, scowling at Craig. He merely smiled sunnily at me from where he leaned with one hip on my desk.
“Sorry about that,” I said to Cal, who was sitting in Craig’s desk chair with an irritated expression on his face.
“I’ll go help Marie out front so you can talk,” Craig said. He stood and turned to Cal. “It was nice to meet you. I hope we see more of you in the future.”
As he passed me on his way out, I tried to incinerate him with my glare, but he only wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.
I sat behind my desk, grateful for the barrier between me and Cal.
“So,” I said, striving for a calm, professional tone. “I imagine you have some questions.”
To my surprise, Cal made a slashing motion with his hand. “They can wait. I’m here because I had a vision, and someone’s going to die.”
I stiffened in my chair. My gaze sharpened, my body ready to go into combat mode. “Shit. Okay, what was the vision?”
His expression was grim. “A female-presenting person was sitting on a park bench. She wore a short skirt and Doc Martens. She had a blue lunch sack, but the sun was at an angle so I don’t think it was noon. The bench was next to a curved walking path that went through wooded areas on each side of her. I couldn’t see any road or parking lot. The woman looked to her right, then she jumped up and ran in the opposite direction.” He gave me a level look. “Then wings came out of her back, and she flew into the trees.”
My stomach clenched. “Okay.”
