Page 40 of Lily's Eagle

He pours for us, handing me the juice, but drinking his straight. I drink mine straight too, because I’ve been gasping for this drink for the last two days. Why is it that whenever he’s around things just sort to fall into place, no matter how much I’d rather that wasn’t true?

He stretches out his legs, crosses them at the ankles and leans back against the tree trunk. “So, this place isn’t what you expected, is it?”

I inhale and open my mouth to argue, but he’s looking at me from the side of his eyes, grinning and he already knows his answer.

“I expected that I’d be able to help and I can,” I say instead. “And what about you? How come you suddenly have family here, on this reservation where I was born and haven’t stopped talking about for the last ten years?”

He sits up straight and takes another swig of his vodka, then pours more for the both of us. “Because my father refused to tell me anything about any of it for all these years. Like you already know. At first it was because he’d left it all behind so there was no reason for me to go looking for it. But then later, after I met you, he thought he was protecting me by keeping it a secret.”

“How does that work?” I ask snidely.

He shrugs. “He figured I was already too close to you. No need to make Cross any warier of me by giving us yet more things to bond us.”

“I do what I want,” I say. “Cross understands that.”

“Yeah, but I don’t do what I want, not really.”

“Sure you do,” I snap. “And you always have.”

“Not where Cross is concerned, I don’t,” he says and drinks more of the vodka.

“So, he sent you?” I ask.

“I would’ve come if you’d invited me too.”

He’s sitting straight again, looking at me full on, his eyes, no, his entire face, full of questions that he’s not uttering. What do I say?

That I had to get away on my own before any more of his kisses made it impossible? Because that seems like the only right answer in my head right now. Not that it makes any sense.

“We’re friends, Eagle,” I say. “Let’s stay friends. Things are complicated right now. I can really make a difference here, and I would really like to try.”

“Friends, huh?” he says tersely. “Friends tell each other when they’re leaving town, last I checked.”

Yeah, I’m perfectly aware of that. “I did say goodbye,” I mutter.

“Barely,” he counters.

I don’t have a good answer to give myself about that, let alone him.

He clears his throat and looks away into the distance, the red taillight of the cars leaving reflected in his eyes.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asks. “I can’t. Cross—“

“Stop using my father as an excuse for everything,” I snap. “And stop bringing him into everything. Just stop.”

“You’re wanted by the cops back in Pleasantville,” he says. “Cross and the rest think you’re safe here, and they’ll deal with it, but I’m supposed to watch you.”

I sit up straight, spilling about half of my drink all over my jeans. “You told them?”

“The cops told them,” he says. “I kept your secret. It’s why I’m here. Because Cross says I’m the only one he can trust when it comes to keeping you safe.”

“I don’t need keeping safe. I can take care of myself and I’m perfectly safe here.” I drink the rest of my vodka and grab the carton of juice to chase it down. I should be saying this to Cross, not Eagle. And I will. I’ll drive somewhere where the cell phone reception doesn’t suck so bad tomorrow and tell him.

“Yeah, sure you are. They were ready to shoot you too back there,” he says. “Good thing I was there.”

He’s being very belligerent. Probably because of the friend thing. But I don’t see how anything’s changed between us.

He’s still my father’s errand boy and I’m still more than ready to leave it all behind. Our circles don’t meet. They just touch. And bounce off each other more often than not. Like right now.

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