Promises (29 page)

“
I can wait,” I called out, trying to capture her attention, but she ignored me. Her attention was solely focused on Matt and his appealing smile.

“
Here you go then,” she said happily. Her eyes remained on Matt as she placed the menu down on the table.

I hadn’t moved. I remained staring at Matt and weighing my limited options. I really didn’t want to talk with him, but I had little choice on where to sit. If I walked away it’d seem like I was rude, but then again why should I care?

The waitress turned towards me. “There’s a seat right here for you. This gentlemen said you could sit here with him. He knows you.”

I ground my teeth together, contemplating what I should do. I glanced around. The other patrons were starting to stare, and I sighed in defeat. I slowly approached the table and sat down, avoiding eye contact with him as the waitress took my drink order.

“
Hello again, Cheyenne,” Matt said as the waitress disappeared.

“
Hey, Matt,” I replied and pretended to concentrate on the menu.

“
You doing okay?”

“
Yup, just peachy.” I flipped the menu over.

“
I must have taken the last table, sorry. I got here just before you apparently.”

“
It’s okay. I could’ve waited.”

“
I don’t mind sharing.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him lower his head and flash an award-winning smile. Just what Colt would do to capture my attention. I rolled my eyes.

The waitress returned and took my order. Matt requested that his food be brought out at the same time. The menu was taken away, and I was left empty handed with nothing else to look at except Matt.

“
You really like to spend time outdoors, don’t you?” he asked.

I nodded and began fiddling with the straw I’d stolen from the canister.

“
I’ve seen you out running and hiking quite a bit this past week.”

“
Yup,” I replied and twisted the straw around my fingers.

“
I won’t bite, Cheyenne.” His voice lowered. “I just want to befriend you. You seem so lonely.”

I looked up into steely grey eyes. There was a softness to them I hadn’t expected.

“
I’m sorry, Matt, I—I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that I’m not really in the mood to talk.” My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I quickly pulled it out. It was a reply from Daniel. I glanced up, unsure what to do next.

“
If you need to answer that, go ahead. I don’t mind,” Matt said.

I lifted the phone out of my lap and tapped on the new message. My hands grew sweaty as the message opened.

Cheyenne,

I was so glad to hear from you. You have no idea what it’s been like since we left. Both Callon and Colt have been sulking around. I’ve been sulking around too. I miss you, but I understand your reasoning for leaving.

As for your questions, I really can’t answer you correctly, as I’m not in the position to reply. I don’t want to push you off, but really you’re going to have to go through Callon on this one. He’s the one who can best answer your questions about the betrothals and why he was chosen. I’m sorry. I wish I could do more for you.

Daniel

I felt angry tears pricking my eyes. Callon must have read the email and told Daniel not to reply with answers. Callon was still furious with me, and now I’d pushed him even further by questioning my pending marriage to him. I set my phone to the side, next to my plate, with the message and reply still open.

“
Everything okay?” Matt’s worried voice asked.

I didn’t answer as I stared at the empty space on the table before me. I was such an utter failure. I couldn’t even ask a simple question without causing another fracture in someone’s heart. When had everything gone so wrong? I was on a runaway train nearing a demolished bridge…nothing could stop me from falling off the edge.

“
Cheyenne?” A warm hand touched my arm. “Are you okay?”

I sniffled and inhaled a shaky breath. “I’m fine,” I said just above a whisper.

The flash of my phone powering down caught my eye. I glanced up to see Matt staring at it. Slowly his gaze lifted to mine.

“
Want to talk about it?” he questioned.

“
No.” I reached over and turned my phone upside down.

“
Here you go,” the bubbly waitress said. I turned towards her, grateful for the distraction. “One bacon cheeseburger with fries, a side of ranch along with a strawberry milkshake, and one double bacon cheeseburger with fries, a side of special sauce along with a chocolate milkshake.” She placed the orders in front of us, and I pulled my napkin into my lap.

Matt released my arm and sighed. I focused my attention on my burger and fries, while he did the same.

There was an uncomfortable silence as we waited for the waitress to return with the bill. When she finally did, I reached into my pocket to pay, but Matt handed her a large bill and told her to keep the change. I watched the now giddy redhead bounce away and then turned my attention towards Matt. A bit of irritation flared up.

“
I can pay for my own meals.” I said. I wasn’t helpless.

“
I wanted to pay for it, Cheyenne. Let me do this for you.”

“
Why?”

He raised his brows. “Well, for starters, you look like you’ve just been dealt some bad news, and second, regardless of the chance meeting we had here at the diner, I never allow a woman to pay.”

Now I raised my brows. “That’s a bit chauvinistic isn’t it? A woman can’t support herself? She’s helpless without a man?”

He raised his hands up. “Now wait a minute, that’s not what I meant. I don’t allow a woman to pay, not because I don’t think she can’t support herself, or that she’s helpless. It’s a courtesy, a way of saying thank you for your company.”

“
Oh, so now I’m providing you entertainment, and you’re paying for it like I’m some common hooker out on the corner?” I snapped and then realized I was blowing this whole thing out of proportion. I was upset about my circumstances, and I was taking it out on Matt. What kind of a leader could I ever become if I always reacted instead of listened? I pressed my hand to my forehead as I lowered my head. Now I was even contemplating this whole Kvech role…

“
I’m sorry, Matt. I’m being so rude to you. I should go.” I rose from my chair and started to walk away when his fingers touched my arm.

“
Wait,” he said quietly. “Can I walk you back?”

I sighed. This poor guy was a glutten for punishment. Who knew what I’d do next? “Sure.”

He followed me as we left the diner and began the long walk back. The sun was starting to set, and the red skies displayed how my heart felt, broken and bleeding. When would this misery end?

“
I didn’t mean to upset you, Cheyenne,” Matt said as he walked beside me. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. That wasn’t my intent.”

“
I know. I’ve just had a bad spell, and I was taking it out on you. I’m the one who should be sorry. You were just being nice.” I kicked a small stone with my shoes and followed its path until it disappeared into the tall grass on the roadside.

“
I’m here to talk to if you want to get something off your chest,” he offered.

I sighed. I wished I could talk to him, but I wouldn’t be able to truly share anything. He’d never understand. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I looked up and faintly smiled, and he returned the grin.

We turned onto the path leading to our homes with an awkward silence between us. We cleared the rear of my house, and he stopped as we came to the garage doors.

“
Thanks, Matt,” I said quietly and turned to head inside.

“
Can I see you tomorrow?” he called out.

Was he just being nice, or was it something else?

“
I just thought you could use some company if you came out tomorrow,” he explained when I hesitated.

“
Maybe,” I replied and unlocked the door, entering into the house. I leaned against the closed door, pondering my evening. I just needed to be locked away in a tall tower, away from everyone and everything. I sighed and headed for the couch.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and held it in my hand. I’d turned it off before we left the diner. I didn’t want it buzzing in my pocket, and I didn’t need to have Matt push me any further to confide in him as I just might.

My fingers traced the outline of the phone. I needed to hear a comforting voice. I needed to hear Colt tell me everything was going to be all right. That what I’d done wasn’t so bad, and Callon wasn’t angry. I wanted to hear that I could be with him and he’d worked it all out…but I knew the truth. It would never be.

I turned the phone on and watched as the display screen lit up. Maybe Daniel had persuaded Callon to change his mind. Maybe there was an email waiting in my inbox giving me the information I was searching for. I thumbed over to my email. I stared at the read messages. Nothing new had come in. I sighed.

I jumped as my phone vibrated in my hand. A text message appeared.

Miss u,

u, Colt.

It was as if he knew I needed him. Tears rose. This was my Colt,
mine.
The Colt who always knew what I needed before I did. I pulled the phone to my chest and hugged it, taking in the love he offered so freely.

I slumped down into the couch and closed my eyes as I maintained my tight hold on the phone. The weariness of life was catching up with me. The sleepless nights, regardless of being Timeless, made my eyelids heavy weights and soon I drifted off.

I rarely dreamed, but if I did and remembered, they were few and far between. The last was when I dreamed of the Tresez in the forest; though part of the dream changed, it still came to pass. Tonight I dreamed about a faceless man.

It was strange; nothing was as it should be. I was with a faceless man; we were standing in the forest overlooking a ravine. An odd emptiness filled the area. No birds singing, no warm breeze. The surroundings were just hollow—completely vacant. The faceless man drew me into his arms as I stared out behind him. He held me close and began to whisper in my ear words I didn’t understand. I wasn’t angry, sad or happy. I looked past him, as if I were just existing—nothing more. No emotions. It was as if all the life had been sucked out of me. I was a mere shell of who I had been.

I fluttered my lashes open, and inhaled a shaky breath, trying to shake that weighted presence in my soul. It was the same unease I’d been feeling, like something suffocating could overtake me if I wasn’t careful. I glanced around me. I was in my room, and dawn was breaking.
I was in my room
? The last thing, I remembered, I was on the couch.

I sat up and glanced around the room, taking account of every detail. I was still dressed in my clothes from the day before, and the room appeared fine. Did I put myself to bed? I pulled the covers down and searched for my phone. It wasn’t in bed with me.

I hurried downstairs and stopped at the couch, dropping to my knees and pushing the pillows out of the way. I yanked the cushions off and bent to look under the furniture. What had I done with it? Was I sleepwalking last night?

My one connection to my guardians, and I’d misplaced it already. I pushed my hand through my hair. I couldn’t call them or they’d panic…they’d show up here within hours. I’d just have to figure this out as I went along. When I was ready, I could use a payphone, since I knew Colt’s number by heart.

I sighed, sinking to the couch.

Just what was happening to me?

The presence didn’t go away. It wasn’t anything I could describe in words, and I was scared about what it meant. Sometimes I would be drowning in an overwhelming storm of doom, and I’d wake up from an already restless sleep, covered in sweat. Other times, it was as if I could sense myself changing…an internal transformation with the physics of my body.

Would I be gaining more powers soon? What would they be, and how would I know?

It also didn’t help that I kept having the same dream about the faceless man and an emptiness so profound it left me shaking afterwards. Who was he? There were so many things I still didn’t understand…the choices my mother had made, regardless of knowing she’d have children, she’d left me to pick up the pieces.

My mind whirled around my conversation with Maes at the lake. He’d told me my mother was self-centered and self-seeking. I hadn’t wanted to think about it at the time, but now my anxiety gnawed at me. Was it true? Did she run away from her betrothal because she was only concerned about her own well-being?

Then there was the fact that she didn’t follow through with her obligation. So why couldn’t I make the same choice and deny Marcus as well? Technically, I could if I married Callon or Colt; however, what would that mean to future generations? If he’d hunted down my birth parents, Qaysean and Sahara, I was sure Marcus would never allow Callon, Colt or me to live in peace. I couldn’t allow this endless circle to continue. It had to stop before more were hurt, but how?

He was faceless to me, just a name. In fact, his name was the only thing I knew about the man whom I should feel vengeful toward, a man I should hate, but yet couldn’t. At least, not yet. My dad had always taught me never to judge a person without knowing firsthand. I knew nothing about Marcus except what others had told me. Heck, I didn’t even have proof that
he
was the one who had murdered my parents; only the words of others whose opinions had already been formed with hatred.