Thirty-Five

When chickens were getting roasted, did they feel this way? Probably! I had to get out of there. God bless dad and his man’s stuff! I just couldn’t help but roll my eyes. The coffee was the best excuse to get out of there and meet Shane. I was about to suggest it when dad spoke. Amen to the man! Then the text! I had told Shane to meet me at the coffee shop, and I had warned him not to reach for me, but he never listened. I walked down the sidewalk, trying to rid this heavy feeling from my chest. And then there he was by the corner, his blue eyes sparkling, gazing at me, all showered and cleaned up, but even with all the grime and grease from the bikes, he was handsome!
He wasn’t that tall compared to Vlad and Dad, but a good two inches taller than me, with those silky wheat blond strands falling over his stern face. I remember lacing my fingers in them and bringing him for kisses. In the beginning, my heart used to backflip for him. After a while, it stopped. I didn’t understand why Tony didn’t like him. I know he looked severe and laughed little, but behind all that, there was an intelligent, loving man.
“Shane!” I rushed and hugged him. His delicious cologne engulfed me. The scents of musk and violet with a hint of pepper used to drive me crazy, but now, only inspired a friendship and wonderful memories. We had just met that morning, but we didn’t have time to talk, since his new girlfriend showed up out of the blue in his garage.
“I got worried, and we have to talk, Alex.” His hands traveled over my back, settling one on my waist and the other on my neck for a tight embrace. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea meeting him, I didn’t want him to have hopes.
“I know, come. Time is short, let’s grab a coffee.” I got him by the hand and pulled him inside the store. We got two mocha lattes and headed for a table at a corner of the café, hidden between some bookshelves.
He got off his jacket, hanging on the chair, and I couldn’t help but trace all his muscles rippling underneath that fitting t-shirt. And when he flexed them, some of his tattoos would spring to life on that tanned skin. Shane was a living sin, and the bastard knew it.
“Remembering the old times, Alex?” he said with a nasty grin and winking when he caught me ogling him. My cheeks burned red. “What kinda crap did you put yourself through this time?” I didn’t miss the scorn and anger bite in his tone.
“Don’t look at me like that. My father is already enough, please. A friend is what I need now, not one more marinating me for another roast.”
“I hate when you use that word! I don’t expect to be your FRIEND, Alex.” He slumped in the chair in front of me, pinching his lips together and rubbing the back of his neck. “Ok, tell me.”
His intense gaze on my face was making me uncomfortable. We were together for almost three years, but in the end, at least for me, we were more of friends than lovers, and there was a time I just couldn’t bear his touch anymore, so I broke up with him. It’s been years already, but he always hoped we would get back together, and sure I took advantage of this weakness. He never said no when I needed him.
“A few months back, I found out a bunch of info on me and the program we’re in. Did you know they were trying to enhance us?”
“Why are you so nosy, Alex? You’re going to get yourself killed.” He said, sipping his coffee, but he didn’t answer me. When I narrowed my eyes, giving him a grilling look, he continued, “No, I didn’t know they were experimenting on us.” But why didn’t he sound surprised or angry?
“I couldn’t get on with my research, because they kept me busy for a while, but about a week ago, they sent me into a trap, and I barely got out of it alive.” While I talked, he was just there staring at me, giving nothing. “If they did this to me, they know what I had done, so it’s impossible for me to go back there, and the fucker who fried my brain that night knew who I was. I knew him also, but I can’t place him.” There you go, the slight movement of his dilating pupils. I sat back in my chair and gulped down half of the drink, staring at how over the rim of the cup. I was getting hungry. Being around Grizzly made little time for food.
“This is bad, Alexandra. You got yourself in their way. I told you so many times to let go of this obsession, why don’t you listen when people talk to you?” He shook his head and sat up straight, not once taking his eyes from me.
“Obsession? Only I know all the pain and hurt I’ve been through. I needed to know if he’s alive, and why he abandoned us. And I’m sorry if my problems got in our way.”
“Ok, what do you need me to do?” He looked at me with such tenderness, I felt dirty using him this way. It wasn’t fair to Shane, but at the moment he was the only one I had.
“Even with my talents, I won’t be able to break into the agency. I have stuff I need in my locker.”
“Don’t you think they already made a clean sweep on your stuff?”
“You’re right, but I took my precautions in case things got out of hand. You could get it for me, and we will meet again.” He thought for a few endless seconds and nodded.
“Ok, I’ll do it. But I can’t help worrying about you, Alex.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “They spare no one.”
“I know, Shane, but I’m not an easy target. Here, this is what I need and how to get to it.” I reached for my pocket and put the piece of paper in his hands. Right away, he caught my hand in his, and I faced him. “Thank you.” He tensed, and it was always this way around me. He couldn’t relax when we were together, and it made me even guiltier.
“Alex…” he said in a strained whisper. I was aware of his feelings for me, and I needed to divert the situation.
“Hey, tell me, who was that busty brunette who showed up at the shop today?” I asked, wiggling my brows at him, and a smile appeared on his lips.
“That’s Louise. I banged her twice, she’s good at it,” he said on purpose to see my reaction. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any, just a light blush for his shameless answer. “Now, she thinks she’s my girlfriend.” He laughed and winked at me.
“Why don’t you give her a chance? She seemed fun to be with.”
“Nah, she just wants the thrill the bikes offer, nothing else, and of course, me in her bed.” He added in a somber voice, and once again his eyes fixed on me. I finished my coffee, and a wave of dread hit me as I jumped out of the chair.
“Jeez, I have to go!” I told him, grabbing my jacket, and he did the same.
“Why the rush?” He had a puzzled look, coming around and circling my waist.
“I don’t know. A wave of bad vibes just hit me. They must be looking for me, and I can’t be careless to lead them to my father or you.” All the hairs on my back rose, and goosebumps crept all over my skin, making me shudder in his arms. I looked around suspiciously, searching for the source. It was some dark energy I’ve never felt before. “Don’t you feel it?”
“Since when are you feeling this way?” I could discern the worried tone in his voice. He had his share of freakiness just like me, so I didn’t lie to him.
“Shane, my talent is growing, and others are surfacing, since they fried me in that cabin.”
“Are you sure?” Something changed in him. He looked at me with what seemed satisfaction in his eyes, but trying to hide it, then he said, “You’re right, better we go.”
There was something very odd at play here. Shane, the agency, this dark feeling, everything. I was suffocating inside the place, and I needed air. I left the coffee shop in a hurry, going to the street, and only there I could breathe again. Whatever it was, it came from inside. I wasn’t safe there, and I needed to go back; I had already stayed more than I should. We talked for a few more minutes, saying our goodbyes, when he got me into a tight hug.
“I’m sorry for everything, Shane. I’ve never meant to hurt you. You know that, don’t you?” Tears burned in the back of my eyes.
“You know I still love you, don’t you?” he whispered to me, and tears glinted.
“I know, and I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us and for putting you in this mess, Shane. I wish I could love you more than just a friend.”
Then an outraged and very pissed voice boomed throughout the silence of the street, “Alexandra!” I leaped out of Shane’s arms, and my blood froze when I saw two furious pairs of eyes fixed on me.