Poseidon (The God Chronicles) (11 page)

“Wait,” I whispered.

“I know,” he said, still kissing me. “Don’t worry, I’m leaving.” With a sigh, he raised off me and rolled to the floor.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” He smiled as he stood, straightened his shirt, and ran a hand through his hair.

“Okay.” It was all that came out as he walked through the door, shutting it softly behind him.

I continued to lay on the couch, trying to catch my breath. I hadn’t intended to go so far, but it’d felt so good! My heart
was beating a million miles a minute, my skin flushed, and a smile grew ever larger on my lips.

I understood completely when he said his emotions couldn’t be controlled. When we were together it was like everything in me came bubbling to the surface, fighting to get free. I’d never felt anything but a shadow of that when I was with John.

I finally rose from the couch, lightly running my fingers through the tangled curls that fell in my face.

“Come on, Talley,” I
called, ushering her inside. She went straight to the room and her dog bed. I, however, stopped at the bathroom to wash my face and pull my hair back.

Examining
myself in the mirror, I blushed at my ravaged state. Even after all the makeup was washed away, I still looked freshly kissed. It was a wonderful feeling!

I walked into the bedroom, sliding my ring off to look at it as I sat on the edge of the bed. It’s shiny condition testified to my attempts to keep it clean and looking nice. John had borrowed money from his father to buy it.

“Because it was perfect for you,” he’d said.

The silver band was just as beautiful as the
thirty-five tiny diamonds grouped together in fives. I’d never taken it off except to clean it, or show it to someone, since the day he’d given it to me.

This ring was the
only thing still tying me to John besides the love I felt in my heart. Slowly, I slid it back on, laying back in the bed, holding my hand up to look at it.

“I love you, John,” I said to the picture next to me.

“I had a wonderful time tonight. I want to see where things could go with Sy. That won’t make you mad, will it?”

I sat up and looked at the photo, a sad smile on my face.

“I miss you so much. You know that, I’m sure. What do you think about all this?”

As always, there was no reply.
Simply a wedding day smile, frozen in time.

“Oh, John,” I sighed, laying back down.  “Don’t hate me.”

“Thanks for calling!”

I hung the phone up and turned to Amy.

“I will be so happy when we don’t have to deal with so many enrollment issues!”

“Me too,” she agreed. “Half the things people
call about isn’t even something we can help with.”

“I know,” I said. “When school starts I’ll be more than happy to just check people in and out.”

We laughed as the front door opened and I turned to assist whoever it was.

“Hi,” Sy said with a smile.

“Hey!” I relaxed back into my chair and grinned back at him. “You missed our run this morning.”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “I accidently slept in. I was up late last night.” He winked at me and placed his hands on the desk.

“I’m Amy,” my friend interjected, standing up and holding her hand out.

“Sy. Nice to meet you,” he
returned politely, taking it.

“How do you to know each other?”

“We’re neighbors,” he answered nonchalantly.

“Actually, we went out on a date last night,” I added, surprised at my own boldness.

“I didn’t know you were dating again, Audrey!” She smiled at me excitedly, a reaction I had not expected.

“I was her first since John,” Sy said, smiling
widely at me. “I had to talk her into it.”

“How wonderful!” Amy was beaming with happiness and I blushed at her reaction.

“I’ll let you two talk for a minute,” she said, turning to leave. “I have to make a trip to the ladies room anyway.”

“Okay,” I said, still blushing bright red as she left.

“Wow,” Sy said with appreciation. “Already telling people you went on a date. I thought for sure you would deny it to the grave.”

“Whatever,” I said, not making eye contact.

“I came to ask you out, again,” he said, reaching out and taking my chin in his hand. He raised my face up until I was looking him in the eyes.

“When did you want to do something?” I sputtered, getting lost in his gaze.

“I thought we could go to the aquarium tonight, if you want. You said you’d never been there before and not only can I get us in for free, but I can give you the special backstage tour as well.”

“Sounds fun,” I
agreed. “What time?”

“Same as last night? They stop letting people in once it gets close to time for the mall to close. We’ll probably be the only people there.”

“Sure,” I said, blushing harder as Amy came back and saw him still holding my face.

“I’ll see you then.” He looked into my eyes for a second more before smiling and releasing
me.

“It was nice to meet you, Amy,” he
told her as he walked back to the door.

“You, too
!” She nodded enthusiastically, waving until she couldn’t see him in the parking lot any more.

“
Audrey,” she began, turning to me. “Oh. My. Gosh. Why didn’t you tell me? He’s so hot! Holy cow, what did you guys go do? I had no idea that you were ready to date, I’ve been thinking for months that the new man who moved in down the street for us would be perfect for you!”

“Slow down, Amy!” I laughed. “I haven’t told anyone. To be honest, I’m surprised I even told you.”

“Why wouldn’t you?” she asked, taking her seat next to me.

“I—I don’t want anyone judging me for going out so soon after John’s death.”

“Oh, honey,” she soothed, reaching out and grabbing my hand. “No one is going to do that! We’ve all been hoping that you would find someone to make you happy. You loved John so much—it was terrible to see how shattered you were. I didn’t even know what to say to you, because I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“I noticed,” I laughed
, wearily. “That’s part of why I. . . I like Sy. He asked me about it and encouraged me to talk about my past. No one, other than my mom, would do that for me.”

“You should have told me that, too,” she said,
drawing me forward into a big bear hug.

“Are you okay?” I asked
, when I heard sniffles coming from her.

“Yes! It’s just these stupid pregnancy hormones. One minute I’m happy as can be and the next I’m crying because Matthew swatted a fly.”

“Sounds fun,” I laughed, hugging her tighter. “I’m so glad for you Amy. I know you’ve wanted to have a baby for a long time.”

“I have,” she cried harder. “And I wanted to share everything with you, but I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“You won’t,” I reassured her, withdrawing from the hug.  “I want to hear about it.”

“
Audrey, I’ve missed you so much,” she said, suddenly serious. “Now you tell me all about the date that hot man took you on!”

I laughed more, excited to finally have one friend back. It sounded like everyone shared her view as well. The very thing I’d feared would drive them all away more appeared to be bringing them all back to me. Hopefully, John’s family would feel the same way.

“He took me to IHOP,” I started.

“How funny!” She looked totally engaged and replied to everything I said.

I’d missed this relationship with her so much. Before John died, we’d spent the days laughing over things in the office and sharing stories. We would meet up for double dates and go on fun trips together. I felt overjoyed at the thought of getting that back.

I left work early after that to go to my
appointment with Mary, anticipating her reactions when she heard all the things that I’d done since we last met.

Empowerment flowed through me
on the drive to her offices. I was getting my life back! I was moving forward as my own person and loving how those around me were accepting it.

As soon as I entered the building, Mary was at her door ushering me in.

“You look like you’ve had a good couple of months,” she observed, as I sat down.

“I have!” I beamed.

“Would it have anything to do with you and Sy going out together?”

I suddenly realized I’d completely forgotten she had seen us at The Cheesecake Factory.

“Oh, yeah! When we went out that first time it was just as friends. But we actually went on a date last night. You were so right about everything. My friends seem to be happy for me, and I did have a really good time. I wasn’t so sure at first, because of some stuff that happened before, but it turned out great.”

“Whoa, slow down,” she laughed. “What stuff from before?”

I recounted the details of our morning runs and the party I’d been arrested at. She found that very amusing.

“I’m happy everything has taken a turn for the better.” She smiled at me from behind her desk. “You really deserve it. I do wonder though—since you’re spending all this time with Sy—have you remembered any of the details of your rescue?”

“I think I did, actually,” I said. “I got water up my nose and thought I remembered water being pulled out of me. But that’s not what happens when you get CPR, is it?”

“No, it’s not,” she
agreed, thoughtfully. “Hopefully, you’ll remember clearly when your memory returns.”

She bent over
to open one of the drawers in her desk and pulled out a bottle of clear liquid.

“While I’m thinking about it,” she said, handing it to me. “I’ve been putting this in my drink every day. It’s a natural energy shot, I thought you would like to try some since you’re a runner.”

“Thanks,” I said taking it from her. “Do I owe you anything for it?”

“Not at all,” she
replied, standing and walking over to the door. “I’ve been using it and thought of you, when you mentioned you were running again.”

“That was very kind, thank you.”

I walked out the door and smiled as she ushered the next person in.

“Have a good day,
Audrey!”

“I will, thanks.”

I examined the jar as I walked out to the car, wondering where she had got it from. There was no label or anything. If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought it was filled with water. I wasn’t bothered by it though—I trusted her. Besides, I didn’t need any extra energy today.

“So this is where the magic happens.”

Sy and I were walking along the top of the big tank at the aquarium. All kinds of sea life swam beneath us, playing in the faux dinosaur skeleton on the bottom. It looked like another world. The walls around us were white, but the lights in the water reflected a blue onto them that moved with the fish. The catwalk beneath us was a plain metal grate, a handrail along both sides.

“I guess you could say that,” he laughed, squeezing my hand tighter and
guiding me along. “This is my favorite tank. It’s the most like the ocean.”

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” I laughed. “All this talk about the ocean and you’re living in the middle of the desert. How do you stand it?”

“I have you,” he said simply.

I blushed deep red and laughed, embarrassed.

“That was corny,” he laughed as well. “I’ll remember not to use that one again.”

“Good idea.”

We walked in silence for a while after that, soaking up the atmosphere around us. The animals seemed to love Sy, swimming up to the top of the tank whenever he came close to an open edge.

“It’s because I feed them,” he
told me. “Do you want to try?”

“I don’t know. I won’t get bitten by anything, will I?”

“No way! I wouldn’t let that happen.”

“Ok,” I
agreed nervously, taking the dead fish he’d held out to me.

“All you have to do is hold it out over the water,” he
instructed, coming up behind me and placing his hands on my hips. “Sammy, that’s one of the sharks, will come up and take it from you.”

“A shark?” I
squeaked.

“It’s fine,” he laughed. “I promise.” I scrunched my eyes closed and held the fish out as he pushed me forward, closer to the water.

“You’re sure I’m not about to lose my hand?”

“Sharks don’t like the taste of humans.”

“Tell that to all the people they’ve maimed or killed.”

“Relax,
Audrey,” he laughed. “I’ve got you.”

We stopped moving and I opened one eye just enough to see the shark swimming up to the surface. I screamed and threw the fish to it, jumping back from the edge.