The Three (30 page)

Matt’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “Well, I just…I hope I can really help.” He chewed on his lip, then blurted out, “I should tell you that I’m not the best at fighting. I’ve never really been very good at it.”

Anna’s suspicion was confirmed. “What are you good at?” she asked in a gentle voice.

Looking emboldened, Matt said, “Tracking. Hunting.” After some hesitation, he muttered, “Writing.”

“Really?” Anna had never met someone who liked to write. “Like stories?”

“And poetry.”

Anna raised her eyebrows in surprise. A sweet boy who doesn’t like fighting, blushes when he talks to me, and writes poetry. He may be as rare a find as Zep.

“That’s very cool.” She gave him an encouraging smile.

Matt shrugged, not meeting her eyes as they steered onto the highway. “I guess. I don’t think my father ever understood it. And Robby…well, sometimes Robby called me a faggot because of it.” Matt blinked hard, obviously upset by the confession. “I’m not a faggot.”

Anna gave Matt a brief nod. “It wouldn’t matter if you were gay.”

Matt’s face darkened. “Just because I like to write doesn’t mean I’m not normal.”

Frowning, Anna tried to decide how best to approach this rather sensitive topic. After only a split second of internal debate, she said, “And just because someone’s gay, that doesn’t mean they’re not normal.” When Matt swung defensive eyes in her direction, she said, “I believe that you’re not gay, Matt. I just want you to know that even though Robby thought that calling you a faggot was a good way to be mean to you, that doesn’t mean that gay people are bad.”

“But homosexuality is wrong.” He gazed at her with innocent eyes, no doubt repeating exactly what he had been taught. “It serves no purpose, and so it’s wrong.”

“My very best friend when I was growing up was named Garrett. He was like a brother to me. He was gay.”

Matt blinked rapidly at that. Anna suspected that he had likely never known of a gay person, and so she gave him time to adjust to the idea. “Just think about it, okay?” she said. “No matter what Robby made you think, there are worse things than being a faggot. Like being an asshole.”

“Robby gave me a hard time, you know, because I never wanted to go out and find women. I just…if I’m going to be with somebody, I want it to be someone who really wants me.” Matt coughed, face even redder, and stopped speaking as though afraid that Anna would mock him.

“I think that’s very honorable,” Anna said. “Some woman will be very lucky to find you.”

Matt looked almost painfully sunburned by this point, cheeks rosy-red with his embarrassment. Anna did the kid a favor and stared up at Kael’s back, careful not to look at him while he struggled to regain his cool.

“Do you think I’m pathetic?” he finally asked.

“No,” she said. “I think you’re one of the best men I’ve ever met.”

Interstate 65 took them up to Louisville, through the surrounding communities, and finally to 71, the road where Matt and Robby had seen Elin. Riding through the silent remains of the once-bustling metropolis was unnerving, and Anna felt uncomfortable at times talking with Matt, too aware of the way their voices seemed to echo off the concrete and steel that surrounded them. Twice they saw people.

The first time it was a group of three men and two women who glared at them suspiciously from the parking lot of an old shopping mall that was visible from the highway. They’d been far enough away that Anna could barely make out their features, and while she was unsettled by their presence, she hadn’t felt threatened.

The second time it was a lone man who walked along the side of the highway. He wore an oversized backpack, and his brown hair was shaggy and wild around his head. As they rode past him, he leered at Anna and blew her a kiss. Shuddering, she pedaled harder with her desire to leave him behind. Kael, who had fallen back at the sight of the stranger, glanced at her, protective indigo eyes reassuring her in an instant.

Kael was down, but she wasn’t out. And she would kill to protect what was hers. Her eyes told Anna that and so much more.

The sun went down shortly after they left metro Louisville, and they continued northbound on Interstate 71

for a few miles until Kael pulled over to the shoulder of the road.

When Anna and Matt caught up, she asked, “Matt, how far north do you think you were when you saw Elin?”

“Not far at all. In fact, we better start checking for their trail anytime now. It couldn’t have been more than two miles from here.”

With a nod, Kael climbed off her bike. “We stop for the night then. We’ll start out again as soon as there’s enough light to see tracks if they’ve left any.”

Anna gave Kael a grateful smile. “Sounds good. I don’t know about you guys, but my ass is killing me.”

Kael laughed, and when Anna followed the direction of Matt’s gaze, she realized that their young companion was staring at the sore body part in question.

“Mine, too,” Matt said quickly. Looking well and truly busted, he tore his gaze from her bottom and said,

“And I’ve gotta piss. I’ll be right back.”

Kael smirked as Matt stumbled off the road and disappeared behind a large billboard far out of earshot. “It’s kind of cute, but if that kid puts one hand on you—”

“He’s harmless,” Anna said. Though I’ve got to admit that getting checked out is kind of freaky. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired. My ass hurts, too.”

“We covered a lot of ground today.” Her fingers twitched to grab Kael’s hand, but she remained still, afraid of being rebuffed if she tried to initiate more intimate contact.

Hesitating for a beat, Kael stared at her, then invited, “Come here.”

Anna fell into her embrace with a sigh of relief. Kael’s lean frame felt thinner than she could ever remember; Anna was sure she could feel her ribs, but she ignored that and concentrated on her scent and the softness of her neck. She didn’t realize she was crying until Kael pulled back and looked down on her in concern.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

Anna shook her head and wiped the tears from her face. “It just feels good to be held, that’s all.”

“It feels good to hold you. I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you.”

“Don’t be sorry. I think you’ve got a good excuse for being distracted.”

Kael kissed the top of Anna’s head. “Maybe. But Elin would kick my ass if she knew how I’ve been acting.

She’s always telling me not to bottle things up inside. To talk about stuff.”

Anna ran one hand over the back of Kael’s head. She eyed Kael’s scalp wound, which was actually starting to heal. “I don’t expect you to be good at it right away. And not with me, certainly.”

Kael frowned at the quiet comment. “Why not? I really do love you.” She traced the backs of her fingers over Anna’s cheek, then leaned in and brushed her lips across Anna’s. Groaning in relief, Anna parted her lips and tasted Kael until strong hands settled on her upper arms and gently pushed her away.

“Our friend is returning,” Kael murmured.

Dazed, Anna stared at Kael’s mouth for long moments before she realized what her lover was saying. She looked over her shoulder and blushed, knowing what Matt had just witnessed. Then again, he probably saw Kael with his hand between my legs last night. I shouldn’t get bent out of shape about a little kiss.

Kael jerked her head to her left, toward a grouping of trees. “Let’s get away from the road. We’ll scout out that area and set up camp, then I’ll catch some dinner.”

The threesome walked their bikes off the highway and across gravel and grass toward the trees. This would be their first full night together. Anna hoped that Kael would warm up to Matt.

“You know, I could catch dinner.” Matt gave Kael an eager smile. “I’m a good hunter, I swear.”

Kael hesitated, and for a moment, Anna thought she would turn down Matt’s well-intentioned offer. Instead she thanked him, adding, “That’d be great.”

Anna bumped Kael with her hip. “Hey, maybe we could take a bath in the river.” It had been at least two weeks since she’d had the time and the means to give herself more than a cursory cleaning, and despite the slightly chilly air, the idea of a swim was intoxicating.

Kael bit her lip, and Anna could see how her eyes darted nervously to Matt. “I don’t know—”

Matt interrupted, eager to please. “I’ll totally give you guys some privacy. You can bathe, and I’ll catch and clean dinner. I’ll even cook, if you want.”

Kael chuckled. “You know, kid, maybe I could get used to having you around.”

Matt’s beaming grin cut through the darkness. “Yeah?” His voice, as it often did, broke in excitement.

“Sure.” Kael bumped Anna back. “Anna really does need a bath, after all.”

Anna laughed in surprise at the unexpected return of Kael’s humor. Like her unbridled rage, it came in flashes, unpredictable and usually short-lived. Anna’s chest grew heavy with pleasure at the prospect of spending time with Kael during this moment of respite.

“Shut up,” Anna scolded. “Dickhead.”

Matt giggled, a surprisingly childlike sound. He stopped abruptly when Kael shot him a look of admonishment. “Sorry,” he muttered.

“I’m not that used to you yet,” Kael said.

Despite the tone, Anna knew that Kael was being playful, and that brought a smile to her face. Things were looking up.

It took Anna a day and a half to work up the nerve to say the words. When she did, they came out as tense as she felt. “Matt, I want to talk to you about something.”

He looked up from peering at the side of the road and squinted into the setting sun. “Yeah? What’s up?”

Anna flushed as she contemplated how to actually start this conversation. She glanced at Kael, who wheeled her bike ahead of them, out of earshot, studying the road. They had decided to walk for a while because they had to be drawing closer to their quarry. Kael was far enough away from them to encourage a private conversation, but close enough to react in case something happened. Anna suspected that this proximity was intentional.

“Is everything okay?” Matt asked. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Of course not.” Anna took a step closer to the middle of the road and the boy she was really beginning to like. Her stomach flip-flopped in uneasy anticipation.

“I’m sorry dinner was a little dry last night.”

Anna held up her hand in protest. “Seriously, dinner was great. If you think that was dry, you should taste Kael’s cooking.”

“I don’t know. I’m sure Kael’s great at cooking. He seems like the kind of guy who’s pretty much great at everything he does.”

Anna suppressed a giggle at that. Still, Matt’s hero worship was strangely endearing. “Cooking isn’t one of his biggest talents.”

Matt gave her a shy smile. “But you love him, anyway.”

“I do.”

“I hope that one day I can find a woman who looks at me like you look at him.”

Anna took in the wistful expression on Matt’s face. “You will. You’re a good guy, Matt. I knew that as soon as I met you.

Some lucky girl is going to see it, too.”

He gave a dubious snort. “Yeah, well…” Obviously embarrassed, he moved the conversation along. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”

Anna blinked as she remembered why she was speaking to Matt in the first place. She stared down at the broken yellow line at the center of the highway. “I wanted to talk to you about Elin. And Kael. And me.”

“Yeah?” Matt sounded curious.

“It’s just that, before I knew you, when we met you and Robby on the road that first time—”

“What is it?” Matt’s expression grew more earnest. “Anna, you can tell me anything. We’re friends, right?”

Anna smiled at his attempt to put her at ease. “Yeah, we are. I’m just…nervous because now that we are friends, I want to be honest with you. But I need you to know I trust you, and I never wanted to mislead you.”

“I get it.” Matt pushed shaggy blond hair back with a casual hand. “You didn’t know us, and it’s not like Robby made a good first impression. There are a lot of bad guys out there, and you didn’t know that I wasn’t one of them. I understand, I swear. But you know me now.”

“I do,” Anna agreed. She took a deep breath. “Elin isn’t my sister.” That was the easy part. “It was easier to tell you that she was, but she’s not.”

“Oh.” Matt regarded her with innocent blue eyes. “Who is she, then?”

“She’s my best friend.” Anna held Matt’s gaze. “Our best friend.” Glancing ahead at Kael, who still plodded along, she murmured, “And she…she’s Kael’s lover.”

It seemed easiest to start with that admission. She’d work up to the rest.

Matt’s eyes grew wide. He gaped at Kael, then looked back to Anna, mouth still hanging open. “Kael has two girlfriends?”

Anna couldn’t help smiling at Matt’s awestruck reaction. Encouraged by his apparent lack of negativity about the idea, she pressed on. “He does. Does that…bother you?”

Matt stared at Kael, confusion written plainly on his face. He shook his head. “No, but…does it bother you?

You don’t get jealous? I mean, are you both…you and Elin, are you…do you both—”

Anna honed in on Matt’s question, sensing that she had the opportunity to get out the rest of what she needed to say. “I have no reason to be jealous of Elin. It’s not like—” She cleared her throat, heat rising in her face. “Elin and I both love Kael, but we love each other just as much. She’s…she’s my lover, too.”

Matt came to a sudden stop, practically stumbling over his bike. Anna also stopped walking and waited for the reaction she couldn’t quite predict. Matt opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, then looked at her in complete shock.

“You’re—”

“We’re a family.” Anna squinted to see Kael cresting a hill some distance in front of them. “Come on, Matt, we’ve got to catch up.”