Sands of Forgiveness
Ididn’t know what to expect the next morning. I hadn’t seen Reid since he ducked behind the gym door last night. I had rummaged through the fridge, collecting random things to eat for dinner, then stayed in the guest room by myself.
I had to work a double today, brunch and lunch, so I was up relatively early compared to my usual sleep in time. After throwing on my work clothes, slipping my feet into the most comfortable tennis shoes I owned, and normally only wore on double days, I headed to the kitchen to feed the dogs.
It had become a routine for Reid and I lately. He disappeared bright and early, and while he was taking his morning shower, I fed the dogs and let them out. We never spoke about it, but it was the habit we fell into.
But I didn’t make it to the dogs right away today. The second I stepped into the kitchen, a small, red box pulled my focus away from wagging tails and drooling tongues.
I had become so accustomed to seeing a mug waiting, that the deviation of something new completely captured me. Tentatively, I made my way over, glancing left and right to see if anyone else was around.
Obviously, Reid left the box. It was small but rectangular, a white ribbon glued on to look like it was tied, but it could still be easily opened.
So that was what I did. I opened the box with shaky hands, unsure as to what could be inside. It looked like a jewelry box, but why would Reid have left me jewelry?
My answer came the second the lid was lifted.
Happy birthday, Marswas written on a small slip of paper on the inside.
“I didn’t forget, Mars. I’ll make it up to you.” Reid’s comments from last night rang through my mind.
He didn’t forget. He had a million messages he wanted to send. And, from the looks of it, even a present.
Trembling, I moved the paper to the side. Then I gasped, finding the present within.
A delicate gold chain with a few charms in the middle. Two small stars and one circular object. I couldn’t place it at first, but upon closer inspection, it hit me.
Mars.
It was the planet Mars. Just like the name he called me.
I tucked in my lips and bit down to stop a sob from escaping. He hadn’t forgotten my birthday. In fact, had he sent me the messages he said he wanted to, or had sent this, the entire day could have turned in a very different direction.
With my hands still shaking, I managed to gently lift the necklace out of the box and put it around my neck, my fingers clasping over the charms.
This present meant the world to me. I couldn’t even put it into words. There was no thank you enough that could convey how much this small, thoughtful gesture meant.
Not that I had anyone to thank at the moment. Creeping over to the stairs, I didn’t even hear the shower on upstairs. Either Reid was somewhere else in the house, or he was gone.
Did he not want to be around when I found it? Did he want to just leave it and not talk about it?
Either way, I wore it with pride, then hurried to feed the dogs and get ready for work. I didn’t know if I would even see Reid today, or what to say if I did. But that didn’t matter now. Because now, I knew his true feelings.
At least, I thought I did.
Somehow living with Reid was slowly making me into a morning person, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that just yet. Waking up when the sun had barely made its ascent seemed criminal.
I yawned and stretched, silently asking myself if it would be possible to go back to sleep. When the dogs attacked, I knew that chance had become zero.
“Okay, okay, I’ll get you fed. It’s probably too early, but I’m guessing you don’t care.”
After getting my morning routine done, I threw on a tank top and shorts, tossing my hair into its signature half up bun as I walked down the hall.
The house was quiet. The only time I saw Reid over the past three days was in passing. We exchanged pleasantries, but nothing more. The day I found the necklace, he had glanced down at my chest, seeing me wear it, then back up to my eyes. His dark ones had lit up, and I expected him to say something, but he just nodded and went out the door.
It was more awkward than ever now. Especially since finding the necklace the next morning. And after what happened in the car.
Or, what didn’t happen.
Since it was so early, it seemed highly likely that he was out running. I didn’t know for sure when he left or got back, but considering the dogs were with me right now, I had to assume he was gone.
I made it to the kitchen and dropped food in the dogs’ bowls before I instinctively looked over at the coffee. Except today, it wasn’t on. I didn’t get a chance to inspect closer before the sound of the back door opening distracted me.
Well, it distracted me for a moment. Once I saw who came through, I was distracted for a whole other reason.
Reid Bennett walked through, all six foot something of him, bronzed, sweaty, and shirtless.
I didn’t dare blink, knowing that if I did, the hallucination would disappear. Instead, I kept my eyes trained on him as he wiped his face with the t-shirt in his hands, his chest heaving with each deep breath. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I continued to watch as he paced in a circle, his hands on his hips, looking down at the rug beneath him.
Even his curls were damp, plastered to his forehead in little ringlets. As he turned, his back faced me and I now knew what inspired Michaelangelo to create David. The way the muscles on his back rippled with each breath, how they stretched, glistening in the sunlight as he craned his neck from one side to the other…
Still with his back to me, he reached up, lacing his fingers together behind his head, opening his chest to suck in more air. His triceps, biceps, and any other -ceps in his arms flexed, and his shoulders rolled, literally leaving me breathless.
I always thought of Reid as handsome. He had caught my eye the first time Caleb brought him to the cafe to hang out with us.
But this… this was an entirely new Reid. I had never been attracted to overly muscular men, but for some reason, his were just perfection. There was definition on top of definition without being bulky. All I wanted to do was run my hands over his shoulders, down his arms, and trace each individual ab, which were now more pronounced than they had been the other day in the library.
Finally, I blinked, gulping down all my thoughts as I turned back to the coffee pot, trying to put all of my focus on the machine. Before I could do anything, a hand reached around me and pushed the on button.
Reid stood right behind me, his arm slowly retracting as a sly smile adorned his lips.
“I set it before I head out. Turn it on when I get back. It’s ready by the time I’m done showering,” he said in a low voice, his warm breath tickling my ear.
Holy heck, what is this boy trying to do? His voice sent shivers from my head to my toes, lighting me up in every area possible.
My lips flapped open a few times as my brain attempted to remember the English language. I only regained consciousness when he stepped back a few feet, still looking at me as if I were his favorite candy.
I licked my lips, my mouth parched. Reid closed his eyes briefly, before sucking in a deep breath and leaning against the counter behind him.
“Good morning. You’re up early,” he said softly, even though there was no one in the house besides us. He tossed his damp t-shirt over his shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest. His muscles tightened as he did, making me weak in the knees.
I shrugged, trying to be as casual as he was, but failing. “You’re chipper than you’ve been lately,” I countered, trying desperately not to stare at his bare chest, at the biceps that bulged over it.
He just nodded, his face solemn. “Sorry. I got a little in my head.” His eyes snapped to mine. “But know one thing, Marlowe. No matter where we stand, I will never let someone hurt you like that. I will not step aside and allow people like Storms to use you. To walk all over you. To hurt you in any way, physical or not. It will not happen while I’m around.”
I stopped breathing, watching the fire burn behind his eyes. I always knew Reid would have my back no matter what, but now? Now I knew what he was capable of and how determined he was to keep that promise.
I nodded, taking his words to heart. Wanting to lighten the mood, I said, “Thank you for the necklace,” I whispered, reaching up to touch the charms. His eyes followed my hand, staring at the chain around my neck.
“I’m sorry I missed your birthday, Mars,” he whispered hoarsely. He cleared his throat and pushed off the counter, running a hand through his hair.
There was no answer to that, so I changed the topic once more, to something we would both enjoy. “We never finished the second clue,” I said while patting the counter behind me for the mug. I needed something to do with my hands.
Reid kept his focus on me for another beat before looking down at his still sweaty torso. He gestured to it. “Think I can hit the showers before we dissect? I’m afraid I wouldn’t be too great of company before then.”
I grinned. “Sure. I’ll make breakfast today.”
Reid stepped toward me before pausing. If this had been last year, he would have leaned over and kissed my cheek before running off.
Today, he just gave me a small smile before jogging upstairs.
I fixed us an easy breakfast of yogurt parfaits, making him a green tea and finally pouring my coffee. He came down quicker than I thought he would, his hair wet and his t-shirt stuck to the still damp part of his back.
The back that held more muscles than I could name.
“So the only part of the clue I really remember is the part that says we need to go during the daytime. Do you have the rest?” he said, sitting on the stool next to me.
He had said his peace about Declan. There was nothing further I could ask. There was no more clarification needed. We were moving on and leaving all of that behind.
I slid my phone across the counter to him, having taken a picture of the clue last night so I could refer to it without needing the paper close by.
Reid reached over and grabbed a paper and pen, sliding them toward me.
“What’s this?”
“For you.”
“For what?”
A small chuckle left his lips, followed by a smile. “For you to make your list, Mars. The list I know you’ve already made in your head. We didn’t really discuss the clue yet, but I know the second you read it, you started a new list.”
I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes at him playfully. “First of all,” I started, acting as if I were about to argue with him, “you’re not wrong.”
His smile grew, then he took my phone in his hands and looked at the picture.
“Follow the path where seagulls play, where friendships are guarded, and where footprints leave their mark. Your next clue will not be found in the dark,” Reid read out loud. He sipped his tea, deep in thought.
“Still a bit salty about the seagull thing. Do you think someone’s messing with me?” I asked, scraping the bottom of my bowl to get the last bits of yogurt. “The coincidence is a little odd.” I twirled the spoon in my mouth.
Reid stared at me for a moment before clearing his throat and looking back at the phone. “No. Um, I mean…” He just shook his head, his shoulders hunched over the counter, showing off how tightly his shirt wrapped around them and hugged his biceps. It was all I could focus on this morning, apparently. “No. We got the clue before that happened, remember? A coincidence, yes, but I don’t see it being related. It would be too elaborate of a play.”
“What if I was supposed to find something during the seagull attack? What if there was a clue under the—”
Reid held up his hand to stop me. “No. Really, with how dumb Declan is, I don’t think any of them are involved. Remember the cafe? They all said they wanted a piece of the prize. Why would they say that if they were in on it?”
I twisted my lips and sighed. “Well, that’s all I got. Seagulls play around the shoreline. No idea where friendships are guarded. And footprints can leave their mark anywhere. Maybe… maybe in cement? Know of any sidewalks going up lately?” I rested my chin on my hand, pouting slightly. The clues weren’t as easy as I hoped they were going to be, making me feel kind of dumb.
“I don’t. But great thoughts. You’re thinking outside the box. I didn’t even think about that for footprints.”
I turned the phone over, not really wanting to discuss the clue right now. Ever since he left to go shower, one thing had been on my mind.
“Reid?”
He hummed, lifting his brows as he sipped the rest of his tea.
“Are we going to talk about what happened?” I never had a problem being direct with him before, and I wasn’t going to start now.
“What happened when? Where?”
I gave him a pointed stare. He was stalling, and he knew it. “You. Me. The other night. In the car.” Did I honestly have to spell it all out for him?
He had held my face in his hand.
He had leaned in.
He had almost kissed me.
And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been desperate for him to actually do so…