16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter sixteen
Hummingbird
I made my way to the security room after Shield texted me about the sandwich stuff. It was sweet of him to check in, and I appreciated it. Once settled in, I pulled up the feeds for the cameras that covered where he would drive in.
Even though I was expecting him, my anxiety spiked for a second when the dark SUV emerged from the trees and approached the mine entrance. When I saw it matched the description Edith gave me, I forced in a few calming breaths.
It’s fine. He’s supposed to be here.
I watched him drive into the opening and park near where we used to. When he stepped out of the SUV, I compared his face to that of the picture Edith had sent me. While the lighting in the mine wasn’t ideal, and he wasn’t as dressed up, there was no denying he was the same person. This was Shield.
I took another deep breath and let it out slowly. Everything was going according to plan.
Please let it stay like that.
He walked around, taking notice of everything in the long-abandoned cave before heading to the cache, unlocking it, and adding in two paper bags. I narrowed my eyes at the screen, excited about my favorite sandwich makings.
Shield:
He smiled as he put his phone in his pocket and made his way out of the cave.
I watched him as he wandered the property. There was a confidence in his stride that reminded me so much of Derek. It was as if he’d been there a hundred times, picking up a stick or rock on occasion, throwing it into the woods.
He put on a casual air, but I watched as he took in every detail of the house and property.
He’s even cuter in person.
I shook my head once again at the inappropriate thought.
What is wrong with me?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. It wasn’t a sin to acknowledge if someone was good-looking.
I’m heartbroken, not dead.
Before I could overthink it, my phone dinged, temporarily stopping my panic.
Tech:
Do I ever.
Tech:
I sat there for a moment before the tiniest smile appeared on my face.
Hummingbird:
Tech:
Tech:
I glanced up from my phone to the screens on the wall showcasing all the camera feeds, my focus locking in on the corner square showing where Shield was walking around. A smile appeared on my face when I thought of Tech sitting somewhere, doing the exact same thing.
Hummingbird:
I was fine watching Shield walking around until he came up to the front of the house. My breath hitched and froze in my throat when he tried to open the door, and I didn’t exhale until he was off the small porch and walking around to the back.
The panic surprised me. It wasn’t like he was going to get far if he got into the house, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready for someone new to walk into my safe place.
Not a today problem.
I kept tabs on him until he was in his truck and had left the edge of the farthest camera’s range.
Not long later, a message popped up on my phone.
Shield:
I was unable to keep the smile off my face. He wasn’t wrong.
Hummingbird: