The Savior of the Font

Chapter 8

 The storm has slowed to gentle rain. What's left of the thunder is so distant I can barely hear it. Now, Mother Nature's fury is just a calming white noise. We're still in bed. The house is pitch black and the air is still stuffy. I feel too warm, but I'm not letting her go unless I'm asked to. Faith is lying on her back, one arm over me as I snuggle up against her. My head rests on her shoulder.

It's been nearly an hour since either of us said a word. I've glanced up more than once to see if she's asleep, but her eyes are open. She's just staring at the ceiling. I want to know what she's thinking about, but I can't help but assume she's having doubts about what just happened and I'm too scared to ask and know for sure.

"You're awfully quiet," I finally say.

"A lot on my mind," she replies. Her voice is distant and disconnected like she's responding with a prerecorded message.

"Anything you want to talk about?"

She sighs. "This... this complicates things."

I sit up and rest on my elbow so I can see her face. "What do you mean?"

"You weren't supposed to find me, Roberts. None of you were. I was supposed to disappear and let all these feelings just go away with time. Then you showed up and I learned time hadn't done shit to change a thing."

"Can't that mean things are better?" I question. "Now you don't have to be alone."

"How do you figure that?" she retorts. I don't know how to answer. "I can't go back to Charlotte. Not unless everyone's going to magically start ignoring the woman who brought on the Rapture."

"It's been over a year," I remind her. "Everyone's doing better on their own than you might think. Besides, Charlotte has a new mayor now and everything." Her eyes dart away, but a kiss from me draws them back. "Things are orderly there, Faith. They don't need you, but I do."

She doesn't answer. I know she feels like she can't go back; what I can't figure out is if she wants to or not. She can't want to stay here, right? Faith has changed, but so many of the changes feel forced. Being tortured by my father left her damaged, and not wanting us to see that damage led to her isolation. I know she doesn't like living out here, even though Sam and his brother seem like great guys. How can I make her see that she isn't beyond help?

"Can I ask you a question?" Faith asks.

"Anything," I reply.

"Did you even, like, try to be with anyone else after I left?"

I giggle and crawl on top of her, straddling her hips. "Why do you ask?" Feeling her against me is making me wet all over again. "Don't tell me you'd be jealous."

She raises an eyebrow and smacks my ass, causing me to moan and bite my lip. "Don't flatter yourself, Roberts."

"Yes," I answer. "I did try dating a couple of other girls after you left."

"And it didn't work out?"

"Where is this going?" I ask.

She sighs. "I just don't want you to feel like you couldn't have had a life without me." Faith puts a hand on my cheek and gives me a kiss.

"And if it had worked out with one of them then, who knows, maybe I would have. But it didn't, and I've never stopped needing closure. I've never stopped loving you. I don't believe I ever could."

She shuts her eyes tight and breathes deeply. "I'm sorry I put you all through this."

I kiss her forehead. "You had your reasons. At least I see that now. What matters now is what happens next."