Heart's Redemption (MxM)

Chapter 20 ~ Sam

The emotion in Ian's voice is unmistakable, even to someone who's never heard such tones directed towards himself.

Whoever he's talking to is someone he loves.

At the very least, someone he once loved.

I don't know why, but it makes me unspeakably sad. I suppose that, more than anything, I want to hear him sound like that when he talks to me.

I linger near the door for a minute or two, listening to the side of the conversation I can hear. I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I don't want to interrupt him either, and I end up hearing more than is good for me.

Shutting the door as softly as I can, I retreat, heading towards the shores of the lake.

A twilight gloom has settled over the woods, and the distant, mournful cry of some bird or animal carries high and wailing on the still air. I shiver and gaze out at the silver and black water, smooth as glass beneath the dimming sky.

The crack of a twig startles me, a zip of nerves shooting down my spine, and I turn to see Carlos walking towards me through the trees. He's looking down at his phone, scrolling with his thumb, and a slight frown pulls at the corners of mouth.

After passing through large swathes of territory with no signal, Ian and Carlos seemed relieved that the area around the lodge got reception. They'd both been glued to their devices since we arrived. Never having had one of my own, I didn't really understand, and felt a little left out, somehow.

"Hey," I call, hoping not to startle him like he did me. Unfortunately, my thoughtfulness backfires, and he drops his phone in surprise.

He bends to pick it up, and when he straightens, he shoots me a look that's not quite a glare, but it's close; a look of hostile wariness—the sort an animal might give to someone who's recently been mean to it.

I sigh. It's not my intention to be a bitch to the guy. He just draws it out of me.

I decide to make an effort, and walk forward to meet him. I realize that I don't have a lot of practice at relationship building, and I'm not sure where to begin. From what I've observed, though, it seems like an apology might be a good place to start.

"Hey, Carlos. Um..."

Apparently, saying "I'm sorry" is harder than I thought. I take a breath and try again.

"I'm sorry for how I've been treating you. I know what happened to you isn't your fault, and that you didn't mean to hurt Ian when you were possessed. Can we start over?"

He looks at me with suspicion, and I guess I don't blame him. "Sure," he says at last, "why not."

"What are you looking at?" I ask, as he turns his attention back to his phone.

He doesn't answer right away, and at first I think that he's not interested in being friendly after all, but when he looks up at me his expression is more troubled than hostile.

"Calls and texts from Toni," he says. "She's been trying to contact me nonstop since I left. I've been too angry to talk to her, but she won't stop and I don't know what to do."

I move to his side and peer at his phone.

He's not lying. There are hundreds of calls and texts from Toni's number. Even as I watch, new texts pop up on the screen.

Toni: Carlos, please. I just want to know if you're okay.

Toni: Please?

Toni: I'm so sorry. Please call me.