Gypsy

Chapter 30

·Zara·

My mood still isn't where it once was, not that I'm overly convinced that's a bad thing, all things considered. I have little to do now to occupy my time, aside from watch television--which, by the way, is not as much fun as I'd thought it would be--and try to write new songs.

But the songs fall flat without the music. They are merely words on paper that rhyme and tell a short story. I'm not a poet, but my notebook now suggests that I'm trying to become one. I sigh, close its cover, then toss it aside on my bed. I stare at it a long moment before I reach over and give it a little shove. It slips into the crack between the mattress and the wall then disappears from my sight. I nod my head in satisfaction.

I get up and run a tired hand through my hair, then leave the room. I enter the living room then flop down on the couch. I try to recreate movie roulette, picking channels and numbers at random, but it just doesn't have the same appeal when you're sitting here watching alone.

I think about that as I try to focus on the actors on the screen, but my mind keeps going back to that night with everyone else. Mostly I think about how I'd almost felt normal again, even though everything has changed so much.

I had joined in on the comments dripping with sarcasm, had even made a point to call Adam out like I used to do. And it had felt good when he'd whipped right back into me. "Demented little Ewok"--that had been pretty damned good. I smile and laugh to myself about that.

I hear the door open then close and I click off the television then toss the remote to the side. Adam's home. I feel a little nervous about that, to be honest, but I get up from the sofa then move to the doorway just the same. I look out at him and he gives me a friendly smile.

"Well, they're all loaded up on the plane and headed for New York," he says.

"Are you sure Grimm will be okay? Will Micah keep an eye on him? Will he--"

Adam stops in front of me and presses a finger against my lips. The shock of that unexpected touch immediately puts the brakes on my thoughts.

"He'll be fine, don't worry. He's in good hands. Micah might seem irresponsible, but he's really not."

He pulls his hand away and I just stare at him, wide eyed and mute. He grins at me, then turns away and heads to the kitchen. I stand there a long time, still feeling the phantom warmth of his touch on my lips. For the first time, my instinct to pull away from him remained dormant, and I have no frigging idea what that means.

Only two people in this world have that effect on me: Maddox and Andre. Micah comes in at a close third, but even with him I still feel slightly uncomfortable. Maybe it has to do with the box and Sadie, I think to myself as move back to the couch and sit down.

Eventually Maddox joins me. "Getting ready to head out. You sure you'll be okay here alone?"

I look at him and laugh. "I won't be alone, Doc. Adam will be here, too."

"That's what I mean." He gives me a pointed look and I drop my gaze to my lap.

"He's okay, I think. I mean, who else would freeze their ass off on a water tower, then still be willing to talk to me after I lose my shit? If he can do something like that and not complain, I think I should be able to trust him ... right?"