Volumes of the Vemreaux Complete Collection: A Dystopian Adventure Trilogy, page 21
This was clearly not an “I love you”, but Elle made do, glad that the kiss did not end with him shutting down on her because of her admission in the moment of weakness.
Baird brought his lips back to hers before she could say anything else that would push him in deeper than he was ready to go. “Tonight,” he began, changing the subject, “when you’re in Capital City…” Baird blessed her mouth urgently again and again, building up the passion a second time. “I want you to think about how good and bad we are together.” His lips muffled any response she could make. “I want you to think about how much I want you.” His hand grabbed her hip and squeezed, drawing a yelp from her. “How much I’ve always wanted you.” Over and over they drank from each other’s fervor, relishing the taste of such closeness and closure from years of attraction.
With the punch of a gong, the phone in Baird’s pocket rang. A frustrated growl expelled from Baird as the never-ending duties of his life tapped him on the shoulder. Before he spoke, he ran his hand over his face to regain some semblance of composure, and let his fingers rest on the back of his neck.
“Yes, sir?” he answered.
Elle touched her fingers to her lips and closed her eyes as she savored the sensation of his lips tasting hers. Taking a step back, she leaned against the countertop to steady herself until she could trust her legs to stop shaking. As Baird mumbled into the phone one- or two-word answers, Elle tried to convince herself that this was not just another of her plentiful daydreams. Baird had really kissed her.
Before he even hung up, his left forearm decided that it had been far too long without her and pulled her forward into a one-armed embrace as he spoke with his owner. When the presence of Joe was gone from the room, Baird leaned in, gently this time, and placed a barely-there kiss on her malleable lips.
“Joe gave you the okay to go with them. He just got off the phone with Secretary Anders to make sure he sends you back in the morning before your next shift. Joe wished you luck.” There were too many words to say without breaking them up with another kiss.
His finger curled under her chin and lifted it slightly to place another light command to her willing lips. “You can leave with them after we close up. Joe said that they’ll just have to wait.” He brushed his lips back and forth across hers slowly without landing on them and stopping to savor another kiss.
Her eyes fluttered shut again as she enjoyed his teasing caress.
“What am I going to do without you?” The last kiss he laid on her lips was so tender that a whimper escaped her mouth as he pulled away. Her tough resolve had forsaken her, leaving her a puddle of lovey goo that could barely keep its eyes open.
Unable to keep the cocky grin from taking over, Baird patted her cheek twice in satisfaction. “Don’t you leave without saying goodbye, Elle.” With that, Baird left her to gather her bearings in the privacy of the abandoned kitchen.
22
One Night Away
The night rushed by, and all too soon the Secretary and his assistant were ushering Elle out of the bar. With her game face fixed firmly in place, Elle marched out of the building in desperate need of a shower and sleep. Baird knew that she would not receive either.
Steve sat down to count his tips, but Baird leaned the chair forward. “Get up and clean or get out. You’re not getting paid an hourly wage on top of those tips to count your money.”
Steve grumbled, but muffled the more offensive words due to Baird’s menacing presence. Baird frowned when Steve still had not made a decision. “I’ll make it simple for you. Get out. Tomorrow when you decide to come to work, make sure it’s on time.”
“Whatever,” Steve mumbled as he left the building.
All through their cleanup of the diner, Baird tried not to notice Grettel’s and even Blue’s knowing looks regarding the advance he finally made with Elle. “Would you two stop it?” He forced the frown to pronounce itself more prominently on his features.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Blue said as she lifted the chairs to sit atop the tables. “Then again, I might know something about a blonde Wayward who burst into flames in the kitchen.” She caught the rag that he threw at her head. “Rumors. I’m sure it’s not true.”
Grettel giggled, breaking Baird out of his false pout. “I bet she stays awake all night for sure,” the small brunette supposed happily. “Good timing.” Taking in Baird’s scolding smile, she grinned at him before skipping back into the kitchen to help Stephanie put the clean dishes away.
Baird’s face fell once he did not have to pretend for Grettel anymore. It barely registered with him that his sister moved before he felt her hand on his.
“Hey.” Blue spoke in a soothing tone with eyes that held too much understanding. “She’ll be fine.”
“You act like I’m worried. I’m okay.”
“You act like I don’t know when you’re putting on a front,” she countered. “You raised us right. She’ll be fine.” Blue watched her brother try to appear unaffected. “Baird, it’s just one night away from us. Have some faith in yourself. You’re a good teacher.”
Guilt crept in over his shoulder like an eight-legged nuisance when his conscience reminded him that Blue could not date or get romantically involved with anyone. Yet here he was, callously making out with a woman in the kitchen.
“I shouldn’ta kissed her,” he admitted.
“Maybe the dumbest thing you’ve said all year.”
Baird looked up at his sister in mild surprise at her attitude. “If you can’t be with anyone, I shouldn’t either. It’s not right.”
“Who do you imagine I’d ever get involved with?” Blue sighed. “Look, kiss or no kiss, you’ve been with Elle for like, a decade. I’m glad for you.” She glanced down at the rag in her hand. “Do you think I want to die knowing my brother’s a chicken?” Baird opened his mouth to protest, but Blue held up her hand. “I want to see you happy with Elle. Do us all a favor and just go for it.”
“You don’t know anything about it,” he sulked, sour at being told such wise words from someone with no experience in the matter.
Blue’s voice was steady and quiet. “I know everything about you, Baird. Raising me tears you apart, bit by bit, day by day. I’m not an idiot. You’ve made too many sacrifices.” She ran her hand through her wavy hair that was the same color as her brother’s. “Elle? She’s the one who can put you back together after I’m gone. Of course, that’s only if you can learn to let her. You’ve always been a little bit slow with that sort of thing.”
She moved away from him to put three meters of distance between them. The two continued cleaning up the dining area together, enjoying a few moments of silence.
Unbidden, a private smile found its way onto Baird’s lips as he lifted up the chairs and placed them on the table. “I can’t believe you called me a chicken.”
“I can’t believe that’s the worst insult I could think of. Give me another hour. I’ll come up with something better.”
“Can’t wait,” he replied tonelessly.
“We’re done in the kitchen,” Stephanie announced, emerging from her work station with her purse. “Good working with you, Baird.” She extended her hand to him, and he acknowledged her gesture of respect. “Nice to meet you, Blue. Good luck to Elle, and really, really good working with you, Grettel.” There was no mention of Steve before she waved goodbye and left.
It was one-thirty in the morning when Grettel took off her shoes and uniform shirt, placing them on the side of her bed. When she turned to eye the empty space that should hold Elle, her face was so pitiful that Blue frowned along with her.
“Don’t worry, Grettel. She’ll be fine. They’ll send her back for her shift tomorrow.” Blue tried to reassure the girl, but Baird was looking down unhappily at the half-empty mattress, as well. She pulled off her uniform shirt to take her nightly run in her jean shorts and white tank top. Stretching out her muscles, Blue turned out the light once the two were in place and ready for bed.
Before she could touch the handle on the front door to make her exit, Baird’s low voice caught her. “Hey, Blue?”
“Yeah?” she answered, glad that his voice sounded too tired for a lengthy conversation.
“If you could figure out your calling like, tomorrow or something, that’d be real helpful.”
She glared at him, but in the dark and with his eyes closed, it was a wasted effort. “Okay. Hey, I thought of a better insult for you.”
“I’m too tired to hear it. Save it for a time that I’m being a real jerk.”
“Just one time?”
“Get!” Baird shouted at Blue as she ran out the door.
The two were still in their respective “beds” when Blue reentered the hut after her night-long run. She was a little surprised that Baird hadn’t woken up at ten on the dot.
She reached for the uniform shirt that Grettel had worn the night before and some clean shorts, socks and undergarments before locking herself in the bathroom to shower and dress for the day.
By the time she finished brushing the kinks out of her hair, she could hear movement in the living room. Grettel and Baird were eating their Grade V rations silently at the table. Grettel’s drooping eyes suggesting she had missed Elle’s presence in the night.
Without a word, Baird motioned for Grettel to take the bathroom next. She stood obediently and went to collect her change of clothes.
Baird had already set out Blue’s rations, and she thanked him as she pulled open the tab. “Thanks. You look kinda terrible.”
Baird responded by roughly shoving her with one hand. She grinned. No sooner had she righted herself, than the noise of an approaching vehicle interrupted their breakfast.
Baird stiffened. “Get behind the couch.”
“It’s Elle,” she informed him, judging by the cadence of the walker’s steps. Sure enough, the front door opened to reveal her bedraggled friend.
“Elle!” Blue exclaimed, jumping up from the table and closing the distance between them.
The woman looked positively exhausted, but true to her nature, she offered up a cocky grin. “I made it to round two,” she whispered, her voice not wanting to be the one to tell her body that it wasn’t nighttime anymore.
Blue hugged her friend, but only briefly.
Baird nudged his sister out of the way so that he could be closer to Elle. Foregoing propriety, he placed a yearning kiss on her lips as he held her cheek with his palm.
Blue’s mouth dropped open at the display after years of veiled flirtation. Elle melted under his touch, thrilling that there was an actual witness to it this time.
“I didn’t dream it, then?” she asked breathlessly.
Shaking his head, Baird kissed her again after letting out a short laugh. “Do you usually dream about me?”
“All the time,” Elle admitted, not bothering to straighten her posture after he pulled away. “Must sleep.” She kicked off her shoes and discarded her thoroughly worn work shirt. “I’ll tell you guys everything later, though there’s not much to it. Can you handle a few hours of the lunch shift without me?”
Elle yawned as she collapsed on the mattress. Her eyes were already closed, and Blue doubted that an answer was necessary.
23
A Slight Shift of Everything
“Steve’s still not here yet?” Grettel inquired as Blue dropped off four orders.
“Not here, but everything’s okay. I can handle the lunch tables by myself. The Vems will just have to be patient. I’d rather Elle be sleeping right now.”
“I’d rather that useless Vemreaux show up for his shift,” Baird grumbled.
“Careful what you wish for,” Blue warned.
Steve did not grace the diner with his presence until one in the afternoon, leaving Blue to wait on all the lunch tables by herself. “Is there a reason you’re late?” Baird asked, whipping out his phone and hitting the sole preset speed dial. Without waiting for Steve to answer, Baird spoke into the device. “Joe, sir. It’s one o’clock and the waiter you sent us only just arrived. We appreciate that you’ve hired us help, sir, but if he shows up late again, I’m going to have to ask you to find us another waiter to replace him. Someone who’s worth what you’re paying.” He hung up the phone and eyed Steve, who had the decency to look mildly abashed.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry or whatever.” Despite the mumbled apology, Steve moved as slow as he did the day before. He moseyed out onto the floor and took whatever section he wanted without asking Blue or thanking her for handling it all on her own.
Though she wanted to glare at him, it was more pertinent that she remain forgettable, so she kept her frustration to herself and allowed him to view her as a doormat. She thought of Elle working so hard and carrying more than she should of her burden. When she compared her friend’s massive efforts to Steve’s inability to show up on time, she cringed.
“Just one swift punch in the face,” she pleaded with her brother privately while he was setting out shot glasses in the bar to prepare for the night rush.
“No, Blue.”
“I could probably sneak up behind him and punch him out so fast, he wouldn’t even know it was me that did it.”
“I’ll let you know when we can test that theory.”
Steve sauntered past them and dropped his tray on the bar, speaking lazily to the waitress who’d been picking up his slack all afternoon. “I’m going out for an hour. You can handle it, Blue.”
Baird frowned as his sister tilted her chin to the ground and nodded with her mouth shut. Though he’d been the one who insisted she do so, there were times he hated seeing such a powerful creature so tethered. He knew eventually she’d have to let off some steam so that she did not randomly explode and cause some real damage. He made a note to spar with her personally that night after the diner closed so he could take the brunt of her frustration.
When her friend showed up at four-thirty, Blue was grateful for the help. Elle took the outdoor section after she helped Blue tear down the tables that covered the dancing area. Steve pretended to be doing something in the kitchen for ten minutes that kept him from being of any use.
Though Elle looked a little tired, none of her sparkle was gone. Every new table she greeted received a brilliant smile, and each attractive Vemreaux got a flirtatious look or remark to up her tip.
Though it was still light outside, Baird turned on the twinkling tent lights before switching from the kitchen to the bar. A few Vemreaux even cheered when Baird started making the first batch of Green Abby shots.
“Finally!” Lawrence called to Baird. “I’ll take two for starters.” Instead of a bill, Lawrence slid a folded napkin across the bar to the Wayward.
Baird dropped it out of sight onto a few glasses, reading the scrawl as it opened.
Cops checking out a business next to one of mine. Gotta lay low. No more deliveries for a week or two.
Baird nodded covertly, tearing up the napkin and throwing it in the trash as Lawrence pounded back two of his favorite shots.
Before long, the tables filled up, leaving people to wait at the bar or enjoy the night in the outdoor area, which was also becoming more and more populated. The fresh air served as a powerful upper for Elle after the sleepless night. The breeze was only slight, but it was cool and stung her nose if she inhaled for too long. The fifth table in a row that she waited on wanted the same thing as the previous four: a round of Baird’s specialty. A few patrons ordered an actual meal, but most requested drinks and appetizers. After all, it was Friday night. Everyone knew that the testing had begun to find the Light. It was all that most of the tables prattled on about as Elle doled out the little glasses of green happiness.
“See that guy, Blue?” Elle asked her friend on one of the rare times that their busy paths crossed. They were patiently waiting for Baird to make more shots for them to take out to their anxiously awaiting tables.
Blue followed Elle’s focus and saw a man sitting with his two buddies. “Sure. What about him?”
“I bet he’s got a green bill card. See how relaxed his shoulders are? He’s comfortable enough. Judging by the flannel, though, my guess is he’s single and will be for quite some time.”
Blue raised an eyebrow at being let into Elle’s game. “What’s his name?” she asked, playing along.
“Probably Russell or something like that. Yeah, his name’s Russell and he makes a living selling outdoor equipment for Vemreaux yards.”
“Why’s he single?”
“Oh, he broke up with his last girlfriend because she didn’t like to go camping. Said she did when they started dating, but the big reveal came three months in. It was all downhill from there.”
“Women,” Blue complained, shaking her head in mock disappointment at her gender.
“I know. Anyone interesting in your section?”
“Well, there’s this Fem over here that’s got an aversion to wearing underwear.” Blue pointed to a brunette with bright red artificial streaks coloring her hair. “That’s Lulu. She’s a college student studying…the art of staring at the wall. She has great ambitions in life to work in a piercing parlor. There’s just one problem, though.”
“What’s that?” Elle pretended to pout in concern for the fictional plight.
“She’s deathly afraid of needles.”
Elle snorted. “Good one.”
“It goes back to a childhood trauma when her rich Vemreaux parents didn’t buy her a castle for Christmas. She threw herself on the floor and accidentally rolled over one of the Wayward servant’s sewing needles.”
“Those lazy Waywards.” Elle shook her head in disapproval.
“I know. It’s like, get a job already.”
