“I have the feeling that she feels the same about you.” Slowly, I walk closer to where Thea stands. Half hidden by the darkness of the hallway, half illuminated by the light of the sun from the window.
“I don’t know what you want from me, Kol.”
“I want to learn all I can about you, Thea. I want to see you smile, hear your laugh. I’d love to hold you through the tears you’re trying to push back. I want to be your sounding board when you’re frustrated. But Thea, mostly, I really want to kiss you.” She gasps when I lift her chin so I can look into her eyes.
“I’m not built for any of those things, Kol. I’m not wired for happiness.” Her gaze slides to the side at her next words. “You should leave, forget you ever saw me again. You should find someone who’s worthy of being in love with you.” The tears she was holding in begin to fall.
“Jesus, Thea.” I pull her into my chest, and even though she fights against it, I don’t let her go. My embrace remains steadfast, and if she really wanted out, all she would have to do is step back. But fuck. “What the hell happened to you, blue eyes?”
Chapter 5
Kol
“Hey man, you alright?” Noah asks as I continue to rub my forehead. A migraine I’ve been trying to push off all fucking day just won’t quit.
“Yeah. Fine.” I don’t look up from the file I’m reading about the guys we arrested yesterday. I spent more time with Thea than I had planned this morning, and now, I’m playing catch up. Not that I regret it. She cried on my shoulder for over an hour.
Not once did she say a word. She didn’t explain. Didn’t apologize. She didn’t say anything at all up until I was finally called away. When I left her laying on her couch, a blanket wrapped around her exhausted body, she looked ready to pass out. So, I left secure in the knowledge that she’ll be there when I go back over tonight.
Noah sits on the edge of my desk. “You don’t look fine, Kol.” He offers a bottle of Tylenol when I look up to him.
Popping the cap, I shake three into my palm and swallow them down with the cold coffee on my desk. “Worried about Thea,” I tell him, glancing down at the file. When the words begin to blur, I close it and lean back in my chair.
“Thea?” His head tilts. “What’s her deal?” He stands and saunters back around to his side of the desk and starts typing into his computer. “What’s her last name?”
“Matthews,” I answer without thinking. “She’s hiding something. Someone hurt her. I’m just not sure how or why.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I look up at Noah after about a minute when he’s been silent for too long. “What are you doing, man?”
“Searching her name.” He answers so nonchalantly; I’m stunned for a minute.
“What do you mean searching her name?” I ask slowly.
He shrugs.
“Noah!” I snap and get to my feet, rounding the desk to stand behind him.
“She’s not listed anywhere, bro. Your girl’s a ghost.” She’s not in the DMV, no social security, no school records. Nothing.
“Who the fuck are you?” I mutter under my breath. I’m not looking for an answer from Noah.
Doesn’t stop him from giving me one, nonetheless. “You know what this means, right? She’s likely on the run.” While my partner is not wrong—I do believe Thea’s on the run—it's just not in the way he is thinking.
Someone has done a number on her. I recognized it the moment I met her at Ember’s show, last year. There was a terror that shone brightly in her blue orbs that I couldn’t miss. Or forget. Thea is hurting, and as much as I don’t like that she’s lied to me, I can get over it and work out how best to help her.
“What are you going to do, Kol?” Noah questions and I can tell by the storm brewing behind his eyes that he already knows. “Don’t be stupid about this. She could still be a criminal, man.”
“I don’t think so, but I’ll be careful,” I reply, clapping his back as I stand and walk past him. I have some paperwork to fill out for the district attorney’s office about the guys we caught since they’re all pleading down, then I’m going home and figuring out how to deal with Thea.
Thea
* * *
“Next, please.” I fake a smile at the next customer in line as I try to work through how to deal with Kol. He’s inquisitive, and I know it won’t be long before he investigates me. He won’t find anything because Matthews isn’t my last name.
After pushing him away this morning when he kept insisting that I tell him why I have shadows in my eyes, I know I don’t have much time before I’m exposed.
I should run.
Again.