Devil in the Waters 1-9 by KT Morrison

Author:KT Morrison [Morrison, KT]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

5

Gift

The walk along the shaded alley was dreadful. Every doubt and weakness throbbed within him. He was exposed, two sets of eyes watching him. One his bully, the other his beautiful wife. Both of them looking well-suited together. How were his clothes? Was he walking too fast? Was that too eager? Was he walking too slow? Did that show fear? What about what he was wearing? Were they laughing at his clothes? His hair? This was like high school hallway all over again. Transported in time back ten years ago. But that was all supposed to be left behind. How ingrained was it that he could feel it now? That woman watching him wasn’t some high school bitch-queen whom he fantasized about. No, that was Kimmy Chang. Shit, no—more precisely: Kimmy Waters . . .

The woman you married. In high school, she was just like you. In high school she was one of the good ones. Sweet and kind and studious. Compassionate. Don’t equate her with Devlin . . .

And now, even if it looked stupider, he walked more erect, more upright. Thrusting out his chest. That worry was all ten years ago. That woman with Devlin was his wife. Devlin couldn’t be so lucky . . .

As he drew nearer, merging into the sunlight beyond the brick archway and onto the sidewalk, Devlin hauled himself off his roadster, extended a hand to shake. “Josh Waters,” he said, “wow, it’s been a long time . . .”

“Hey, Devlin,” he said, avoiding too-long eye contact and shaking Devlin’s hand—Jesus, how big was his hand?—averting his eyes, not because he was afraid to lock them with Devlin’s but because he wanted them connected with Kimmy’s. And when his gaze met hers, she smiled, cocked her head, and they communicated between them what had been said at the table. Invite him in. I want that. He was the bigger man here. Well, not literally bigger.

“Josh, I haven’t seen you in so long,” Devlin said.

“We were both at Tiffany’s.”

“Right,” Devlin said, acting like it hadn’t registered.

Josh said, “Didn’t we talk there?”

Devlin thought about it then shook his head no, saying, “I don’t think so . . .”

“Well, whatever . . . how’ve you been doing?”

“How’ve I been doing? I’m more impressed by how you’re doing . . .” His grin was sly, his dark eyes narrow.

This was all bullshit. They’d talked at the party at Tiffany’s and why the hell would he not admit it? For Kimmy’s sake?—what lies was he telling Kimmy? . . . Then again: it was Dream-Devlin who’d told him they’d talked, and Dream-Devlin may never have existed at all . . . He stayed magnanimous, a good beer buzz giving him confidence in the awkward moment, and a little kick out of standing face-to-face with this guy who’d dominated his thoughts when they were younger and not crumpling. Adult Josh doing what Young Josh was unable, despite the current fears that had taken hold of him. He said, “Why’s

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