Riding the Waves by Angela White

Author:Angela White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: apocalyptic, dark fantasy, scence fiction, epic fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-945927-96-6
Publisher: Angela White

4

“We need to talk.”

“Impossible; I’m very busy.”

Ivan scowled. “You’re in a hot tub having a cold beer.”

“Exactly.” Kenn took a long swig. The jets were beating on sore muscles and relieving some of that discomfort. He was where he’d wanted to be all day.

Ivan waited.

Kenn leaned against the tub wall. “Go away. You bother me.”

Ivan ignored the old joke. “We can’t let Marc quit–even for his kids.”

Kenn took another drink, keeping his mind shielded.

“I’m talking to you!” Ivan reached down and splashed water in Kenn’s face.

Kenn took another drink and smacked his lips. “Watery beer. Yummy.”

Ivan blew out a frustrated breath. “I need your help!”

“No. I’m not tricking him or conspiring against him. Those days are over.”

“But she needs him!”

“The sooner he flips out, the sooner you get to enjoy the perks.” Kenn’s voice lowered. “Shut up and let nature take its course.”

“It’s not right! She needs him!”

“She needs Adrian.” Kenn set his mostly empty bottle on the edge of the hot tub. “She wants Marc. There’s a difference.”

“Adrian is gone; he isn’t coming back.”

Kenn snorted. “You don’t know him like I do.”

Ivan was caught off guard. “He survived?”

“Yes.” Kenn could feel Adrian’s occasional scan. He was searching for them, but Kenn hadn’t answered.

Ivan sat on the edge, body crying for a break after the long day. The hot water looked good. “She doesn’t think about him much now.”

“She’s covering and enduring.” Kenn grunted. “Exactly what he, and I, taught her to do. In reality, Angela doesn’t need any of us. If she didn’t care so much about the future, she would have already left with her kids and her chosen protectors. That includes you.” Kenn shut his eyes. “Stop feeling guilty. You didn’t make this happen.”

“Who did?”

Kenn shrugged. “Fate, I assume. She isn’t allowed to be happy. She’s meant to save the world. There’s no peace in that job.”

Ivan surrendered to his body and began removing his boots, but he didn’t give in to Kenn’s tempting words. “If Marc resigns, it looks bad and leaves her a man down.”

“And his cracks will grow faster.” Kenn had already considered the implications. “Like I said–shut up until it happens and then enjoy the perks.”

“I can’t do that.” Ivan shed his clothes until he reached boxers. “I’m not a piece of shit.”

“Sure you are. You just hide it better.”

Ivan eased into the hot water. “I’m not hiding anything. They both know.”

Kenn was surprised. “Marc knows you love her and yet he keeps you around. Interesting.”

“I don’t love her.”

“Liar. If it wasn’t love, you’d be rooting for Marc to melt down so you could have his spot. Love gave you ethics.”

Ivan groaned as he eased all the way down until only his head was above the bubbling jets.

Kenn studied the man, finding determination and slight panic. He frowned. “What’s your problem? Your real problem?”

Ivan moved to the seat and leaned back. The truth came out against his will. “I’ll never be able to match either of them. I don’t want to be a tolerable substitute.

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