Fighting Fate by Shaila Patel

Author:Shaila Patel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: East Girl Publishing, LLC
Published: 2018-03-04T16:00:00+00:00

You’re still blocking me. What’s wrong? Walked by and felt your mum upset. Arguing?

I’m coming over.

I shot back a reply.

No! In room now. Wait 4 me. I’ll be there soon. I’m fine. Luv u.

I pressed send and worried I’d been too abrupt. I scrolled through my contacts to find Sujata’s number, but before I could hit dial, Liam called.

“Then why are you still blocking me?” he asked. His voice vibrated through my body, giving me an odd sense of belonging. “Lucky?”

“Sorry. I-I just needed time to process my emotions without worrying about you freaking out.” I sat in the window seat and looked at his house.

He was breathing hard. With my block up, I couldn’t sense him, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out his state of mind. “I hate being blind to you.” His tone softened. “It feels like an eternity will pass before you’re with me again.”

I knew about that ache—intimately—and wished there was another way. “I didn’t want to worry you. You wouldn’t have liked what was going through my head. Mom and I were arguing, and I don’t want to discuss it just yet.” How could I explain to him that most non-empaths usually thought about how they felt before they shared it—or even talked it through with someone they trusted to stay levelheaded? Just because I was an empath now didn’t mean I could throw those instincts out.

“Is it about me then?”

“Not directly, no.”

“Lucks, I have to know what it is you’re feeling. I—”

“And I need to process it before I share it. I’m still new to this. Please.”

He let out a what-choice-do-I-have sigh. My heart broke. I understood his suffering—our lack of connection affected me the same way. An annoying buzz filled the emptiness.

I took stock of my emotions and wondered if I should open up for both our sakes. Most of the intense ones had faded. I still needed to talk to Sujata though, and I’d want to block myself off again for that. He’d have to deal with it.

I slowly dropped my defenses, concentrating on Liam to avoid my other thoughts.

“Damn, Lucky.” His voice cracked, and he sighed—this time, clearly in relief.

With my mental barrier gone, the tempest of what was in his heart swept me up. I couldn’t believe he was as worried as he was. His impatience, anger, frustration, and a tiny bit of shame also buffeted me. But his love was the most noticeable and made me smile. I returned the sentiment and put my hand on the window.

“Why are you ashamed?” Would I ever know what prompted every emotion without having to ask each time? I hoped I would.

He didn’t answer right away, and I sensed his embarrassment as a breeze not quite strong enough to lift a kite. But why that image? I didn’t know how I would ever think for myself if I had to spend this much time translating—interesting as it was. Maybe I would get faster at it with practice, like when I’d learned to translate Spanish in class.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.