That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

I pat my side to check my gun is there. It’s a habit I have, and before I move, I go through the same routine.

Gun, spare round, phone, burner.

Check.

I slow right down to enter the gate, to keep the noise down and not to create a cloud of dust on the gravel drive.

“Give me your bag.” It comes at me between the seats.

“Ready, doors open, three, two, one.” I hear the grunt and little squeal as they land on the ground. Spotting a clearing in the trees that heads out into a field, I steer the car in that direction, door open. I drag the bag up, and with my body hanging out the door, I place the bag on the accelerator to keep the car moving.

Rolling out and onto the grass, I’m up and moving towards the van.

Hearing the car accelerating away behind me, I concentrate on getting to my clients and getting the van going.

It’s the last thought I remember before the explosion and then everything turned black.

Shaking my head to clear the visions, I hear Asha calling me from the back door.

“No one had my back,” I protest.

“You’re wrong, and deep down you know it,” I hear him say as I’m walking away to get to Asha before she comes looking for me.

He’s right, there was always one person. Ghost.

He’s always had my back, front, and sides, and I’m alive because of it.

Not that anyone knows that.

Something to take to the grave.

The conversation with Scott has rattled me even further on a morning where everything is unsettling.

I see her standing there waiting for me, her body stiff, and it’s a sight I hate.

Asha’s not relaxed, and I’m sure my tension is washing over her, and she is feeling uncertain about what has happened this morning.

Walking straight up to her, I do the only thing I know to calm her.

Wrapping my arms around Asha, it’s not like normal. She is rigid and reluctant to reciprocate the affection.

I can’t help but push her back, leaning down and kissing her. Not just a light kiss but one that tells her everything I feel for her. Pushing my tongue forward, I wait for her to open up to me.

Come on baby, relax and let me in.

One hand rubbing up and down her back, the other slips into her hair and guides her head right where it feels right.

And then it happens.

Her body sags into mine, right where it belongs. The fight leaves her a little, like she can’t resist the force between us. She’s not with me completely, I know that, but I can feel her heart against mine.

My hand slips down and holds her face as tenderly as I can. I try to tell her that everything is okay and today is just like any other day.

Breaking away finally, looking into her eyes, I can still see uncertainty but also a confusion of emotions.

“Are you okay? You seem a little off this morning.” I figure calling her out on it, she might open up to me, but as soon as I’m speaking, I can tell she is locking up tight, and just like me, she’s putting her game face on.

I think she’s forgotten I spent most of my adult life reading body language, and one thing I know for sure this morning, Asha is worried, and it involves me.

ASHA

“Are you okay? You seem a little off this morning,” he says.

I’m still in his arms, his hand on my cheek, like he has done so many times before, yet this morning it just feels a little different. I can’t tell why, but it just does.

Reminding myself to stay calm and not give anything away, I answer the only way I can. “Yep, I’m fine. Let’s go to breakfast.”

“Um, I might need to get dressed first. Not sure they’d be really happy with me in the café in my cargo shorts and nothing else, including underwear.”

His comment would normally pull a sarcastic reply from me, but I all I can muster is a simple answer. “Yeah, true. I’ll wait while you put more clothes on.” As I back away from him, he takes my hand and pulls me back inside.

“Wait inside with Coco, she gets lonely otherwise. I’ll be thirty seconds.” Turning and rushing to my bedroom, he calls over his shoulder, “I’m starving, hope they have a big breakfast ready for me. You wore me out last night.” He laughs to himself, but it doesn’t sound as carefree as normal. “Are you as hungry as I am?”

“Not really, but I’m still peckish for some food.”

The loss of appetite comes from the sick feeling in my stomach. Stress has a habit of doing that to you.

Before I know it, he is back and my hand is in his again. We walk out, locking Coco in the house, and climb into his truck. I would have felt more comfortable in my car, but he would think that is totally weird. My car hardly gets used now. We much prefer his truck that is newer and more comfortable.

The piece of junk they’ve given me to drive, I wouldn’t trust to get me very far out of town. Which I’m sure is why they do it. They don’t want me to take off anywhere without them knowing where I am.

My little yellow Honda Accord that I’m sure is at least twenty years old. It looks lonely sitting there on its own after spending the night next to the truck twice its size. I feel a little the same sitting here in the truck with Kurt.

Putting up the front of being happy and fine but dying on the inside.

It’s a lonely place to be.

Neither of us talk much in the car, just taking in the awkward silence between us and the music coming from the speakers that I can’t even tell you what song it is.

Pulling into the parking spot of Freshalicious, our regular breakfast place, it doesn’t look too busy this