Thirty-Six

Bobby

"Well, you look a lot better today than you did yesterday," Dad said as soon as I walked in. "Sara said everything will be better now." Dad didn't try to delve into all the things Mum did, but he was always supportive, and she shared just enough to not keep any secrets from him.

"Yes, it's amazing what a good night's sleep will do." I went over to where I'd left off yesterday, and after just a few hours I was nearly done. "I noticed we had some deliveries to make, mind if I do them?"

"I was hoping you would. I know there's a delivery near Hickory Crossing. Maybe you can go see Cole," he said like he needed to talk me into it, but I was ready to go there after work anyway if it didn't work out.

"Oh yeah, I don't mind at all," I said and tried to hide how happy that made me.

"Well good thing you don't mind. The other deliveries should be on the way if you plan it out right." The two of us packaged all the deliveries which would nearly fill the van.

"I didn't realize we had so much." I used a handcart to carry a few loads of boxes out and once it was loaded, I walked back in to make sure I had it all.

"You're good to go. Guess I'll see you tomorrow," Dad said.

I rubbed the back of my head and forced myself to stand there until he walked back into the shop. I was strung tight and I couldn't wait to leave but he saw right through me and waved me off. "See you tomorrow," I said as I climbed in the van.

It had taken longer to complete delivering the orders than I hoped. But a few minutes before Cole would be done for the day, I drove into the city limits of Hickory Crossing and right up to the sporting goods store. It had only been a few hours since I'd seen him, but it felt like it had been days. For a moment I sat in the van and looked through the big front window of the store he worked in.

Inside I could see him helping someone find a fishing pole and I smiled as I watched him go over everything with the young girl who stood next to an older man. Cole was patient and listened as they asked questions and never made it seem like he was in a hurry or didn't have time for them. His eyes met mine through the window and we both smiled. This guy turned me inside out without even trying and before I knew what I was doing I was opening the door to the store.

"Hey, I'll be right with you," he said as he walked the two customers over to the cash register.

"I'll be here," I said and tried to look busy. I'd just picked up something in the fishing department that I had no clue about when warm arms wrapped around me from behind.

"Can I help you," he said into my ear.

"I hope so, I was really missing you and was hoping you were almost done with work." I tried to sound cute but made myself cringe, making him laugh.

"Go on, Cole. You'll be useless the rest of the day," a man I knew was his boss yelled from behind the cash register. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Let's get out of here," Cole said and after clocking out, he grabbed my hand and dragged me outside. "I'm so happy you're here."

"Me too, want me to follow you to your house?" I asked, not sure where we'd go from here.

"Yes, but one thing first." He pulled me in and kissed me as we stood next to the driver's door of the van. "Want to get something to eat on the way home or should we order something to be delivered?"

"I think I'd like to go out to dinner. I mean as long as there's a place nearby that has burgers and fries," I said and settled my hands on his hips.

"Okay, follow me," he said, and I watched as he walked around the back of the building where I knew he parked his car. I was about to get in the car when I noticed Anna across the street staring at where Cole was. She didn't move a muscle as she continued to stare. Then I noticed her lips were moving, but she was far enough away I had no clue what she was saying. Suddenly she turned and met my eyes.

" You have not defeated me. Cole will pay with his life for taking what was mine. " It was her voice, or similar to her voice, but I heard it in my mind rather than my ears.

"You'll never touch Cole," I growled low and menacing, and hoped she heard it.

Her lips lifted in a smile before she turned and walked away just as Cole pulled out of the parking lot and waved to me while he slowly drove down the street. I looked again but Anna was gone. I backed the van out of the parking space and followed Cole, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Anna had a plan, and she wasn't going to give up until one of us was dead and she had the power she so desperately wanted.

Cole stopped at a small local burger place, and I hurried out of the van to meet him at the window. After ordering, we sat at one of the small outdoor tables and waited for our food. I kept expecting Anna to appear somewhere, and I couldn't stop myself from looking around.

"Bobby?"

"Sorry, I missed that," I said and glanced over his shoulder.

"I saw her too, she tried to enter my mind, but I blocked her," Cole said, bringing my full attention to him.

"She spoke to me mentally," I whispered and hoped like hell no one nearby heard me.

"I heard her. I tried to protect you, but I couldn't. She's trying to scare us, and she knows we care about each other so she's trying to use those emotions to distract us from her real plan."

"What's her real plan?" I asked and leaned in close.

"She still wants the power, but Haniel did not choose her or Nox. She knows this but she thinks she can take it." His eyes blinked rapidly as he spoke, and I imagined him watching what he was describing in his mind.

"Cole, she threatened you," I whispered.

"I know, but she doesn't know what's happened yet. She thinks she still has the advantage, but tonight she'll find out how wrong she is." His eyes opened and his expression softened. "Don't worry, when the time comes, you'll know what to do."

I wanted to trust him, but I was still in the dark where he obviously knew way more than me. "I don't want you to get hurt." He covered my hand with his and was about to say something when our order was announced. He smiled and kissed my cheek before standing.

"It's all going to be as it's meant to be," he said before walking up to the pick-up window.