Awakening Book One of the Trust Series(56)

Declan really hated Caitlyn’s perception sometimes. He wouldn’t lie to Caitlyn, but he could not exactly tell her the full truth, either, even though he trusted her. “Yes, he was meeting me. But it is a matter that is classified so I can’t talk about it.”

Caitlyn nodded, just satisfied with the knowledge that she was correct. He always respected that she knew when she should not be prying further. “Okay then. But really, you look exhausted, Declan. I mean, more exhausted than usual. Are you sure you want to train today? We can take a day off.”

Declan almost laughed at Caitlyn making that particular comment. He knew she was right. He could have used some sleep, he should have gone to sleep, but he was not about to be the one to stop their training. “Positive. I just need a little caffeine and I will be good as new.”

She walked towards the training room, shaking her head. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when I kick your ass.”

The first scenario’s he ran with her, he was able to keep pace with her. Then slowly, he let Caitlyn take the reins on most of the training.

Declan tried to stifle a yawn. She stopped mid-levitation, placing the object back on the ground, as she sat on the ground in her yoga pants, crossing her legs, staring at Declan as she sat across from him. “This is ridiculous.”

“What?”

“In all this time, I have seen you sick. I have seen you sleepy, but I have never seen you this exhausted. You need sleep or at the very least, rest.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. We are here so I can learn, but I am not getting anything out of today.”

He raised his eyebrow at her. “Don’t hold back.”

He heard her mutter something along the lines of, “Have I ever?”

Declan sat down in a chair. “Fine. But I cannot sleep even if I wanted to. There is too much going on in my head at the moment.”

Caitlyn joined him… “Listen, it’s barely lunch time. Come back to my apartment. I haven’t cooked in a while, so why don’t I just make us lunch and we can have a nice, relaxing afternoon.”

“But what are you going to learn from that?”

She cocked her head, a sly grin crossing her face. “I am going to learn about you.”

“What’s that?”

“Declan, you know everything about me. I think it is time I get to know about you, don’t you think?”

Declan thought this interesting because he felt that Caitlyn knew him so well already. She was quickly turning into a friend, a role that he did not allow many people. “What don’t you know about me?”

“Well, I know you. I know your favorite coffee, how your insane drive is almost as bad as mine, and how you detest folk music, but I don’t know about your past, your childhood, why you are the way you are. I want to know about you.”

“That may take some time.”

She smiled again. “We have all afternoon. It seems my training got cancelled today.”

They arrived at her apartment and Caitlyn sat Declan down. “Relax. I’ll make us some coffee. What would you like for lunch?”

“What do you have?”

Her voice came muffled from behind the refrigerator. “Pasta, leftover Chinese, and deli meats.”

“A sandwich would be fine.”

Caitlyn prepared lunch and brought it out for the both of them in the living room. Declan took a bite of his sandwich. It was comfortable here, and not necessarily a bad way to spend the afternoon, especially given the stress levels he felt.

Caitlyn took a sip of her coffee. “So what made you so close to your father?”

Declan paused, placing down his sandwich. So many people knew everything about his past that it was hard to forget she did not know them already. And those details that most did not know, he kept tight to his chest. But he wanted Caitlyn to know those, understand why he was so driven.

“As I told you our first week, my mom died when I was twelve. It was really hard on my father and me. She was an amazing mother and wife to my father. When she died, we both were lost. Just like I am sure you were when your mom died.”

Declan paused, gathering his thoughts. “My dad and I are both really private people, believe it or not. There was not anyone else to take solace in, so we took comfort in each other. My father, well, his life was the Trust, so he began teaching me about all the different aspects of it. He taught me the fine art of skillful negotiations and being able to read someone. As the talks between the Cine Tofa and Trust inevitably began to break down, my father found that there were less and less people he could confide in.”