Awakening Book One of the Trust Series(68)

Derrick stretched his arms and yawned loudly. “Well kids, I think it is time to go to bed.”

Caitlyn agreed. She said goodnight to them both and walked in her room. She changed and climbed into bed, closing her eyes, willing sleep to come. It would not. Finally, after an hour of tossing and turning, she tossed the blankets back and padded softly out to the living room, hoping that maybe a cup of tea from the kitchen would calm her.

She observed that she was not the only one who could not sleep. Declan’s figure, now clad in flannel pajama bottoms and a gray shirt, shone in the moonlight staring out the window.

“Can’t sleep either, huh?” His voice sounded almost far away in her head.

She walked over next to him, watching the moonlight casting its glow on the land outside. “No. I tried, but just found myself tossing and turning.”

He turned to her. “I can never sleep the night before. I always try, and it always alludes me. I think its nerves, and I cannot get my mind to shut off.”

She sat down at the window bench, pulling her legs against her chest and he followed, sitting next to her. “What were you thinking of?”

“I think of my mom most of the time. But tonight, I was actually thinking of you.”

Caitlyn couldn’t help but be intrigued. “Me? What about?”

He furrowed his brow. “I was going back and forth in my mind if I did the right thing when I persuaded my father to switch mentors for you.”

Caitlyn copied his facial movement. “Why now? Do you regret teaching me?”

He reached out to grab her hand to give it a squeeze. “Regret teaching you? Never. I was worried that you maybe resented me for taking you away from Garrett so much. I know that you and Garrett have not been seeing each other nearly as much. It’s not fair to a new relationship. It’s not fair to you.”

She scooted over closer to him, till her body was almost touching his. “What gave you that impression? Declan, I don’t resent you. I am grateful that you took me under you wing; that you saw the potential you did in me. I am excelling and beating everyone’s expectations because of you.”

“But what about Garrett?”

Caitlyn bit her lip. “It’s true that I don’t see Garrett nearly as much. I miss him. But I don’t blame you for that. I am just as equally motivated to work into all hours of the night as you are. It doesn’t help that his line of work is sending him away more frequently on business. But, if we are meant to be, then we will find a way to make it work.”

Declan pulled her a little tighter into him. “Do you love him?”

Caitlyn was surprised at the line of questioning. Declan and she talked about anything and everything, with the exception of Caitlyn’s relationship. It had always somehow been off the table between the two of them, a taboo subject. She had never even openly disclosed to him her relationship with Garrett, although she knew that he was very much aware of it.

She stared out into the night, trying to think of how to answer the question. It was a loaded question for sure. “I care for him a great deal. I think I love him. It’s hard to know.”

Declan looked down at her. “I feel guilt at coming between the two of you sometimes.”

“You shouldn’t.”

Declan kissed the top of her forehead as she suppressed a yawn. Perhaps she did not need tea after all. “You should try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is a really big day and I want to make sure my star pupil absorb as much as possible.”

Caitlyn yawned again, both of them rising to stand. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. You should try as well. Declan, for what it’s worth, I am really glad I made the change. You are a terrific mentor and you have become one of my closest friends. I have no regrets.”

He pulled away from her slightly. He caught her eyes, whispering out loud. “None?”

She shook her head. “None.”

Declan pressed his lips together as the back of his hand raised to brush her cheek. She could not pull away from his gaze, her feet planted firmly in its spot, refusing to move. His eyes trailed to her lips, his thumb lightly tracing them, coaxing them into parting for him.

The room was deathly quiet, the only sound being her heart, thumping wildly at the intimateness of the moment.

Finally, it was as if his eyes awoke and he pulled away abruptly. “You should really get some sleep, Caitlyn.”

She took a deep intake of breath and nodded, turning away from him. “Goodnight, Declan.”