True Colors (The Masks #1)(20)

“I don’t go here. I just... I’m a friend. Well, maybe. I mean, I don’t...” I took a breath. “He’s my next door neighbor.”

Dale’s smile was in full beam by the time I was done. I was waiting for him to start laughing at me, but he swallowed it back. Talking to him was easy for some reason. Maybe it was because no matter how long I stared at him, he seemed to look the same.

“Well, I haven’t seen him this afternoon, but you’re welcome to wait here for him. I’d wait with you, but I’ve gotta go, sorry.” He felt bad. How sweet.

“No, that’s okay.” I waved my hand. “I might...I can come back another day.” I swallowed, half-relieved that I had an excuse to lose my nerve.

“Caitlyn?” Eric’s voice reached me from a few feet away. He was behind me, so I couldn’t see what he was feeling, but he sounded happy. My lips twitched as I turned to face him and that was all it took. He was standing there looking gorgeous in his ripped jeans and checkered shirt with the rolled-up sleeves. I loved that one. It showed off his impressive forearms and those wristbands I loved. But it was the look on his face that did me in. His hazel eyes with green flecks were gazing at me with such open admiration and I lost it. My eyes began to shimmer with tears and my chin started quivering.

Eric’s face washed with concern as he stepped towards me, shooting Dale a quick look of inquiry. Dale shrugged and mumbled a quick goodbye before taking off.

I felt like such an idiot. Swiping at my tears, I sniffed and said, “I’m sorry. I just came by to...um...to um...”

“Talk?”

“Yeah.” I swallowed and sniffed again.

In spite of his obvious concern, the edge of his mouth lifted with a smile. “Come on. I know the perfect place.” He took my hand and pulled me down the hallway. He didn’t say a word as he wove me through the human traffic and out of the building. We walked across campus in silence and I was glad for it. I kept my head down, letting my hair work as the ideal curtain. I didn’t look up until Eric pulled me into a quiet grove of trees. We stopped at a lone park bench situated under a huge willow tree. The long branches created a quiet haven, the dappled lighting giving it a magical feel.

“Wow,” I breathed. “How’d you find this place?”

“I was exploring.” His right shoulder popped up with a shrug as he let go of my hand.

I wrapped my arms around myself and scanned the ancient-looking tree. I was just buying time really, trying to work out how I was supposed to get any of this stuff off my chest. Eric watched me in silence; maybe he was trying to work out where to start as well.

Eventually I gave in with a sigh. Running my fingers through my hair, I brushed it off my face and looked at him.

“I don’t even know how to start this conversation.”

“Why don’t you start with what’s bugging you.” He pointed at the bench seat.

My chuckle was dry and lifeless as I walked towards the seat and sat down. “That’s too huge. Start with something smaller.”

“Okay.” Eric stretched his arm along the back of the seat. It touched my back, feeling strong and warm...both a comfort and a thrill. “Let’s start with you telling me what compelled you to come here.”

I nodded, tears building in my eyes again. “Well, I was on my way to Wyoming and I took a wrong turn.”

“Wyoming?” He scratched the light stubble on his chin.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I Googled it this afternoon and it’s the least populated state in America.”

“Right.” Now he was looking at me like I was mental. “And you want to go there because...?”

“There’s hardly any people there.” My laugh was pitchy and near hysterical. “I could maybe even go a whole day without looking at someone. Without seeing all they had to show me.” My face crumpled as the tears took me again. I covered my mouth, trying to rein them in, but a few still slipped out.

Eric was working on figuring me out. I watched the confusion and concern flit across his face. His lips pushed to the side and he was worried about what to say next.

“Caity.” His voice was low and soft. “Why are you running away? What’s spooked you? Are you in trouble or something?”

“No.” I sniffed. “I’m not in trouble, well I mean I’m not in physical danger, I just, I’m not coping with my new eye sight and the stuff I can see...this stupid gift!"

He grimaced, searching for the right words. Unsure what to say, he ran his finger down my hairline and gently over my ear. “You know you sound like a crazy person.” He smiled. “And I really want to help you, so you need to figure out how to tell me exactly what’s going on.”

He could see my torment and this made him hurt for me. I knew I liked him for good reason. His hazel eyes were near anguished because he wanted to help me and wasn’t sure how. I took in a deep breath and slowly expelled it.

“Okay. Okay. I don’t know how this works, but I can...” I licked my bottom lip. “I can read people.”

Eric’s eyebrows rose. “Like...?”

“Like I know what they’re feeling. I can see it on their faces. Everything is just laid bare and I know all their secrets. I mean I don’t know what they’re thinking, but feelings can tell you a lot, you know. And I can’t...it’s too much. I mean I don’t want to know this stuff, Eric. I can’t handle it. I can’t...I can’t...”