“I owe you an apology.”
“Really?” He mocked her with widened eyes that blazed with anger and beautiful lips that curved into a snarky expression. It hurt to look at him. She wanted to avert her gaze but he deserved better.
“Yeah. What I did was shitty, and I apologize.” Shoving her hands into her pockets, she kicked at the grass.
“The great Savannah West apologizing? Should I break out my camera phone? I hear that doesn’t happen too often these days.”
“Are we really going to hold my job against me?
“Not your job—the way you’ve become.”
“What would you know about it? You think rumors circulating around the bureau mean shit to me? Come on, I’m a woman in a man’s world. Of course they all think I’m a cold bitch because I don’t spread my legs, or kiss and tell.” Venom filled her words like poison.
“You let this job change you.”
“Bullshit. This,” She gestured toward the headstone with her head,” did that long before any job in law enforcement.”
“So you admit it then!”
“I never denied it, Carey! Why are you arguing with me? I was trying to apologize.” Yanking her hands from her pockets, she threw them into the air. Infuriated by the antagonistic behavior he exhibited.
“Because it never should’ve taken you this long.” The truth cooled her anger like a fire extinguisher to a blaze.
“Don’t you think I know that?” A loud crack rent the air. She jumped. Her body tensed. She waited for the sound to come again. “Did you hear that?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t seem worried. It’s not cloudy and I didn’t see anyone around the perimeter.” Body stiff, her gaze darted around, seeking out spots where a person could hide.
“You can’t even turn it off, can you?” The disgust and sorrow in his words stung.
“We both know just because a town is small doesn’t mean bad things can’t happen.”
“Touché, Ms. West.”
She growled. “This isn’t how I wanted this to go.”
“I bet,” he mumbled.
“I know I’ve been a coward when it comes to you. It’s not something I’m proud of, but after a time it was just easier to keep moving forward without looking back. Back then every time I saw you it was like someone ripping open a fresh wound. It wouldn’t have been good for either of us for me to hang around.” She beseeched him to understand with wild hand gestures and a direct stare.
“Why couldn’t you just say that?” He shook his head.
“I don’t know. You’re asking me for rational when I was anything but that for a long time.” A sigh passed her lips.
“I can understand that. It’s why I respected the distance you seemed to want to keep.”
“Why break it now?”
“Because I asked him to.” A cold breeze encircled her. She wrapped her arms around her waist and turned her head to the right. A face she knew as well as her own buckled her knees. Her body hit the hard ground with a loud thud. She grimaced, gritted her teeth, and blinked. No amount of eyelid flutter rid her of the apparition, if he could be called that. He seemed whole.
“C-Carey?” Her mouth wobbled, refusing to cooperate.
“Yes, I see him too.”
“How? Why?” She shook her head, shoved her fist into her trembling lips to keep from blubbering like a newborn babe.
“You’re in danger, Vannah. I had to come back.” Clark took a step closer.