But gazing up at me, those crystal blue eyes were only full of wonder, awe and—God help me—want.
“You’re so good.” She yanked up the sleeve of her ugly beige shirt. “It’s a million degrees out but I have goose bumps. Look.”
Her pale, perfect skin was raised in gooseflesh.
“You have a beautiful voice,” she said, her tone lower now. “Rough and deep and… sexy.”
I swallowed. Jesus, I wanted to kiss her. Her cheeks were dusted pink, and the sun glinted on her hair. I wanted to bury my hand in it, haul her to me and kiss her. Feel her smile against mine and taste the sweetness of her mouth.
“And you play guitar too?”
“Y-Y-Yes.”
She gave herself a little shake and her eyes filled with the desperation I’d seen the other day. “God, if only…”
“If only?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I feel so comfortable with you. It doesn’t make sense. We don’t know each other. You’re the first person I’ve seen since I came back.”
“Thea…”
“Whatever happens, Jimmy, please don’t stop singing to me. Okay?”
I swallowed hard. “What do you think is going to happen?”
It wasn’t an Alonzo-approved question, but I had to ask. I had to know if she knew.
“I might go away again,” she said, her voice strangely hollow. She glanced around the silent grounds under a blanket of thick, heavy air. Her hand in mine. “I don’t want to go away again.”
I gripped her fingers hard. “I don’t want you to either.”
Now her eyes filled with tears and she moved closer to me. “Jimmy,” she began, but the rest of the sentence was lost forever. Time was up. Our five minutes was over.
I watched myself disappear in her eyes, then reappear as she glanced around.
“Who…?” She pulled her hand out of mine and took a step back, brows furrowed.
Remember me, Thea. Please.
Her gaze dropped to my nametag. “Jim?”
I nodded, my breath held tight.
“How long has it been?”
I exhaled all my stupid, baseless hope.
“Two years, Miss Hughes,” I said.
Two years and five minutes.
Chapter 8
Jim
Alonzo was in the rec room when I brought Thea in for her drawing time. As I collected pens and paper, I felt his gaze at my back.
“Thank you, Jim,” Thea said with a bright smile. “You’re a pal.”