17 - A Hard Days Night Searcher.doc Read Online Free PDF Page B

never
    had. "She's like Venus, and having met Venus a time or two, I know that no mere mortal
    man has a right to touch her."
    Wren supposed that went for tigards as well. Nick had been right, there was something
    about Maggie that was very special.
    "He said you were the most intelligent woman he'd ever known, but that you couldn't
    study for shit."
    She laughed. The sound was musical and soft, and it warmed him more than it should.
    "That sounds like Nick."
    Marguerite cleared her throat as Wren pierced her with that intense stare of his. There
    was something so animalistic about him that it was almost frightening. She felt like
    someone in the jungle, cornered by a hungry beast.
    "Sorry," he said, dropping his stare back to the ground. "I didn't mean to make you
     
    nervous again. I know people don't like for me to look at them."
    She frowned at his deadpan tone. Even so, she sensed that it hurt him. "I don't mind."
    "Yes, you do. You're just being polite." He started back down the street.
    How did he know that? Most men were far from intuitive.
    Marguerite rushed to catch up to him. "Is the monkey I saw you in the bar with your
    pet?"
    He shook his head. "Marvin owns himself. He just likes to hang out with me."
    She laughed at the sweetness of Wren's words. "I've never met anyone who had a
    monkey for a friend before."
    He snorted in disagreement. "I don't know. I think those two guys you were with would
    qualify as primates, but then, that's an insult to the primates and I don't want Marvin to get
    pissed at me. He has higher sensibilities, you know?"
    Wren's words amused her. "You might have a point with that. But they're not my
    friends. I only study with them."
    She saw his frown as he glanced at her. "Why do you study with assholes?"
    Maybe she should be irritated at him for insulting her group, but then, why? She
    actually agreed with him. "Habit. I've known Todd and Blaine since we were kids. You
    have to understand that they haven't had an easy life. They both have severe bonding
    issues brought on by apathetic and absent parents."
    He looked less than impressed by her excuses for their rudeness. "Did their parents
    ever try to kill them?"
    "No," she said, stunned that he would even ask such a thing, "certainly not."
    "Did their mothers ever tell them that they were abominations who should have been
    eaten the minute they were born?"
     
    "Of course not."
    "Did their parents ever try to sell them to a zoo?"
    He was being ludicrous now and it was all she could do not to roll her eyes at him. "No
    one's parents would do such a thing."
    The look he gave her said she was a fool if she believed that. "Then trust me, their life
    wasn't so bad."
    Marguerite paused as he continued walking. Was he serious? No, he was just toying
    with her. He must be. No one's parents would try to sell them to a zoo. That was stupid.
    Wren was throwing out random weirdness just to prove a point.
    She rushed to catch up to him. "What about your parents?" she asked, trying to make
    light of his words. "Did they ever do any of that to you?"
    He didn't respond, but something in his manner said that it might not be a far-fetched
    conclusion...
    No, no parent would do that to their child. Her father was a total jerk most of the time
    and not even he'd ever beenthatbad.
    "Wren?" she said, pulling him to a stop. "Be honest. Did your parents ever really try to
    sell you to a zoo? C'mon. Be real."
    He immediately twisted his arm out of her hold. "There's a Dead Milkmen song that the
    Howlers cover a lot when they play at Sanctuary. It's called 'V.F.W.: Veterans of a Fucked
    Up World.' You ever heard of it?"
    "No."
    "You should. There's a lot of truth in it." Something flashed in his eyes like a nightmare
    he was trying to banish. The deep sadness there tore through her. "Everyone has scars
    from their life, Maggie. Just forget I said anything and let's get you home so you can get
    cleaned up." He turned and continued on his way.
    She followed after