A Veil of Glass and Rain Read Online Free PDF Page B

I wobbled.
    Immediately, Eagan was beside me, his arm
    around my shoulders to support me. I leaned
    into him.
    “I'm still a bit weak,” I stated the obvious.
    “I can see that,” he agreed.
    Then he scooped me up in his arms and he
    carried me up the stairs. He deposited me
    gently in front of my room.
    “Thank you.” I beamed up at him, but his
    face was tense. “What?”
    “If you feel like you need to thank me
    because I'm kind to you, it means I've really
    made a big mess of things.” He gave me a sad
    smile.
    I grabbed his hand. “Eagan, I-”
    Hi shook his head. “I'll fix this. I'll make
    everything good again.”
    When I was fourteen my hair barely reached
    my chin, therefore it was very manageable and
    quick to wash.
    It didn't take me long to shower and change
    into clean sweats. I even managed to descend
    the stairs without faltering. In the den I was
    greeted by a grinning Eagan; a sofa full of
    clean blankets and pillows; a tray loaded with
    toast, jam, orange juice and steamy milk.
    Eagan had changed into fresh clothes as
    well. I went to him, clutched a handful of his
    T-shirt and stared right into his bright blue
    eyes. “Thank you, Eagan.”
    His expression turned serious and
    unmovable for a few moments, but then his
    face relaxed and the grin reappeared. “You're
    welcome, kitty-cat.”
    We ate breakfast while we watched
    cartoons on TV. I ate toast, drank some juice,
    but my stomach refused the milk. While Eagan
    cleaned up, I hid under the blankets and
    waited. After a while the covers shifted and
    the sofa dipped. I felt Eagan's warm body
    behind mine. He linked an arm around my
    waist and pulled me back against him. I took
    his hand in mine and cradled our joined fingers
    against my chest.
    “When my mum called and told me you
    were sick, I got so, so scared, kitty-cat.” He
    nuzzled my neck. “Then, when I saw that you
    weren't just sick, you were crushed, I wanted
    to kick myself.”
    I squeezed his hand to reassure him.
    “I know I shouldn't care what other people
    think about me,” he continued, “But David's
    parents aren't just people. It matters what
    they think about me. You know, according to
    David, Felia is already over the whole thing. It
    was just a momentary crush. But I knew it
    already. It's David's folks reaction I don't get. It
    made me question everything. At the airport
    David hugged me and I pushed him away. And
    he told me, 'Dude, snap out of it!'”
    “I like David. He's a great friend,” I
    interjected.
    Eagan kissed my cheek. “He is. And so are
    you, Brina. You brought me back.”
    I let go of his hand and shifted a little. His
    arm tightened around me. “Where are you
    going? You need anything? I'll get it for you.”
    I beamed and shook my head. “I want to
    look at you.”
    His arm loosened a bit, and I turned, so that
    we were facing each other. “You are an
    amazing person, Eagan. You make everyone
    around you feel special. You even made the
    uptight Russian crew snort. I don't want you to
    change.”
    He held me tighter and nuzzled the top of
    my head. He murmured my name, then he
    said, “I'm wearing a snot-proof T-shirt.”
    I chuckled and buried my face against his
    chest.
    We spent the entire day sleeping. We
    needed it. Eagan's arms were the perfect
    cocoon. I hoped he thought the same of me.
    The following day I felt much better, but I
    wasn't happy about it, because it meant that
    Eagan could go back to his grandparents.
    I found him in the kitchen. He was a very
    good nurse, for on the table there were toast
    and tea; the only things my stomach was able
    to accept. He was also preparing sandwiches
    for his trip back to England.
    I took some deep breaths and tried to brace
    myself for the imminent separation. Then I saw
    the plain tickets; they rested on the table, one
    was for him, the other one was for me.
    Tears gathered in my eyes and then fell
    along my cheeks; I just couldn't hold them, so
    much was the relief. He came to me