Free Consequence by Shelly Crane Page B

free.
                  His smile faltered a little as he leaned his head back. "So…you're Virtuoso."
                  I nodded. "How come I've never seen you before?"
                  "We don't…go to the reunifications," he muttered softly. He looked so nervous and I felt the need to comfort him wash over me.
                  I still held the carton of coffee in one hand so I un-fisted his shirt and reached for his face. I was utterly shocked at how easily it came to me to be with him already. "Hey. What's the matter?"
              "I just…" He shook his head and gulped, covering my hand with his on his cheek, like he wanted to keep it there forever. "I don't want to hurt you. I don't want… Gah, I'm so sorry, Ava."
                  "For what?" I said, but I saw in his mind for the first time. He was thinking about that house from my last vision. I realized that I remembered it from our histories. Our family taught about that…house…
                  The coffee cups fell from my hand. It was then the world came back to me and I saw several of the people in the coffee shop staring at us. Even Paul had stopped making coffee and was looking at us, like maybe he wanted to intervene.
                  I pushed Seth's chest a tiny bit, my hands aching and scolding me for doing so. He went without a fight. "Ava," he reasoned, pleaded.
                  "I've got to go." I turned to go, my heart banging in my chest.
                  He grabbed my hand gently, his calm, the very thing I'd always wanted, shot through me and I couldn't stop the sigh, yet I still yanked my hand away. "Ava, please. Let's just talk for a minute."
                  I burst through the door and ran to my Volvo parked in front. Seth followed me, but didn't try to stop me. I got in and shut the door, pressing the push-start button crank the car. He stood outside my window, gripping his hair in his hands as he watched me back out. I heard him in my head as I peeled from the lot.
     
                  I'll wait for you however long you need. It's okay. I understand. I'd hate me, too.
                 
    I loved his voice. It ran over me like a silk nightgown…and I hated and loved that.
                  I went straight to the center, blowing through the doors, tears running down my face. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared, but I looked for Daddy. When I didn't see him with any of the kids, I went right to his office. He was on the phone, but hung up on whoever was on the phone as soon as he saw me.
                  "Ava-"
                  "Daddy," I sobbed.
                  He stood quickly. "What happened?"
              "I…imprinted…"
                  "You did?" he grinned and hugged me to him. "That's amazing, Ava. Where? Who? Why are you crying? Was it-"
                  "No, Daddy, no." I leaned back.
                  "What's the matter, baby?" he soothed and smoothed my hair like he had done for my entire life. Always comforting, always willing to bust heads if need be to make me happy. But Dad couldn't fix this.
                  "Daddy, I imprinted…with a Watson."
     
     
     
    Coming Fall, 2014
     

 
     
    Playlist
     
     
    Drive All Night : NeedToBreathe
    Who’s Gonna Save Us : Gavin DeGraw
    Durban Skies : Bastille
    I’m Yours : Jason Mraz
    Every Night : Imagine Dragons
    Make It To Me : Manchester Orchestra
    Royals : Lorde
    Morning Song : The Lumineers
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
    Shelly is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. They currently reside in scorching North Florida. She