Free Smother by Lindy Zart Page B

“The cold doesn’t bother me.”
    “Did you have to work hard at becoming a caveman or were you born with the affliction?” Leo blinked at her and Reese softly laughed.
    She shrugged when he continued to watch her. “Just keeping it real.”
    They stood in quiet, the air chilling as more and more children in costumes and their parents made their stops on Main Street. She hadn’t realized kids trick-or-treated at businesses. When she was a kid, they only went to homes in nearby neighborhoods—mostly because it was only her and her sister, and their mother told them not to venture off too far. Reese shifted uneasily. She didn’t want to think about her childhood.
    “I don’t like talking.” Leo’s voice was low.
    Reese looked at him. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. With a frown pulling her mouth down, she nodded. “Okay. You’re allowed that.”
    Leo opened his mouth, shifted his feet, and looked away. He muttered something, but when she asked him to repeat it, he shook his head.
    Night grew and brought less kids to the tattoo shop. Even as she stood in silence, shivering and ignored, she liked the stillness of it. It was calm. Nothing was expected of her and she didn’t feel the need to supply anything. Thoughts of drinking faded, lost their appeal.
    “I want you to know something.”
    Leo voice was so unexpected and clear that Reese flinched as it broke through the barrier of stillness. She didn’t try to say anything. She was afraid if she replied or acknowledged him in any way, she’d realize he hadn’t really spoken and it was a trick of the imagination, brought on by idleness and lack of attention.
    The air shifted, warmed, as he moved to stand next to her. His head was angled away, and that was okay, because she didn’t think she could take it if he looked directly at her. Her nails dug into her palms with the need to tell him to shut up, that she didn’t want to hear whatever he thought she should know, but she bit her tongue to remain mute.
    She feared whatever he was about to say would change something between them.
    “Sometimes—” he stopped. “Sometimes, people push others away, not to be cruel, but to be kind. And sometimes, when you think someone doesn’t care about you, they really care more than they should. More than is safe.”
    She was right. He sliced open a part of her with his words and she knew it would never heal into what it once was.
    Her eyebrows lowered as she turned her face up. The overhead light illuminated Leo like he was a broken angel. His hair looked more golden than brown and his eyes were two black holes as he stared back at her, hard face blank with its perfect mask in place. She’d hate to see him without all his many defenses in order. She knew it would be overwhelming.
    Reese understood what he was saying, because sometimes, she had similar thoughts. She’d had them toward Leo. She destroyed relationships not only to save herself from pain, but to save others from being hurt by her. She looked away, deciding this was something she would not respond to, not because his words didn’t mean anything to her, but because they did. They meant a lot.
    Leo sighed, and with agitated movements, shrugged out of his coat. “Are you staying?” His thunderstorm eyes locked on her.
    She nodded.
    He shoved his jacket at her.
    Hiding a smile, she sank her arms into the long sleeves and wrapped the jacket around her. It was a warm blanket of Leo, and she dipped her face under the collar of it to allow it to completely encompass her.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Nothing.” Reese met his perplexed eyes as she popped her chin up over the collar. “Why’d you move here?”
    He watched her face as he debated, then finally answered. “I needed a change.”
    “Where’d you move from?”
    Leo rubbed his jaw as he said, “Somewhere else.”
    “And your name—Chavez—it doesn’t really fit your pale coloring and hair.” She raised her eyebrows, wondering if he’d supply a